Where to See Flamenco in Jerez during Easter Holy Week (Semana Santa) for FREE?

You came here for flamenco, didn’t you? And it just happens to be the Easter/Passion/Holy Week in this little town of flamenco, sherry, fighting bulls and dancing horses. Not to worry. The city has evolved and there are FREE flamenco shows here this Easter Passion week.

The oldest continuously run “Tabanco” in Jerez de la Frontera since 1925. Tabanco is a uniquely Jerezano term to indicate essentially a “watering hole” that specializes in flamenco shows and atmosphere. Photo Credit: Tabanco El Pasaje.

My first time in Jerez, I came to study flamenco guitar and did not think of Easter. I’m st*#pid like that, or rather, I preferred not to do too much reading before travelling to a place.

I sort of wanted to have that surprised first-impression feeling. So, I came here and there was no flamenco for the second week of my stay, except the more primitive religious chant called Saeta which, I must admit, was a bit too much to digest for a newcomer to flamenco.

Traditionally there was no flamenco performance during the Holy Week. This is Catholic Spain after all. Things have changed though from my first visit here 15 years ago.

Now, you can see DAILY regular performances at Tabancos La Feria or El Pasaje (see schedule on the picture below). The best part is they are FREE entrance (gratis) and you do not even have to purchase anything. And the shows are still “PURO” (pure) or authentic flamenco as can be.

However, please DO SUPPORT the artists and local establishments. A glass of sherry or beer costs one euro or slightly more.

This . . . our local. An old school tabanco (bar) with FREE flamenco shows It used to be everyday guaranteed at 2 pm (and then some more at night). Now, with Covid pandemic restrictions, it’s down to the weekends. The good news is that no one uses amplification anymore. So, it’s just pure acoustic sounds as authentic flamenco puro should be heard.

Typically prices for a “*copa*” (or glass) of sherry (wines of Jerez) in euros. Recommend to try the “Amoroso” or “Morenita” (not shown) which would be difficult to find outside of Jerez. Warning: these are higher alcohol content than “*cerveza*” (beer). As you can see, you can have quite a good time here with FREE flamenco entertainment without breaking bank.

If you want to sit down and have a more intimate relation to the artists, you can ask (or better reserve) a table up front with a minimum consumption of about 20-25 euros for 4 people. That’s with tapas and drinks already!

The following pictures are the current schedule of FREE flamenco shows at Tabancos El Pasaje amd A La Feria Cruz Vieja in Jerez de la Frontera for the weekend falling on Palm Sunday (Domingo Ramos) of the Holy Week in Spain. Will add more for the Holy Week as they become available.

Marga de Jerez is phenomenal. Simply, if you get a chance to see… GO!

Here, *palmas* (hand clapping) and lunares (flowery dotted flamenco dress) enters “El Domingo de Ramos” (Palm Sunday) with foot stomping and guitars.

Not exactly during Holy Week… but there’s lots of flamenco shows like this one the week leading up to Easter week.

Warm up night on the eve of Semana Santa (Easter in Jerez).

This is one not to miss… for pure gypsy style flamenco de Jerez!

THE BELOW PICTURES were from 2019, before coronavirus hit us all. When the Covid-19 pandemic is over, this is likely gonna be the same general schedule of flamenco in Jerez during Holy Week (Semana Santa).