The “Allgarve” brand, launched in March 2007 by the Minister of the Economy, Manuel Pinho, was created with the aim of developing the range of events on offer to tourists in the region and organising a programme promoting culture in the region.

At the time, the announcement of “Allgarve” (with a play on words alluding to the English word “All”) met some criticism from the local authorities, especially because of the name's foreign associations.

But this month, the Secretary of State for Tourism Bernardo Trindade disclosed that the "Allgarve" programme would continue with the same name for the coming years, despite the “initial fuss” that was due to a lack of knowledge about the programme's mission.

After the pomp and circumstance of the official opening of the programme on 21^st June (see article), there will be events programmed until October.

On 4^th July, "Allgarve Jazz" starts in Portimão with the "bluesman" Lucky Peterson, regarded as being the natural successor to BB King, performing at the Estádio da Restinga, Praia de Alvor (Portimão), with tickets costing 25 euros each.

On 5^th July, "Allgarve Jazz" will also include a performance by the revered icon of the jazz world, Herbie Hancock, at the Monumento Duarte Pacheco in Loulé, where there will be 2,000 seats with tickets costing 30 euros.

However, the organisers of "Allgarve'08" have said that the number of seats was only “indicative” for the purpose of budgeting, and for that reason and if there was space and enough people in the audience “the number of seats could be increased”.

The 25-year career of the Portuguese duo comprising the international jazz singer Maria João and Mário Laginha (pianist) will be celebrated with a concert on 6^th July at the Fortress in Sagres, where 750 seats are available at 25 euros per ticket.

On 11^th July, it will be the turn of Dee Dee Bridgewater, one of the international ambassadors of jazz singers who follow on from names such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holliday, to perform at the Balaia Golf Village, Albufeira, where admission to the concert will cost 25 euros.

This year's "Allgarve Jazz" will come to an end with the vocal quartet "Manhattan Transfer", created in 1969, performing at the Estádio da Restinga, Praia de Alvor (Portimão) on 12^th July and with the male jazz vocalist Freddy Cole (the youngest brother of Nat King Cole) performing at the Parque das Fontes in the municipality of Lagoa on 13^th July. Both concerts cost 25 euros.

The Party continues at the disco

All the "Allgarve Jazz" concerts will have an "after party" at discos in the region, such as Sacha Beach and T-Club, or in "chill out" spaces at the concert venues.

Topping the bill of the "Allgarve Edition", are the Brazilian artist Caetano Veloso, who is performing on 25^th July at the Hotel Santa Eulália, Albufeira, costing 30 euros, and Diana Krall, who will be performing on 29^th July at Albufeira marina, where there will be 2,000 seats to see the singer and pianist.

"Riders on the Storm – the 40^th anniversary of the Doors" on 18^th July at the Sheraton Pine Cliffs hotel in Albufeira, is, at 35 euros, the dearest in the series of 17 concerts, with all the others costing around 20, 25 and 30 euros.

The "Allgarve Edition" will also include some other great names from the world of international music such as Lou Reed on 20^th July (tickets at 30 euros), Simply Red on 1^st August (tickets at 30 euros) and Paolo Conte, on 6^th August for 30 euros and scheduled to perform in Alvor, Portimão.

The Brazilian Vanessa da Mata is performing at the Hotel Lake Resort, Vilamoura on 8^th August, where admission will also cost 30 euros.

Camané, with Mário Laginha and David Fonseca will be performing on 14^th August at the Tivoli Almansor, Lagoa, and Rui Reininho is performing on 23^rd August in the garden in one of the most typical villages in the Algarve: Alte.

Mariza & Guests are also part of the range of 17 concerts on offer in "Allgarve'08" and the concert by the fado singer is on 29^th August in Vale do Lobo.

Irish folk music mixed with the pop and rock of the "Waterboys" can be heard at the Vilamoura Rugby Ground on 11^th August, where there will be 2,000 seats available to the public, each costing 30 euros.