In the summer in which Joan Vila, the donor, together with Dolors Isern, of the Urpina estate, has left us, AMPANS prepares the most intense and emotional Grape Harvest festival, with a programme full of live music and tastings, and a simple but heartfelt act of homage to Joan and Dolors, who will give their name to the square, the setting, year after year, of the festival.
Hundreds of people congregate around the music, the products of the estate such as wine and cheese, and multiple activities for families with children, to experience a festival that this year is being called Urpina live for the first time and that AMPANS is organising with the aim of continuing to bring the project closer to the public.
The musical programme of the festival, open to the public and free of charge, will feature the Manresa band Star 3, along with its leader, singer, composer and guitarist Jos Racero. Formed by Racero on lead vocals and guitar, Esteve Martínez on bass and Nil Bribian on drums, they will perform current hits from the world of pop, rock, funk, disco and some classics. Highlights include songs by The Police, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Franz Ferdinand, Maroon5, Oasis, Nirvana, Jet, Bruno Mars, Daft Punk, Pharrel Williams, Outkast, Two Door Cine Club, Black Keys, Fito y Fitipaldis, among others.
The Star 3 Concert, at 9 pm, will be preceded by the performance of Fulfilleds, a rock band from Bages made up of Josu Arevalo, vocals and guitar (who is also a professional partner of AMPANS home services), Anna Vidales, on guitar and keyboards, Ferran Tomasa, on bass, and Aleix Serra on drums.
Strength and quality are two of the strong points of this Indie/Rock band, with a very powerful and elaborate live performance.
The programme is completed with the most intimate concert, with the exceptional voice of the Manresa-born Laura Muñoz, accompanied on guitar by the musician Xevi Serra, who will combine her choice of songs with a wine tasting of wines from the experimental vineyards grown in the Torre Lluvià, in a project shared by AMPANS, the Manresa City Council and the DO Pla de Bages. The tasting will be led by one of our most prestigious sommeliers, Josep Pelegrí. Participation in this activity requires prior registration.
The cheeses that AMPANS makes on the Urpina estate will also be featured at the Urpina live, in a tasting of Muntanyola cheeses led by the gastronome Ramon Roset, in an activity, with prior registration, located in the Paller d’Urpina space.
The festival, which is a success every year in terms of participation, does not forget the children and is designed so that families can enjoy it to the full. In addition to games, the little ones will be able to enjoy the experience of painting in wine, in a workshop led by the expert artist in this technique, Marta Arañó.
And the Wine Bar and restaurant will complete the offer to live it with intensity and festive atmosphere.
Joan and Dolors Square
This summer Joan Vila left us. He and his wife, Dolors Isern, donated the Urpina estate to AMPANS during their lifetime. It is because of this heartfelt farewell that AMPANS wants to dedicate a permanent space to the memory of the Vila Isern family and will do so by naming the square in front of the family home that is the origin of Cal Urpina after Joan and Dolors.
This act will take place at 17:30 with the participation of the Town Council of Sant Salvador de Guardiola, the children and relatives of Joan and Dolors, and the AMPANS foundation. The square will be baptised with the name of: Joan and Dolors Square, and a plaque will be placed on the façade of the house explaining the trajectory and visionary gesture of these two sincere-hearted, simple, intelligent, intelligent and good people. Their legacy has allowed the continuity and preservation of the estate in favour of the most vulnerable people in our society. Their name will be forever linked to the project of housing and employement for people with intellectual disabilities of the Urpina project by AMPANS.