Antònia Font suspends its Mobo concert but will pay tribute to Joan Roca
The band members will pay tribute to him and will perform a show that will become "a display of affection, esteem, and admiration towards him".
PalmaAntònia Font has suspended their concert on the last day of the Mobofest festival due to the premature departure of Joan Roca. Nevertheless, the band members will pay tribute to him. Thus, the performance becomes "a show of affection, love, and admiration for him," according to sources from the organization.
The Mobofest Musical Movement laments "with heart and soul" the loss of Joan Roca, "a unique person and musician" within the Mallorcan music scene. "He has been, is, and will be essential to understanding the musical history of our culture," they assured.
The Mobo organization also wanted to send their support and condolences "to his family, his friends, and all the people who love him".
The historic bassist of Antònia Font, Joan Roca, died early this Wednesday at 53 years of age, after a long illness. Beyond Antònia Font, Roca also developed other projects, such as the experimental jazz trio Geometrical Sardine, with Jaume Rosselló and Pep Aspas, Dinamo, U Jazz, Quartet, and Ensemble ACA.
Expressions of affection for the musician were not long in coming. The members of the group have remembered him on social networks as "a friend, a generous colleague, and a brother." On their Instagram profile, the group admitted that "it is difficult to find the words to explain" their feelings about this. "He has accompanied us for 25 years, 9 albums, and hundreds of concerts. He leaves an irreparable and irreplaceable void".
For her part, the president of the Government, Marga Prohens, lamented the artist's death: "Thank you, Joan, for making us sing, dance, laugh, and dream. For making us feel so much joy and for being part of our lives through music." The president of the Congress and former president of the Government, Francina Armengol, also bid him farewell. "Terrible news. We are losing an exceptional artist and a great person. His music with Antònia Font is part of the soundtrack of many lives and also of the cultural identity of our islands," she also wrote on social media.