By Amanda Chambers
Dusk on a Tuesday evening somewhere between autumn and winter. I find myself, like so many times before, drawn into Sandinos. The familiarity of the cosy setting, dim lights and aesthetic quirkiness, like time and time before, attracts me and many of my friend shaped counterparts. I walk in to find a shift in the usual locality. Suddenly I’m surrounded by friendly Italians with lively Italian chatter buzzing around me. I look around to find my friend crammed in at a table surrounded by Amazonian like Italian beauties with cascading dark hair and bright eyes, I think he died and went to heaven then and there.
I sit down next to my blissfully grinning friend to find our table was decorated with chequered table cloth lazily dabbled with Italian wines and beers and a rather atmospheric wax laden bottle of wine dawned with a lit taper candle. Plates of Italian Tapas are laid on the tables, a complementary selection of Italian meats, breads, cheeses and olives.
I sit down next to my blissfully grinning friend to find our table was decorated with chequered table cloth lazily dabbled with Italian wines and beers and a rather atmospheric wax laden bottle of wine dawned with a lit taper candle. Plates of Italian Tapas are laid on the tables, a complementary selection of Italian meats, breads, cheeses and olives.
This crammed room quiets to an expectant lull and all over a sudden an instrument laden band in the corner I barely noticed erupt into a rhythmic assault of music I can only describe as Italian heart meets Irish Trad. Of course, at its core it was Italian folk music, performed by Italian musicians doing what they do best, performing awesome music that entertained and captivated an entire bar full of enamoured onlookers.
The name of this handsome group of Italian visitors was ‘Radici Popolari’ , it’s safe to say that myself, and every other patron in the bar was hooked. It’s hard to put into words the style and sound of the music. All I know is that it was Italian in every sense. Similarities occurred to be between ‘Radici Popolari’ stylised genre and that of traditional Irish jigs. A loud passionate beat, repetitive rhythm and similar instruments yet at the same time the sound produced was far removed for Irish Trad.
Needless to say, these mere words are that, just words. It has to be heard, seen and experienced to be truly appreciated. Luckily for Derry ‘La Festa Italiano’ will be for held one last evening of enjoyment on Wed 11th November 9pm in Sandinos, Water Street. Expect to find a warm welcome from the awesome staff, food, drink and plenty of steamy Italians to gaze at across a candle lit room, and least we forget epic Italian music from the talented ‘Radici Popolari’ in one of Derry’s most original and epic social hot spots.
For more on events in Sandino's Bar follow them on Facebook or have a look on their website
http://www.sandinoscafebar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sandinosderry/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/radicipopolari/
Needless to say, these mere words are that, just words. It has to be heard, seen and experienced to be truly appreciated. Luckily for Derry ‘La Festa Italiano’ will be for held one last evening of enjoyment on Wed 11th November 9pm in Sandinos, Water Street. Expect to find a warm welcome from the awesome staff, food, drink and plenty of steamy Italians to gaze at across a candle lit room, and least we forget epic Italian music from the talented ‘Radici Popolari’ in one of Derry’s most original and epic social hot spots.
For more on events in Sandino's Bar follow them on Facebook or have a look on their website
http://www.sandinoscafebar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sandinosderry/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/radicipopolari/
