Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Saturday October 23 2010 Hundreds of people marched in Tenerife on Saturday to demand decolonisation and independence of the Canary Islands from Spain. by James Tweedie Two simultaneous demonstrations in Tenerife's capital Santa Cruz and the neighbouring historic city of La Laguna, organised by a raft of left-wing nationalist organisations, attracted about 200 people each. Organisers included the Canarian National Alternative (ANC), People's Unity (UP), Inekaren, youth organisation Azarug and regional trade unions IC and FSOC. La Laguna, or Aguere as the indigenous Canarian Guanche people called it, is the site of the defeat of and death in battle of Grand Mencey Bencomo, then-king of Tenerife, by a Spanish conquistador army on November 14 and 15 1494. The date marked the 46 th anniversary of the white, blue and yellow Canarian flag, which for the separatists bears seven green stars to represent the seven islands of the archipelago. Marchers chanted: “...

Hybris / Scrivor Honky Tonk Express, Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Saturday October 9 2010 by James Tweedie With thriving scenes on both Tenerife and the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria, Canarian 'Volcanic Rock' is growing in diversity and confidence. Tonight, local Power Metal stalwarts Hybris are launching their new album Tras El Cristal (Behind The Glass), which is free to download from the band's website. The title seems apt – like much of the real Tenerife this concert is a Lewis Carroll-esque inversion of the island's projected public image of nature reserves, tourist resorts and banging Techno in beach clubs. The small Honky Tonk Express is packed by the time support act Scrivor come on at nigh on 11 pm. Their keyboard-addled Trad Metal is reminiscent in turns of Led Zeppelin circa Physical Graffiti and Iron Maiden on Somewhere In Time, with some interesting Mago De Oz-style riffs. In fact it's difficult to describe Spanish Heavy Metal without making comparis...