Music fans across the kingdom have been left disappointed after global stars Gipsy Kings had to cancel their Bahrain show on Friday due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.
The Bahrain Rugby Football club was all set to host the hotly-anticipated event but have been forced to postpone under advice from the ministry in efforts to reduce the spread of the disease.
In a statement to its members and guests, the club said:
“We wish to confirm the postponement of the Gipsy Kings concert at BRFC this Friday following advice given by ministry authorities.
“While this decision comes at a time of uncertainty, we take the safety and health of our guests, staff and community very seriously. The decisions made in light of the COVID-19 concerns are in keeping with the government's integral protocols during this time. Although the current restrictions are disappointing for all involved it is of the utmost importance to us that we adhere to the responsibilities we hold when concerning the health and well-being of all visitors to the club and will continue to keep it as our number one priority.
“We are taking every precaution necessary to provide a safe environment and urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials.
“We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the making of this decision as we explore all possible solutions to reschedule this exciting event for a later date.”
The Gipsy Kings, headed by André Reyes, are a group of flamenco, salsa and pop musicians from Arles and Montpellier in the south of France who perform in a mixture of languages, mostly in Catalan and Spanish, but also mixing dialects from the South of France.
Although group members were born in France, their parents were mostly gitanos, Spanish gypsies who fled Catalonia during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. They are known for bringing Catalan rumba, a pop-oriented music distantly derived from traditional flamenco music, to worldwide audiences.
Their music has a particular rumba flamenca style, with pop influences; many songs of the Gipsy Kings fit social dances, such as salsa and rumba. Their music has been described as a place where ‘Spanish flamenco and gypsy rhapsody meet salsa funk’.
Although the BRFC hopes to stage the concert on a rearranged date, all tickets purchased directly through the club are eligible for a full refund at Reception from noon tomorrow (Thursday) until noon next Wednesday (March 18). Alternatively, those with current tickets can hold them and they will remain valid for the rescheduled event.
For more information, contact the club on 17695809.
