Image: Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Madrid
Madrid’s summer festival Veranos de la Villa is set to present 'Donny’s Black Shoes' on August 25 at the Instituto San Isidro, bringing a young Madrid-led musical project into one of the city’s major cultural programs. The performance will begin at 21:30 and is billed as part of the festival’s commitment to emerging local talent.
The announcement follows a rehearsal attended by Marta Rivera de la Cruz, Madrid’s delegate for Culture, Tourism and Sport, according to the city’s press release. In remarks quoted by the municipality, she described 'Donny’s Black Shoes' as a strong example of the young talent based in Madrid and of the city’s effort to provide stages where that talent can meet audiences. The release also positions Veranos de la Villa as a setting for discovering a new generation of creators.
The project is led by Daniel 'Donny' López, a pianist, arranger, composer and producer. The city describes the music as combining groove and arrangements inspired by funk from the 1970s and 1980s with contemporary R&B sounds. The performance also draws on jazz, soul and Latin rhythms, framing the show as a contemporary take on Black music traditions and related danceable styles.
According to the press materials, 'Donny’s Black Shoes' brings together a formation of young musicians alongside singers Astrid Jones, Xiluba Thomas and Amos Obasohan. The ensemble’s setup is centered on a rhythmic base, brass, percussion, guitar and voices, with López at the piano and keyboards. The release emphasizes that the group is designed to recreate the spirit of its influences through live performance rather than simply reference them.
López is presented in the announcement as an artist who entered the music scene at age 15 with his group Rice and Groove. The city says he received the Enlace Funk Award for Best New Group in 2021. Those details situate the August performance within the trajectory of a musician the municipality is highlighting as part of Madrid’s current generation of artists.
The event is scheduled for August 25 at the Instituto San Isidro in Madrid, under the Veranos de la Villa program. The city’s announcement frames the concert as a production aimed at audiences of all ages and as part of a festival line-up that continues to feature work led by younger artists.
