Hey Grapeviners!
What isn’t happening in Granada this week?
We’ve got a Japanese festival, a second-hand book fair, a flea market, the start of Granada's Jazz Festival, tributes to Black Sabbath, The Cure, Bruce Springsteen and Queen as well as Disney's Coco on stage, and the cheddar on the top… a traditional cheese market! 🧀
Oh, and in case you didn't realise, Halloween is Friday and Día de Todos los Santos is Saturday, followed by a deferred public holiday (school’s out) on Monday.
To get you in the spirit, we thought we'd start with a question about one of Granada’s most famous ghost stories...
Which of Granada’s buildings is said to be the most haunted? 👻
👇 Answer at the bottom of the email.
⭐️🎶 Musical Highlights: This week brings us two major music festivals. Jazz lovers should head to Teatro Isabel la Católica for the first two nights of the Jazz Festival. Hiper H offers a rich mix of Spanish-language indie, headed by Granadino giants, Los Planetas. Bego Salazar takes “flamenco fusion” in directions not normally covered by that oh-so-frequently-used label. For a bit of quirky kitsch cabaret, check out Paco Pecado. The hip-hop and ska night Arde Granada features several local acts.
🎷 Jazz en Granada | Teatro Isabel La Católica
31 Oct - 8 Nov
Granada’s 45th International Jazz Festival kicks off on Friday night (31st) with renowned artists.
🇯🇵 Japón en Granada | Plaza Bib-Rambla
1-2 Nov
The “Matsuri” (festival) takes over Plaza Bib-Rambla this weekend with activities, workshops and performances.
🧀 Mercado de Quesos | Paseo del Salón
30 Oct - 2 Nov
Twelve Andalusian cheesemakers showcase a variety of cheeses with guided tastings and cheese-making workshops.
⭐️ More Festivals Starting This Week
🕵️♀️ Granada Noir Festival | 2 - 9 Nov | Annual festival dedicated to the noir genre in literature, cinema and art. See full program.
🎭 TIF Festival Granada | 30 Oct - 7 Dec | Performing arts festival for youth, families and school groups with a diverse program of theatre, dance and shows taking place at various venues across the city. See full program.
📝 List of Granada Events | 30 Oct - 5 Nov
Thu 30th Oct
🎭 Clic, Clac, Mú | 10h
Teatro Isidrio Olgoso, Zaidín
The first show of the TIF Performing Arts festival (see full program above).
€6. Festival Family Theatre
📖 Cuéntame un Cuento | 11.30h
Biblioteca Pública Municipal Cartuja-Almanjáyar
Kids storytelling session with Nany Moly.
Free Storytelling Family
📚 Verbena, Primera Fiesta de Lectura | 19-22h
Centro Federico García Lorca
The centre’s first ever “reading party” complete with DJ, dancing and poetry. Bring your own book. How novel!
Free Literary
🤠 Nico Martos | 20.30h
Taberna J&J
Psychedelic rock artist performs new tracks and classic repertoire.
€8. Concert Rock
🎶 Griso | 21.30h
Sala Planta Baja
Eric Griso presents his album Lunático.
€19,80. Concert Rock
🎸 Pablo Sanpa & Friends | 21.30h
Lemon Rock
Madrid blues, soul and funk legend performs with his band.
€5. Concert Blues
Fri 31st Oct
📚 Cuentos Para Soñar | 9.30-11h
Biblioteca Pública Municipal Cartuja-Almanjáyar
Storytelling sessions by Towanda and Strómboli.
Free Storytelling Family
📚 XLIII Feria del Libro Antiguo y de Ocasión | 31 Oct - 16 Nov
Fuente de las Batallas
Granada's 43rd Antique and Second-Hand Book Fair.
Free Literary
🧀 Mercado de Quesos Andaluces | 31 Oct - 2 Nov, 11-20h
Paseo del Salón
Traditional cheese market with tastings and workshops.
Free
👻 Especial Halloween: Calaveras y Espectros | 17h
CajaGranada
Halloween special family activity exploring funerary traditions and beliefs through interactive museum tours, neon painting, and stop-motion workshops. Ages 7+.
€6. Family Workshop
🖤 Inside The Cure | 20h
Planta Baja
Two tribute acts, one to The Cure and another to Siouxsie and the Banshees.
€18,70. Concert Rock
🎤 Quentin Gas y Los Zíngaros | 20h
Teatro Alhambra
A fusion of flamenco, rock, psychedelia, and electronic music from a classic outfit.
€8. Concert Rock Flamenco Fusion
🎻 Premiados en el I Concurso de Música Española | 20h
Auditorio Manuel de Falla
Winners of the Spanish music competition perform.
€12. Concert Classical
🎼 Tony Momrelle | 20h
Teatro Isabel la Católica
Opening performance of the Granada Jazz Festival.
From €20. Concert Jazz
🎸 Dark Libra + Masa | 21.30h
Lemon Rock
Distorted guitars and catchy melodies.
€7. Concert Rock
👄 Violeta Tour | 21h
Palacio de Congresos
Granada-born ‘Operación Triunfo’ 2023 contestant performs.
€35,20. Concert Local Talent
🕶️ Paco Pecado | 21.30h
Taberna J&J
Bringing his kitsch, retro show mixing boleros, traditional songs, and rumbas.
€12. Concert
🎤ARDE GRANADA | 21h
Sala Víbora
Local ska and rap acts including Molestando a los Vecinos, Hermanos Bastardos, Allmargen, and Los Nietos del Ferrer.
€8. Concert Local Talent
Sat 1st Nov
🇯🇵 Japón en Granada: Festival Matsuri | 1-2 Nov 11-19h
Plaza Bib-Rambla
Workshops, contests, performances, and gymkhana for all ages.
Free Family Festival
🎸 Festival Hiper H | 12.30h
Feria de Muestras, Armilla
Music festival featuring Granada band ‘Los Planetas’, along with seven other Spanish-language indie rock acts.
€72. Festival Rock Local Talent
🌰 Castañada Popular | 17h
Plaza Mayor, Güejar Sierra
Traditional chestnut roasting festival in Güejar’s Plaza Mayor with 200kg of roasted chestnuts, autumn market and live music.
Free Family Festival
🌰 Castañada Terrorífica | 19-21h
Centro Cívico Placeta Aliatar
Neighbourhood chestnut roasting with tunnel of terror.
Free Family
🎻 Réquiem de Gabriel Fauré | 19.30h
Catedral de Granada
Performance of Fauré's Requiem.
Free Concert Classical
💃🏻 Bego Salazar | 20.30h
Taberna J&J
Rising Flamenco star with deep quejío voice, accompanied by guitarist.
From €8. Concert Flamenco Fusion
🎹 Harold López-Nussa, ‘Nueva Timba’ con Grégoire Maret | 21h
Teatro Isabel La Católica
Part of Granada’s Jazz Festival. Blending Cuban tradition with contemporary jazz.
From €20. Concert Jazz
🧚🏽♂️ Canker + María del Mal | 21h
Teatro CajaGranada
Spanish trash death metal band Canker with special guests María del Mal.
€13.50. Concert Jazz
👑 Momo - Tribute a Queen | 21h
Queen tribute band led by José Luis Momo Cortés, endorsed by Brian May. The only Spanish-language band to perform at Queen Fan Convention.
€15. Concert Tribute
🎤 Nico Wolo Soul Experience | 21.30h
Lemon Rock
Oregon-born bilingual vocalist presents Soul & R&B classics with his band.
€3. Concert
🇺🇸 Back to Glory Days - Tributo a Bruce Springsteen | 21.30h
Sala El Tren
Ten-piece tribute band to “El Boss” and the E-Street band led by Andrés Balado.
€26.40. Concert Tribute
🎸 Pequeño Salto Mortal | 22h
Teatro Alhambra
Acoustic concert in intimate setting.
€10.20. Concert Acoustic
Sun 2nd Nov
🕵️ Granada Noir | 2-9 Nov
Various Venues
Granada’s Noir festival kicks off with a literary walking tour with local author.
Festival Literary
👖 Flealejo Market | 10h
Campo del Principe
Second-hand and vintage fashion market.
Free Family Market
👻 Jueves y Familia - Musical de Los Addams | 12h
Palacio de Congresos
Family-friendly Addams Family musical by OnBeat company.
€20. Musical Family
💀 Musical de Coco "Recuérdame" | 17h
Palacio de Congresos
A musical interpretation of Disney’s Coco on stage.
From €20. Musical Family
🦇 JAM Black Sabbath | 18h
Lemon Rock
Granada musicians unite for a special tribute jam with heavy metal classics.
Free Concert Rock Tribute
🎶 Eddie Mejía Cuarteto | 20h
Asociación Ool Ya Koo
Jazz Quartet in concert.
€15. Concert Jazz
Mon 3rd Nov
Public Holiday (Schools closed). Some supermarkets open half day.
🎬 Curiosa Shorts | 20.30h
La Variable
Monthly Granada short film showcase screens on the first Monday each month.
Free Cinema
Tue 4th Nov
🏥 Concierto Solidario Por La Sanidad Pública | 20.30h
Planta Baja
Charity concert in support of public healthcare featuring three bands.
Free Concert
Old Street Duet | 21.30h
Lemon Rock
Granada-Málaga duo performs covers spanning decades from the 50s to today.
Free Concert Local Talent
Wed 5th Nov
🎸 Adrian Vandenberg - My Whitesnake Years | 20.30h
Sala El Tren
Dutch guitar virtuoso performs Whitesnake classics and solo hits.
€30. Concert Rock
Support Local Business
Meet Christine,
Ananke Cosmetics
Cuesta Alhacaba, 120, Granada
Christine makes natural vegan skincare, soaps, shampoos and scents that smell amazing.
Meet José,
MalCortado
Plaza Trinidad 1, Granada
If you’ve ever admired Dave’s hair (who hasn’t?), this is the dude behind the do.
📅 Coming Soon
🤡 Granada ImproFest | 27-30 November - Late November sees this year’s edition of the surprising collaboration between Granada and two cities in Denmark (Copenhagen and Frederisksberg) to celebrate all things improvised. Are they making this up as they go along?
🍇 Juicy Local News
🖼️ 🚚 Still Life! The missing Pablo Picasso painting has been found in Madrid after supposedly vanishing en route to Granada. The 1919 gouache Still Life with Guitar was believed to have been lost in transit, but investigators now think it never made it onto the van!
🍽️ 🥇 Best Croqueta in Granada? The 2025 award for the Best Croqueta in the city went to Bar Rojo run by Carmen Bullejos, which earned Gold Prize at the Granada Croqueta Championship by ‘Trofeo Media & Chef’.
👮♀️🤖 A Bot Time! Granada local police hope to receive funding to pay for their first humanoid traffic agent. The bot will reportedly cost 5 million Euros.
🏠🧾 Venta Exprés de Casas. One in four new homes listed for sale in Granada province sell within one week. According to recent data from Idealista, Granada is the second city nationwide with the highest % of ‘express sales’.
Regular Events 🍻🥁🧘🏻♀️
🗣️ Language Exchange | Entresuelo | Mondays 22h.
🗣️ Totes Language Exchange | Bar El Albergue | Tuesdays 20.15h.
🍻 Wednesdays in Granada | Restaurant D’Paula | Wednesdays 20h.
🎤 Baya Jam (Poetry Jam) | Enebro Bar | Every 4th Wednesday of the month 9.30h.
🎷Jazz Jam Session | Ool Ya Koo | Thursdays 22h.
🔥 Hot Jazz Jam Session | Ool Ya Koo | Thursdays 22h.
🎤 Jueves de Karaoke | La Chistera, Monachil | Thursdays 22.30h.
🗣️ Intercambio de Idiomas | Daly’s Irish Bar | Thursdays 20h.
🗣️ Language Exchange | Hostel Nut | Thursdays 18h.
🎹 Sunday Jam | La Chistera, Monachil | Sunday 21h
Those are all the treats and tricks from Granada this week. Enjoy the music, the cheese, the chestnuts… and Happy Halloween! 🎃
And if you enjoyed this newsletter, please do us a favour and share it with your friends…
👻 Granada’s Most Haunted Building | Catastre Gerencia Territorial de Granada (Formerly La Diputación)
In the centre of Granada, there’s an old government building on Calle Mesones that once housed ‘La Diputación’ (before that it was a mosque, then a church, then a warehouse). During renovations in the 1980s, workers discovered human bones buried beneath the building’s foundations.
Employees and visitors continuously reported strange phenomena: unexplained noises, invisible hands pulling hair, automatic keyboards typing, and general feelings of unease. Over time, the reports of paranormal activity escalated to the point that staff refused to work alone in the building.
Cartoonist, Andrés Soria, depicted an image of the ghost that was later was published in Ideal newspaper in 1989. People said that they recognised the figure as a deceased local priest, Padre Benito. Eventually, the Diputación moved out. The spirit is considered one of Granada’s most famous ghosts.