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Rocklin, CA, USA. In 2010, a newish Basque Club from northern California decided to leverage synergies with Mendiko Euskaldun Cluba from Gardnerville, Nevada and hold “Kantari Eguna” (Day of the Basque Song) every other year. “For us holding Kantari Eguna is another opportunity to keep our culture going,” stated Noel Goyhenetche. He is now the president of the Iparreko Ibarra Basque Club, that newish Euskal Etxea from Rocklin (CA) formed in 2005 and is about to host its 3^rd Basque Song festival, in October. “We don’t have the last program yet but we’ve got an idea of what it is going to be like.”

This event that celebrates Basque song usually attracts around 300 people to Rocklin, 20 of which go onstage and sing. “It started in 1988 as a contest but I think that that discourages people so after that first year it’s more just about sharing Basque songs and having a good time,” stated the president. 

The next “Kantari Eguna” is going to be on October the 11th, Saturday, and attendees will be able to participate also in the Mus tournament, see local dancers and dancers from San Francisco perform, enjoy with the wittiness of Bertsolaris (improvisers) from California and Nevada, see Basque rural sports, eat, drink, and dance to the music of the Jean Flesher Band. Mattin Etchamendy, from Bakersfield (CA), will be the MC this year too.

And there will be more: “We are waiting for Valerie Arretchea (president of the North American Basque Organizations NABO) to find someone in the Basque Country to join us this year,” said Goyhenetche. In previous editions, Rocklin hosted Mikel Markez and Erramun Martikorena on their stage.