The band was formed in April 1998, when Ruth, Angel Pop, Rafa and Jose Alberto decided to start writing happy, dreamy pop songs, inspired by some of their faves: HEAVENLY, LOS FRESONES REBELDES, pop based on crystal-like guitars and naive female vocals. After composing a song called "Vacaciones En El Mar", they got the name for the band: VACACIONES - the Spanish word for "holidays". For them, holidays mean the best moments of the year, when we can escape from the daily grind. And because playing in a band is the funniest thing in the world.
They play their first gig in July, a one-song gig! It happened at the end of a HELLO CUCA and LOS FRESONES REBELDES gig. They were invited to come up to the stage and play a song, helped on drums by Felipe from LOS FRESONES. They made the premiere of one of their
best songs, "Poppy Girl". Shortly after that they decide to have a second vocalist and Encarna comes in; they play their second gig with her, and it´s again something very special: an end of the term party at a school, with a bunch of small children as main audience. Surely the kids had a splendid time thanks to VACACIONES´ songs.
That summer they record their first demo, which will hand it to Elefant Records´ staff during Benicassim Festival. This demo starts being played on the radio, and some expectation is aroused; it´s a very good moment for bands for them, as for the last years many pop bands alike have become very popular in Spain: NOSOTRÄSH, FRESONES REBELDES, METEOSAT... In January 1999, Elefant finally releases a single with 4 songs. It´s called "Dani" and it was recorded with the help of Carlos Campoy (FERROBLUES) and Antonio Galvañ (PARADE).
After this release, Encarna leaves the band, and Ana comes in to play keyboards and sing backing vocals; then they take part in many festivals and concerts: they play in February in Madrid with LA PEQUEÑA SUIZA; in march they appear at a party hosted by the radio show "Viaje A Los Sueños Polares", with LOS PLANETAS and POLAR. Some Elefant parties come after this: one in Barcelona in April, with CECILIA ANN and LA PEQUEÑA SUIZA; another one in Madrid in May with LA MONJA ENANA and NIZA. At the end of the show the three bands play together a special version of "Imperfecta", one of the most popular songs in VACACIONES live act. This song was included in "Verano Del 99" Elefant compilation.
This same month they appear in a special feature of newspaper "El País", centered on new Spanish bands, while lots of fanzines and magazines interview the band and show a true interest on them. On June 25 they played in Zaragoza, with METEOSAT and D'ESTRELLITAS POWER, in a party organized by La Indiferencia Fanzine. Two days after they play at the FNAC in Valencia. Meanwhile, over 1000 copies of "Dani" were been sold, quite a good figure for a debut vinyl single.
Some other relevant gigs: they played with MARINE RESEARCH on the opening party of 99´s Benicassim Festival, and they supported FRANK AND WALTERS in Alicante in October. In November they play again with MARINE RESEARCH in Madrid and Barcelona. It was Amelia Fletcher herself the one who requested VACACIONES as opening act for their Spanish dates.
They release new songs in February 2000: a CD-Single with five new songs ("Un año de...") plus a new seven inch with a song taken from the single ("Espero una respuesta"), another new track ("Ahora sí!") and two cover versions of France Gall and LOS TRES SUDAMERICANOS. There' s a promo video of "Ahora sí!".
After the release of these two records Angel Pop leaves the band and he´s substituted by Carlos on bass. They play with this new line up in many festivals and gigs, like Contempopranea Festival in Alburquerque (Badajoz) in the summer of 2000.
In november 2000 they include their song "Ahora sí!" in a compilation released by American label March Records. Among the contributors, bands such as BAXENDALE, WALTZ FOR DEBBIE or CLUB 8.
During 2001 the band concentrates in writing songs for their debut album, plus playing dates in festivals such as Contempopranea (Badajoz), Socarrat (Xativa) or Lemon Pop (Murcia).
The album is eventually out on April 2002 under the title of "Sonreír". It was recorded with Carlos Hernández in Refugio Antiaereo Studios (Granada), and includes fourteen (fifteen in vinyl version) tracks featuring rocking guitars, sweet female vocals and very catchy choruses, showing the band at its creative peak. Conciding with the release the band plays the Mini Pop Festival in Barcelona with bands such as SING SING or THE RELICT.
On July 27 VACACIONES play Contempopranea Festival with many other bands including NOSOTRÄSH and YELLOW MELODIES. They are scheduled for other post-summer festivals such as Bam (Barcelona) and Lemon Pop (Murcia).
During October, November and December VACACIONES play a long Spanish tour to promote "Sonreír".
Songs by VACACIONES are included in the soundtrack CD of short film "Looking for Chencho" (released on CD by Pias Spain) and in CD compilation "Elefant 2002", released by Mexican label Suave.
After premiering live the songs in their album "Sonreír", the band comes back to the studio to record the extra tracks included in their following single "No me digas que me quieres", the first single taken from the album. The single is finally released on May 2003, including "SCC", "Lloverá" and a cover version of Lio's "Amoureux Solitaires". There's also a videoclip shot for "No me digas que me quieres", directed by Les Nouveaux Auteurs and featuring a brief cameo by our beloved Amelia Fletcher (TENDER TRAP, HEAVENLY, TALULAH GOSH...).
They play in Primavera Sound Festival and in Benicassim FIB 2003.
Later that year, the bands finds the need of a second guitar for the new songs, and it is then when Angel joins the band, giving his first concert in November 1st, in the Easy Pop Weekend Festival.
Ana leaves the band in December 2003, to start a different life, in another town. Feeling the loss, ´cause the backing vocals and the keyboards are very important in the band, it is not until April 2004 when Maria del Mar (also in THE YELLOW MELODIES) comes to try, and finally stays in the band.
With the new line-up they play in Alicante in Summer, some days before travelling to Sweden, to play in the Emmaboda Festival in the south of Sweden, 13th August. They spend there the best 3 days of the year, and they play with THE LADYBUG TRANSISTOR, FINISHING SCHOOL, KAITO, BEARSUIT, THE RADIO DEPT., and a lot more of other interesting bands. They get good reviews in the swedish press. When they come back home, they play in the Lemon Pop Festival, in Murcia, their hometown, with bands such as THE LEGENDS, BOEDEKKA, NICEMAN & THE BAD BOYS, FANGORIA, and so on...
During the last months of 2004, they start recording new songs, which will be out in February 2005, in a cd-ep called 'Suelta los problemas ¡ya!', featuring 4 new songs, released under the new label from Barcelona, 'Discos de Paseo'. This ep announces the new album, so then, the band start recording their new album, "Emmaboda", in February. They spend recording "Emmaboda" from February to May, in their own studios, "Gratis', where the album is recorded, mixed and produced by themselves. It is mastered by J.M. Rosillo, and It finally comes out in October of 2005 under the Rafa Skam's new label 'Discos Imprescindibles' and Autopop. Vacaciones play in some of the summer festivals all around Spain (Contempopranea, Lemon Pop, Marbella Grill Festival,...) and they also start a spanish tour to promote their new album.
The band splits up on April 2006. Then...
* Ángel records some own songs in Hellin (Albacete).
* Carlos 77 keep on rehearsing with his another band, HIGINIO.
* José Alberto and Rafa form a band, also with Pili, from THE YELLOW MELODIES.
* Ruth and Rafa form also another band, and they keep going to festivals and venues as VACACIONES djs.
In 2007 the band come back again for a special gig at the Lemon Pop Festival, on 21st September.
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