A Sip of Spain

A SIP OF SPAIN (Flamenco, Folk & Copla)

Step into the heart of Andalusia for one night and join María de Huelva and Yumi La Blanca for a deeply moving performance blending the fiery passion of Flamenco with Spanish Folk music and the romantic drama of the Copla - a traditional Spanish musical genre, that emerged in the 19th century.

With guitar, voice, cajón, three-holed pipe, tabor and dance, the dúo will fill the charm of Pulse & Pickle with the warmth and duende of southern Spain.

Artists:

• María de Huelva: guitar, voice, pipe & tabor.

• Yumi la Blanca: dance, cajón, castanets.

We also recognise that financial realities shape who can take part in such gatherings. To make our events accessible, we offer a Solidarity Sliding Scale: tickets range from £5 for those who need support, £10 or more for those able to contribute in solidarity. 

This approach allows people with different resources to sit at the same table and support one another’s participation. The income from each event goes directly toward paying fair wages to our team, supporting the artists and hosts who shape the events, and paying the local growers whose produce makes our food possible. 

If cost is a barrier to entry, please get in touch with us - contact@pulseandpickle.org

About the artists -

Maria de Huelva:

Hailing from the village of Almonaster la Real in Andalusia’s Huelva province, María is a passionate musician and scholar deeply rooted in flamenco and Spanish folk traditions. With a degree in History (Archaeology) and a Master’s in Advanced Musical Studies (Ethnomusicology), she combines academic insight with cultural heritage.

Beginning her guitar journey at age seven under John MacInnes, María went on to train in classical guitar for eight years while also mastering the three-holed pipe and tabor, traditional instruments of historic taborers. Actively performing as a guitarist, singer, and taborer, she brings spontaneity and joy to traditional celebrations across Spain and the UK. Inspired by London’s multicultural scene, she has also embraced the rubab, blending it into her repertoire with Spanish folk and flamenco. María is currently developing her solo project, Alkemi, while collaborating on innovative ventures such as Migrants and Bukhara.

Yumi La Blanca:

Based in London, Yumi La Blanca is a versatile flamenco performer — known both as a dancer who plays the cajón and a cajón player who dances. Since her introduction to flamenco in 2002, she has explored its deep connections with folklórico, copla, and Escuela Bolera, drawing inspiration from mentors Eiko Takahashi (Tokyo) and Conchita del Campo (London).

Yumi was the last student of the legendary bailaora Maribel La Manchega, who, alongside guitarist Paco Peña, served as Joint Honorary President of the Peña Flamenca de Londres — where Yumi has been a committee member since 2013.

Her passion for rhythm began early with the castanets, later expanding to instruments including cajón, bongo, guitar, tambourine, and maracas. In 2023, she began her artistic collaboration with María de Huelva, combining percussion and dance in a dynamic partnership.

Yumi performs regularly at Spanish restaurants and cultural festivals across London, and has curated several flamenco productions, including Pasos de Transición (2018) with dancer Sam Quy. For over 15 years, she has been a guest performer with Flamenco Con Gusto, led by Danielle Allan.

Beyond performance, Yumi runs baileplus.com, where she publishes cultural articles, reviews, and interviews exploring flamenco, ballet, theatre, and other art forms.