Two classic Basque songs: Hegoak and Etxahun Iruri - Chino Basque Festival Chino, Calif. 2024

Singer Michel Etcheverry, accordionist Jean Louis Bergara and friends, like Frantxoa Challet and a group of pelotaris (handball players) from the Basque Country joined the 2024 Chino Basque Festival Sept. 1 in Chino, California. They entertained the crowd after lunch with some classic Basque songs. Singing around the table is a long tradition in the Basque Country and has helped maintain their unique language, Euskara. The song Hegoak or Txori txoria is only partially recorded here. This song by Mikel Laboa has become something of a national anthem for the Basque people. The song Etxahun Iruri is from Xiberua and reflects the accent of that province. It pays homage to Etxahun Iruri (Pierre Bordaçerre) a bertsolari, musician and writer from Xiberua.