Eurosteam Con 2013 in Spain

1.- Intro: Eurosteam Con in Spain

After the success of Eurosteam Con 2012, this year’s edition is approaching full steam ahead! As announced by its main promoter, Marcus Rauchfuß, it is going to take place across Europe on 28th and 29th September 2013 .

Taking into consideration that Decimononic is an international project located in Spain, we would like to focus on the events foreseen within our own country. We have to say that Eurosteam Con is generating considerable buzz beyond the niche of the Spanish Steampunk scene: articles like this one published on Kultura Gótika, Leer magazine or even TV news (Cuatro, Tele 5), may be considered some representative examples.

2.- Locations

There are seven locations confirmed at present (sorted by alphabetical order):

Barcelona (Barcelona)

The Estació del Nord (Nord Bus Station) is going to held most of the activities scheduled in the busy agenda of Eurosteam Con Barcelona 2013. Supported by Anacrónicos Steampunk, Barcelona Steampunk, Cabaret de Medianoche, El Costurero Real, Factoría Goggles and Madame Chocolat, the I Steampunk Fair of Barcelona is going to offer a wide variety of activities: concerts (Freak Fandango Orchestra and Suddenlash), contest (hats and rayguns), conferences, vendors area… without forgetting complementary activities like a group photo session, a corsetry masterclass and a theater workshop.

Poster by Nekro XIII.

Useful links: official website | Facebook

Bilbao (Vasque country)

Steampunk Bilbao Group is ready to welcome Eurosteam Con with a good bunch of activities scattered over the Residence, Evidence Cafe Teatro and Mármara Tetería & Cervecería through the whole weekend. The agenda is going to include tabletop games, a small drawings and photos exhibition, photo session, a concert, short movies projection, and a tea party with a “tertulia” (table-talk).

Poster by Daniel Alba.

Useful links: Facebook (community) | Facebook (event)

Chapinería (Madrid)

For second year in a raw and with the collaboration of Max Von Tannhäuser, Elektronische and Estrella Galicia, the team of Ithilien Taberna Cultural organizes a comprehensive event that includes a big surprise: Madlab, one of the first Steampunk theatrical plays all over the world (at least as far as we know¹).

In addition, and according to the nature of the event, four European ambassadors will be welcomed: ‘On the occasion of Eurosteam Con 2013 and in order to exchange experiences and ambassadors between different countries, we offer full accommodation for four people on 28th September. This invitation is addressed to European Steampunks, who are expected to pay their own travel expenses’.

The event’s agenda includes literary presentations (Ácronos and Planes B), harpist Abigail Horro life performance, an exhibition of clothes and accessories by several Spanish designers, tarot readings by Victoria Vanadis and fellowship activities.

Disclaimer: some of our fine jewelry pieces are going to be exhibited in this event.

Poster by Itihien crew.

Useful links: Facebook

Madrid (Madrid)

The Sociedad Siete Arcanos (‘Seven Arcanes Society’) organizes this event, that will take place in different locations of the city (from pubs like Bulevar, Fenrir Metal Bar and La Pequeña Betty to the well known historic places like the Buen Retiro park and the Temple of Debod). As the organizers state, this is an event conceived to bring together related underground movements (steampunk, neovictorian, goth, electronics, rococó, 1950s…) and for this reason its agenda comprises workshops, life performances (Circle of Vice Dark Session), an ambitious raffle and many other surprises. The novel ‘Cronicas de Gaia: Génesis’ by Armando Valdemar is going to be presented in Madrid on 28th.

With the collaboration of Burlesque, Decimononic, Rara Avis and Jacq The Rimmel, Dj Lotus and Oskuro (CIRCLE Of Vice Session), Made In Hell, Viva Las Vegas and Lady Dramakuin, Frenzy Storm Parties, Space Cat Session and Betty Vamp, Dark Wings, Universo Katharsia, Nueva Vida, Natumascota, Fernando Guisado and Centro Dental Implantológico Doctora Guisado, Saikend’s Forge, Medio Muertas, Duendelirium and Lady Aguja.

Disclaimer: some of our fine jewelry pieces are going to be part of a raffle within this event (the lucky winner will have the possibility to choose one of our Tempus Fugit rings).

Poster by Julian Rigor-Mortis.

Useful links: Facebook (event) | Facebook (Sociedad Siete Arcanos)

Ourense (Galicia)

After the morning tea in a country house that will host the participants on 28th September, the first activity will be heading to the exceptional roman remains of  ‘Aquis Querquennis’ before lunch time.  The afternoon will let the intrepid explorers visit the ruins and take its curative waters. The dinner will become the perfect compliment to a great day of celebration.

Useful links: Facebook (Steampunk Galicia) | Facebook (event)

Seville (Andalucía)

The attendants to Eurosteam Con Sevilla 2013 will have the opportunity to enjoy themselves in the emblematic María Luisa Park, along the Guadalquivir river, on 28th September. The day will begin with a visit to the Museum of Arts and Traditions of Seville, followed by a Steampunk’s fashion catwalk and a Victorian picnic. The table-talk will give way to a Steampunk ‘trivial pursuit’ and a ‘best attire’ contest.

Poster by Miguel Andrés Carrión Guijarro.

Useful links: Facebook

Zaragoza (Aragón)

This mont is going to have plenty of workshops (sewing, pastry-making, hat making, tribal bellydance, films, photoshoots, role games, short stories contests… with the great finale on the Eurosteam Con weekend with more workshops and an awards ceremony in the Youth Centre El Túnel.

In El Túnel there will be an exhibition of illustrations by Víctor Rivas, Victorian and Steampunk-inspired pullips by Fernando Lafuente and selections of photos from the previous photoshoots, not to mention collaborations with other local authors and photographers. Vendors and publishers area, including The Yllw Line, Calaverita My Friend, Sanctuary Dark Passion, Saco de huesos… tea and pastries , badges and cartoons kiosks. Cabaret de Medianoche will create a charming atmosphere with burlesque and cabaret music and you can expect films of Méliès or Segundo de Chomón. And, as it only comes natural, a photocall.

The agenda features conferences and books’ signing by authors such as Victoria Álvarez, the illustrator Víctor Rivas, a steampunk attire contest, a life-demo of the role-game Malifaux, a lecture about retrofuturistic fashions based on 19th century (Lolita and Steampunk mainly) by María Gutiérrez and Pablo Begué, a concert by Duendelirium y the final of the Bang tournament.

On Sunday morning there will be a guided tour through the city focusing on the 19th century architecture (by Gozarte group) to be back to El Túnel in the afternoon in order to enjoy some dance performances, a master class of tribal fusion bellydance by Azahara Pintanel and conferences by writers Josué Ramos and Armando Valdemar.

If you want to visit this event, remember that there is a 30% discount by RENFE (the Spanish national rail network)!

Poster by Víctor Rivas.

Useful links: Facebook (page) | Facebook (event)

3.- More information

For further info:

• MundoSteampunk.Net: ‘EuroSteamCon España’ (Spanish language)
• Eurosteam Con official website.
• Eurosteam Con official Facebook.

Do you miss any information? Get in touch with us and we will be pleased to update this blog post.

Due to circumstances beyond our control we are going to miss this years’ celebrations, but we are sure that all of them are going to be a success and they will prepare the ground for an even bigger and better Eurosteam Con in 2014. Have fun and share your photos with us!

¹Edit 10th September 2013.- We want to thank Armando Valdemar, Josué Ramos and Paulo César Ramírez for telling us about ‘An evening of steampunk and robot theatre’, nine original short theatre plays for charity produced by John Herman that took place in Portsmouth (NH, USA) in 2010.