Joan Manuel Serrat, one of Spanish popular music's greatest treasures

Joan Manuel Serrat has long been recognised as one of the most influential figures in the development of modern Spanish popular music. During the course of a decades-long career, he has dedicated his life to advancing the cause of music sung in the Catalan language, known as "Nueva canción". At one point this commitment even forced him into exile, and as a result, today he is one of the most beloved performers in Spanish pop. His adult-oriented pop-rock is as popular now as it was at the height of his prominence in the 70s, and you'll find plenty of opportunities to buy or sell Joan Manuel Serrat tickets on StubHub.

A pioneer of Catalan popular music

Joan Manuel Serrat is best known as an original pioneer of the "Nova Cançó" movement, which was an artistic activism collective that championed Catalan music during the era of Franco's dictatorship in Spain. "Nueva canción" was its chosen music, a politically-inspired form of popular folk, and this is exactly what you can expect when you're listening to him to this day. His stature in the genre has earned him various nicknames, like "El noi del Poble-sec" (the boy from Poble-sec). He began playing music in bands while still at school, and like many young musicians of the day spent a lot of his time covering the pop music of the day, like that of the Beatles. His first love was the folk music of his native Catalan region, and it wasn't long before he became a fervent advocate of the Catalan culture resistance movement in Francoist Spain in the Seventies. He took his first public stand when he was chosen to perform Spain's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. Due to his insistence on singing in his native language rather than Spanish, he was replaced at the last minute. This was the start of a long career of social activism using his musical talents. You can hear his deeply traditional Catalan music when you get Joan Manuel Serrat tickets.

Deeply revered by modern Spanish pop stars

In 1974 Joan Manuel Serrat was briefly forced into exile by Franco's government for his opposition to the death penalty, returning once Franco had died, and in a complete reversal of fortune he has since been recognised and awarded by the Spanish government for his contribution to his country's culture. His music has influenced more than one generation of Spanish pop artists, and they've repaid the compliment, coming together on two occasions to record tribute albums that cover his songs in a series called "Serrat, eres único". The list includes some of Spanish pop music's most famous modern artists, like Rosario Flores and Alejandro Sanz. His music has also been adapted by artists like Paco Ibáñez. Even if you have only a passing interest in Spanish popular music of the last few decades, you'll be well rewarded when you're watching one of its pioneers – get your Joan Manuel Serrat tickets on StubHub.