As part of Irídia Fest, the new human rights and culture festival, a live concert will take place from death row in the United States.
In this first edition of the festival to be held on February 2 and 3 at the Sala Paral-lel 62, will be presented to the public on Thursday 2 a recorded album (Freedom First), between the Catalan musician Albert Marqués and the condemned to death African-American Keith LaMar.
LaMar has been in prison for more than three decades knowing that her life has no future. In 1993 an all-white jury sentenced him to death in an unclear trial.
Seeing that his days of life are forcibly counted, he wanted his story not to be forgotten and to reach Barcelona thanks to Freedom First.
This album was recorded between the Catalan musician Albert Marqués and Keith LaMar, the executed poet. In all of history, it is the first album recorded from death row.
Live concert from death row
What will the concert be like?
The presentation concert of the album Freedom First, within the framework of the Irídia Fest, will be presented in quintet format. Albert Marquès on piano, Keith LaMar himself on the phone reciting poetry from prison, Manel Fortià on double bass, Erin Corine on vocals and flute and Marc Ayza on drums will be present.
The concert, through the music and live words of Keith Lamar himself, will be an emotional and sensory experience aimed at reflecting on freedom through poetry and jazz.
The festival was born out of the need to reflect on how important it is to demonstrate that there are collective alternatives that are empowered enough to confront the radicalization of hatred and racism. All through the generation of spaces of connection, art, community and celebration.
The beginnings of Freedom First
The initiative began in 2020 through a series of concerts involving dozens of musicians on the streets of New York during the Black Lives Matter protests, just after the police killing of George Floyd.
These jazz chords have helped LaMar survive long decades as a solo artist, speaking live on the phone between songs.
The initiative is also part of the “Justice for Keith LaMar” campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the death penalty and, above all, to prevent LaMar’s own execution.
Irídia is an association working in Catalonia, which promotes and defends human rights, particularly political and civil rights.
If you want to check more information about the festival and tickets, you can find it in the link to the website.
