The Andalucian´s love music and partying so it is no wonder that their calendar is peppered with music and dance festivals.

Here is a list of the major events:

May

Costa Pop:  The port of Malaga hosts a massive all night concert by top Spanish and Latin pop performers, attended by 100,000 or more fans, one night in late May.

Potaje Gitano:  The Gitano Stew is a top flamenco festival, held in Utrera, Sevilla province, on a Saturday in June.

Festival Torre del Cante:  Another June flamenco  event, this is held in Alhaurin de la Torre near the Costa del Sol.

June/July

Caracola Lebrijana:  This Saturday night flamenco festival in Lebrija, Sevilla province, is staged in June or July (caracol means snail).

Festival Internacional de la Guitarra:  Cordoba stages Guitar Festival over two weeks in late June or the first half of July.

Festival Internacional de Musica y Danza:  This is a two and a half week international festival of mainly classical music and dance in Granada, in late June and early July.  Some events are staged in beautiful historic sites.

Festival Internacional de Italica:  This series of dance events includes everything from classical ballet to contemporary.  It happens in Sevilla in late June and July.

July

Esparrago Rock (Asparagus Rock):  This three-day festival in Jerezde la Frontera features indie and alternative rock - the line up in 2002, for example, included Iggy Pop, Garbage and Bunbury.  In recent years Esparrago Rock has been held over a weekend in mid-July.

Cubano y Flamenco:  Top Cuban bands (playing traditional Cuban sounds) and Andalucian flamenco stars tour the Sevilla province together for two weeks in July.

July/August

Gazpacho Andaluz:  This flamenco festival takes place in Moron de la Frontera in July or August.

Castillo de Cante:  The Castle of Cante is a one-night flamenco song festival in Ojen, near Marbella, on the first or second saturday of August.

September

Bienal de Flamenco:  Staged in Sevilla in September of even numbered years, the Bienal attracts the biggest names of flamenco names.

November

Festival Internacional de Jazz:  This jazz festival is held in many Andalucian cities during November.

December

Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales:  Verdiales are an exhilarating brand of folk music unique to the Malaga area:  the biggest celebration of the genre happens at Puerto de la Torre, Malaga, on 28 December.