Short Celts

Celtas Cortos is a rock group from Valladolid with Celtic influences founded in 1984. During their career they have sold more than two million records of their different works, which makes them one of the the most commercially successful Spanish groups of all time.

History

The beginnings

The roots of Celtas Cortos go back to the end of 1984 when four of its founding members met as students at the Instituto Delicias in Valladolid: Goyo Yeves, César Cuenca, Carlos Soto and Óscar García who, Together with Luis M. de Tejada, a French teacher at the institution, they make up the Instituto Delicias Music Collective, the name under which they begin to perform folk music. Shortly after, three girls joined the group, creating the formation Páramo, under which they played Castilian music and which had a short duration in time.

At the same time, Carlos Soto was part of another well-known group in the regional circuits called Almenara and of which Jesús Cifuentes was also a member of the Spanish guitar and under which they released an album called "From that day in April... (Amapolas Comuneras)" in 1984. Shortly after, Nacho Castro on drums and Luis M. de Tejada on violin joined Almenara, so four of the founding members of Celtas Cortos.

In 1986 the 5 male members of Páramo accompanied by Jesús Cifuentes and Nacho Castro de Almenara, as well as by Fernando, a friend of César's who takes over the keyboards, decide to enter a contest organized by the disco Sheraton from Valladolid. The name they choose to compete is Eurofolk Collective and they finally win the contest, which brought them 100,000 pesetas (600 euros) and led them not to dissolve the band after the contest as was the idea initial.

After deciding that a name change was necessary, finally the one chosen is Celtas Cortos, honoring the popular brand of unfiltered tobacco smoked by drummer Nacho Castro, who proposed the name, without his initial intention being more beyond the mere joke.

This is what it sounds like: young folk

In 1987 they were selected to participate in a contest organized by the Junta de Castilla y León in collaboration with RNE whose prize was to record an album shared with two other bands. In the end, they were victors, which is why, together with the folk groups Ágora and Yedra, they published Así es como suena: folk joven. In this one they interpret three instrumental songs and that since then would be called "disco cero" by the members of the band themselves. Only 500 copies of the album were released, which were never put up for sale but were given away promotionally, so today it is a collector's item.

His first label: Twins

In 1988 they recorded a demo of ten songs that they distributed among as many record companies as they found throughout the Spanish geography without any of them showing interest in offering them an opportunity. Faced with this rejection, they even considered the possibility of dissolving, but that is when they received the call from producer Paco Martín, who at that time had just created the Twins record company with which they signed their first contract.

Emergency exit

At the beginning of 1989 they recorded their first album in a week and a half: Emergency exit; an album composed exclusively of instrumental songs and which eventually sold 60,000 copies.

Unpresentable people

At the beginning of 1990 the band recorded their second album, Gente impresentable, in which for the first time they included lyrics in their songs and also began to fuse other styles with the Celtic music that they had practiced until then, such as rap, reggae or heavy metal. In this work the violinist Luis M. de Tejada participates for the last time (in two songs) to participate in the rest of the songs the new violinist named Alberto García. At the same time, Paco Martín sells his Twins label to the multinational DRO, which automatically turns to promoting Celtas Cortos. The album reaches a massive audience, selling more than 180,000 copies and placing several singles at the top of the radio formulas. All this meant that the group received a multitude of offers to offer their show live throughout Spain, reaching more than 100 concerts during that year.

His second label: DRO

Tell me a story

In the first fortnight of March 1991 they recorded their third album, Cuéntame un cuento, which was published in November of that same year under the multinational label DRO. The album, in which the songs with lyrics are gaining more ground than the instrumental ones with 8 of the 13 songs including text, is once again a bestseller, with more than 300,000 copies sold. Hits like "20 de abril" or "Tell me a story " They make the band's popularity grow. In 1991 they offered 126 concerts that reached 140 in 1992, some of them massive, such as the one they gave at the Seville Expo or those of Las Ventas in front of more than 25,000 people or the Mercé festivities in Barcelona in front of more than 63,000.

In 1992, an unfortunate domestic accident suffered by violinist Alberto García in his right forearm caused him to start playing the trombone regularly, which in turn meant that wind instruments gained prominence in the group's repertoire.

Calm down, majete

Celtas Cortos' fourth album, Tranquilo majete, was recorded at Parkgate studios in Sussex and released at the beginning of 1993, containing 9 songs with lyrics and four exclusively instrumental. The style of this album takes a turn towards a much more rock and hard sound than in previous works. In addition, from then on, the band transcended the borders of Spain, beginning to play regularly in France and Germany. After the extensive tour that the group carried out after the publication of this album, César Cuenca left the group due to economic discrepancies.

The success in these countries led him to launch the compilation ¡Vamos! which, among other songs, included a version of "Tell me a story " along with Willy de Ville.

Side projects

In 1995 Jesús Cifuentes started a parallel project called El Caimán Verde under which he published a self-titled album. It was a work in which rock fundamentally predominated and which featured, among others, the collaborations of Fermín Muguruza and the guitarist Jesús Prieto "Piti". At the same time, Nacho Martín also decided to release a solo album. It was titled The Night of the Eleven Moons and was composed exclusively of instrumental songs.

Instability

In these uncertain days

In 1996 they published En estas días inciertos, in which the fusion of Celtic music continues to give ground to styles such as rock, pop or ska in an album where the lyrics of protest and social denunciation prevail over the rest. The tour after the publication of this album made Celtas Cortos the band that offered the most concerts in Spanish territory in 1996. After this tour, in 1997 Nacho Martín left the group, alleging reasons of fatigue due to the exhausting dynamics of the group.

See you in the bars

In 1997 the band's first live album was published, See you in the bars, made up of 25 songs recorded in the performances that the band offered on February 6 and 7 in Valladolid and in which they had the collaboration of artists like Rosendo; Jack of Ixo Rai!; Taba, from Ke no Falte; the Italian group Nomadi, and the Breton band Le Bagad de Kimperlé. In addition, at this time one of the musicians who would become one of their regulars, the guitarist José Sendino, joined the band.

The Mad Alchemist

In 1998 the group accepted the offer of the Junta de Castilla y León to perform a concert tour of small theaters in the Community. The totally instrumental project, called El Alquimista Loco and in which Jesús Cifuentes does not participate in any way, becomes a success and finally even a self-titled album is released. Due to the success, a tour of cities in Spain and France is carried out.

You have the door open

In 1999 a new album by the band was released, called Tienes la puerta abierta, which contains more electronic and less Celtic sounds. It is the last studio work in which Jesús Cifuentes participates before leaving the group permanently. temporarily, to create another band called Cifu and La Calaña Sound. However, before leaving the band, the group publishes a new compilation titled Greatest Hits, Small Gifts, published in 2001, which contains hits and unpublished material, giving rise to a total of 34 songs divided into two volumes, as well as a DVD. in which the trajectory of Celtas Cortos is reviewed in its 12 years of life. After the tour corresponding to this new compilation, carried out in 2002, Jesús Cifuentes and José Sendino left the group.

The departure of Jesús Cifuentes and José Sendino marks the definitive turning point after the previous abandonments of César Cuenca and Nacho Martín.

C'est la vie

In 2003, the band recorded the album C'est la vie, after incorporating Antuán Muñoz as the new vocalist of the group and Luis Oscar Medina and Jesús González as new guitarists.

At the beginning of 2004, some time after C'est la vie was published, Carlos Soto (flute and sax) left the group to create Awen Magic Land, his new project together with María Desbordes.

Stability

20 blowing verses

At the beginning of 2006 Jesús Cifuentes and José Sendino returned to the group after the departure of Antuán Muñoz and other musicians who participated in the previous work. Once again, they begin to rehearse and prepare their next album, which includes several old songs as a compilation and some new ones, including their hit Hay que volver, on the 20th anniversary of its founding.. This album is called 20 blowing verses. It is published in two ways: a single CD edition and a double CD + DVD edition (contains interviews and TVE performances).

After releasing this compilation album, the group embarks on a tour throughout Spain and part of Latin America that lasts 2 and a half years. In the last concerts of the tour they begin to introduce some of the songs that will be released later published on their next album, titled April 40, coming to play up to 6 songs from this new album at some concerts in order to see the public's reception before them.

April 40

On September 2, 2008, they released their new album, titled April 40, the band's first completely unreleased album after Jesús Cifuentes and José Sendino returned to it in 2006. At this time, they renew the website official of the group, to maintain a more direct contact with the followers, through a social network called "Different People". Among the hits of this new album, Retales de una vida and Tú eres el mejor stand out (of this last song they made a conventional video clip and another recorded with the ADANO association)

Introversions

On August 31, 2010, they released a new album, titled Introversiones, covering songs by other groups, which they acknowledge were important for influencing them throughout their musical career. In this way, they translate most of the songs they cover into Spanish, giving them their own style, although without straying too far from the original song. The tour they carried out to promote this new album took place both in theaters and in other types of venues. more conventional venues. During this tour they recorded the necessary material to launch their second live album, entitled Vivos y directos.

Setbacks

On September 16, 2014, they released the album Contratiempos. A month earlier, in August, they released the first single with a video clip titled "The stars came out". The group indicates that the tour after the release of this new album is special, since it will have the participation of bands from the conservatories and schools of each town where they play a concert. In addition, they publish through social networks that different music groups can apply as possible accompanists at the concert on October 12 in Madrid, sending their own versions of Otoño en Battle and another two to choose from Días de Colores, Cálida Trinchera, Say Yes, And then what? and A Sin Vivir.

On April 23, 2015, they participate in the Villalar de los Comuneros festival, along with other musical groups. Occasionally Carlos Soto participates in the song La senda del tiempo, which means the reunion of the musician with his former classmates, after having left the group 11 years ago.

On July 17, 2015, the Valladolid City Council announces that the group will be in charge of giving the proclamation of the patron saint festivities of the Virgin of San Lorenzo, in which they will also perform.

In the concerts after the release of this album, Óscar García "Vinagre" was absent, leaving the group due to health problems.

In Crescendo

In 2016, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the creation of the band, the group offers a concert on February 12 at the Príncipe Felipe Auditorium (Oviedo) together with the OSPA (Principality of Asturias Symphony Orchestra), before 1,400 people, in which they perform songs from their 30-year career along with others from their latest studio album. Proceeds from this concert through ticket sales and the corresponding musical release called In Crescendo (CD and DVD), were donated to the Kathmandu Orchid Garden Orphanage in Nepal, where children affected by an earthquake live.

Positive Energy

Since April 13, 2018, the street in front of the Institute where the group was born, in the Las Delicias neighborhood of Valladolid, bears his name.

On April 20 they officially inaugurate their street and the first single from the new album Silence comes out. Later on, they release a new version of said song, in support of LGBT Pride.

On September 14, 2018, the new album Energía Positiva is released.

At the beginning of 2021 it was announced that the group would release a new album in the fall of 2021.

Components

The group at a concert in 2007 in Teulada

Celtas Cortos has had many and sometimes changing members.

The original eight members of Emergency Exit, in 1989, were:

• Jesus H. Cifuentes: Guitar and voice.
• Nacho Castro: Battery and other percussions.
• Carlos Soto: Trailer, whistle and gaita.
• Goyo Yeves: Whistle, beak flutes, rod flautas and saxophone.
• Nacho Martín: Keyboards.
• Luis M. de Tejada: Violin.
• Oscar García "Vinagre": Low.
• César Cuenca: Electrical and acoustic guitars.

Of the original members, only two remain today:

• Jesus Cifuentes (solist voice and guitar).
• Goyo Yeves (saxo and whistles).

The current line-up is completed by five other musicians:

• Alberto García (violin and trombone). Incorporated in 1990.
• José Sendino (guitar). Incorporated in 1997.
• Diego Martín (battery). Incorporated in 2006.
• Antón Davila (gaita). Incorporated in 2004.
• Chuchi Marcos (Bajo). Incorporated in 2013.

Discography

Over the years, the group has released numerous studio albums, compilations, singles... in different formats, according to the trends of each moment. Therefore, below is all the material published by the band, taking into account various aspects.

• Simples correspond to releases that could be purchased at the time of publication, in physical or digital format (iTunes) or acquire as a simple promotion.
• Video clips correspond to videos edited in order to promote specific songs, which not in all cases were edited as simple.

Summary sheet