The majestic retro concert hall that shines again

Saint Feliu de GuíxolsJust as tourists climbing the shady Carrer de la Força in Girona for the first time are dazzled when the imposing cathedral appears before them with the scenic power of its baroque staircase, the audience and musicians entering the Las Vegas concert hall in Sant Feliu de Guíxols for the first time can hardly imagine that behind a modest facade will emerge a venue of retro majesty that will transport them to the 80s, with three well-stocked bars, tables and chairs with gold finishes arranged in an amphitheater, two indoor stages, and a pleasant terrace, all with a capacity for almost 900 people. Perhaps Luz de Gas (slightly smaller) is one of the few comparable venues, although due to its long history, some compare Las Vegas to Sala Apolo or La Paloma. The venue was built in 1962, but its origins date back to an open-air terrace dedicated to shows for the first tourists, which began operating in 1958 under the same name. The current director, Marc Recolons, goes even further back, explaining that his great-great-grandfather was a true pioneer of cinema in the Girona region, who in the early 20th century began showing silent films in a circus tent in Llagostera, with a projector bought from the Lumière brothers at the Universal Exhibition in Paris. The grandfather and two brothers later managed cinemas in various towns, including Calonge, Palamós, Palafrugell, and Figueres (here also named Las Vegas).

From Antonio Machín to Lluís Llach

The Las Vegas de Sant Feliu opened its doors with variety shows in the summer and cinema in the winter. The official inauguration, in 1963, was carried out by Antonio Machín and over the first few years, artists such as Charles Aznavour, Joan Manuel Serrat, Rita Pavone, Paco de Lucía, and Lluís Llach performed in the hall. Serrat premiered the song Me’n vaig a peu in 1967. "It had fifteen years of full swing and by the mid-70s it began to lose momentum," explains Recolons. In the 80s, the current renovation was carried out, with the look of a ballroom disco. "We are not considering touching it, because it already has the category of a classic, a retro patina that improves with time, although we have equipped it with modern technical equipment," warns the director, who took over management in 2019. The Recolons family maintained ownership of the venue, even though management had changed hands.

The commitment to comedy

The versatility of the space and the eclecticism of the programming still permeate the venue. “We are super transversal and diverse because we want everyone to find their show, and that way we can operate every weekend, 12 months a year”, explains Recolons.

Room 2 allows for smaller capacities, around 180 people, and the terrace, with about 85 seats and compatible with another simultaneous show inside, is also a good complement for the summer. The dynamism of the programming is surprising: they have between 60 and 80 live music performances each year, about 15 comedy shows, and on Wednesdays and Sundays they maintain the tradition of ballroom dancing. They also have salsa and bachata sessions, as well as electronic music. This week, moreover, they are starting live music on the terrace, on Sundays at vermouth time.

The project to which Marc Recolons dedicates most of his efforts lately is the Sonats cycle, a commitment to comedy organized by the venue but which also extends to stages in Santa Cristina d’Aro and Palafrugell. “If you are in Barcelona or Girona you have a much larger potential audience, here it is very difficult for us and we have to work harder”, acknowledges Recolons.