If you are planning a holiday on the Costa del Sol, or if you live here and are looking for things to see and do, you will find a wide and diverse range of events taking place in May, 2010.

If, like me you are forty-something, you will no doubt remember the great group, Smokie, who sang legendary hits including: Living Next Door to Alice, Oh Carol, Needles and Pins and Lay Back in the Arms of Someone. Now I bet that has got you all singing!! Well the good news is that Smokie are due to perform at the Sohail Castle in Fuengirola on 8th May, 2010. Local legend Paul Maxwell is due to play with the band.

After 35 years in the business, Smokie still attract thousands of fans to their concerts, and the band are still playing concerts around the world. The band will perform at the incredibly atmospheric Sohail Castle which is superb location for a concert. Overlooking the sea, the castle is situated at the western end of Fuengirola, and is next to the Beatriz Palace Hotel, just 20 minutes from Marbella and 25 from Puerto Banus.

Smokey released their second album in 1975, called Changing all the Time, which produced their signature sound with close harmony vocals. The first single from this album, ´if you think you know how to love me´, was a huge hit all over Europe, and it contained string arrangements and acoustic guitar arrangements. Around this time, American legent, Smokey Robinson threatened to sue the band for using his name, and in order to avoid legal action, they dropped the ´ey´ from their name and became Smokie.

The album, ´Midnight Café´ was then released, and this threw the group into super stardom status. The legendary ´Living next door to Alice´ was released in 1976, which became the band´s biggest hit, and ´Lay back in the arms of someone´ quickly followed.

At the peak of Smokie´s success, Chris Norman released a single with Suzi Quatro in 1978 called ´Stumblin in´, and they topped the European charts. Surprisingly, the band then produced English football star, Kevin Keegan´s first single, ´Head over heels in Love´ which charted in many countries.´Solid ground´ was released in 1981, and a cover of ´Little town flirt´ then came out.

After the storming hit ´who the f—k is Alice´ was released in 1995, Smokie were once again on the most music fan´s radar and guitarist Alan Silson was replaced by Mick Connell in 1996. A ten-CD hit box was released in 2003 which was hugely popular, and sold to gold and platinum in Scandinavia. Smokie albums have gone platinum for more than 40 years, and they have sold more than 30 million records. The band is due to release another album in 2010.
The Sohail castle has been attacked and occupied many times over the years by the Moors, pirates and even the French during the days of Napoleon. The castle enjoys an enviable position on the edge of Fuengirola overlooking the Mediterranean and it is the perfect venue for a concert. Car parking is available close to the castle, although spaces are limited. An after-party will also take place at the castle and will include sounds from the 80s and 90s, dancing and fireworks.

Tickets are priced at €40 for standing and €50 for seats and €100 for VIP tickets including food and drink, and can be purchased from: The Hair Inspiracion hairdresser (Euromarket), Fuengirola, the Hairdresser Beso, next to the Salon Varietes in Fuengirola, or at the Vitamina (Centro Idea) Fuengirola. You can also get tickets at the Funky Frog in Arroyo de la Miel, the German Bakery in El Rosario, Marbella, Muebles Piramides in Torre del Mar, and at the German supermarket in Torrox-Costa. You can also e-mail henrik@casaeventos.es for tickets. The concert is due to take place on Saturday, 8th May at 9pm, and the doors will open at 7pm.

Feria de los Pueblos Fuengirola
If you are looking for a fun-filled weekend with plenty of drinking, dancing eating and live entertainment, take a trip down to the Feria de los Pueblos, which will be held in Fuengirola fair ground this year between 29th April and 2nd May, 2010.

Lasting for the entire weekend, the Feria de los Pueblos is one of the most popular annual events in Fuengirola, and it attracts thousands of people every year.

Fuengirola has experienced a significant increase in its population, becoming a place where people of different cultures live together  from different Spanish autonomous communities and the rest of the world.
In an attempt to make known the customs, folklore, gastronomy and cultural attractions  of every inhabitant of Fuengirola, in 1994 the town launched the Feria de los Pueblos.

The International People’s Fair is jointly organized by Department of Tourism in Fuengirola  and the various associations, organizations, clubs and national and foreign groups which are located in the municipality.  Visitors can travel around the world in four days when they visit this event. Music, live entertainment and delicious dishes from all over the globe are presented in a fun and lively atmosphere. There is also an exhibition of local products and many different items on sale.

Enjoy a unique experience, and enjoy the culture and history of over  thirty-three countries and communities in one place. Entry is free.

Romeria de las Lagunas Mijas Costa
Just 20 minutes from Marbella is the Parque Esparragal, just 1km uphill from the entrance to Mijas Golf on the Coin road. The annual Romeria de las Lagunas will take place at the park Esparragal on Sunday 30th May, 2010 and is a fabulous place to take the kids.

A great day can be had by all at the park pub ´Esparragal´, during the annual `Romeria de Las Lagunas ´ .  After mass, the statue of The Virgin, Our Lady of Peace (Virgen de la Paz) is carried up the dry river bed from Las Lagunas, in a colourful procession of horses and oxen, and placed in the shrine at the park until later in the evening when the return trip is  made.  As with many festivals in Spain, the religious ceremony is followed by much fun and revelry, which continues long into the evening.

Live Spanish music is performed on a specially erected stage near the bar area, and by mid-afternoon, hundreds of residents and tourists alike all  strut their stuff (including yours truly, which is something of a miracle).  Local horsemen ride proudly around the park, often wearing traditional Spanish dress, while the girls donned flamboyant flamenco frocks.  The passion, noise and colour of a typical Andalucian festival is very much in evidence here.  A huge paella is prepared in the afternoon, and served free of charge to the crowds, along with glasses of fino sherry to keep party goers in the mood.

The highlight is  a pole climbing competition in the early evening, where young men attempt to shimmy up a vertical wooden pole (similar to a telegraph pole without the wires).  Being approximately ten metres high, and greased, this is no mean feat, but the ´machismo´ of the local youths, and the roar of the crowd, spurs them on.  After several valiant attempts, one fit participant usually manages  to claw his way to the top and collect his prize of a jamón serrano from the top of the pole.

There is nothing quite like Spanish events and festivals in Andalucia, and if you are yet to experience one, enjoy a great day out during May and let your hair down!