Gipsy Kings Featuring Tonino Baliardo in California this March
Gipsy Kings, featuring Tonino Baliardo
The band’s U.S. tour has been announced for Spring 2026. Beginning in March in California, the dates hug both West and East Coasts (dates below). Tickets are on sale now. The new album, Historia, will be released on May 15th. Pre-order album.
California Tour Dates:
Mar 14 - El Cajon, CA @ Sycuan Casino Resort
Mar 15 - Oxnard, CA @ Oxnard Performing Arts Center
Mar 18 - Grass Valley, CA @ The Center of the Performing Arts
Mar 19 - Oakland, CA @ Henry J. Kaiser Center For The Arts
Mar 20-21 - Newport Beach, CA @ The Lido Theatre
Listen to the first single, Señorita:
I interviewed Tonino Baliardo, asking him about the new album and upcoming tour.
When you look back on the making of Historia, what is one song whose final version ended up very different from how it began?
That is a very interesting question. If I have an idea for a melody I usually just play around with it on my guitar. I have many songs I have written but still not recorded. I suppose if you think of designing a house you start on basics, look at the drawings and add or take away things. Composing is similar. I always let my sons Cosso and Mikael listen to my ideas. Going back to the new album Historia, my young grandson Milan asked me to write a song about Big Bang I laughed and had no idea what Big Bang was. I could not let Milan down so I wrote a song called Big Bang it came out as a real dance track.
"Cielo" is an instrumental piece written in memory of your brother. What were the circumstances in which it was written?
Sadly we lost Paco, my elder brother, during the recording of Historia and we were travelling as well. Paco was one of the original Gipsy Kings so of course we were always together. It's tough when you lose a sibling but the wonderful memories I have are very special. The track "Cielo" is an instrumental and I wanted my guitar to sound sad but positive as I know that is what Paco would have wanted. We have a new documentary on my life as a Gipsy King being released in May on Amazon Prime and there is a wonderful part in it about Paco.
You’re now performing with your sons. How do rehearsals and songwriting work in practice within your family? How does that compare to the early days of the band?
In the early days we were Gipsy kids busking on beaches, street corners and bars, hoping to raise enough money for food. We live in Montpellier and in my house I have a studio. Cosso and Mikeal live nearby so initially we get together, then Thomas, our bass player joins us, things move forward and the rest of the boys come along. Look, we are a family, everyone suggests ideas. I love to have young people in my company and they are all great musicians.
The Gipsy Kings’ music has appeared in films like The Big Lebowski and Toy Story 3. How have those placements influenced the makeup of your growing audience?
Without a doubt we have found a new audience through all the films' success. We often perform "Hotel California" on stage and everyone sings along. We had the honour of heading one night at Glastonbury and the reaction to us singing the Eagles song was for all of us a most incredible experience. I have often thought of writing music for movies. Who knows, maybe one day.
You’re performing in smaller cities across northern California, including Grass Valley, Oxnard, and El Cajon. What can audiences in these cities look forward to?
As Gipsys we love being on the road and touring and the US is very special to us as we are always so warmly welcomed. Standing, waiting to go on stage we are all one person. It's Fiesta Time, all are welcome. Sadly the world is a sad place at the moment. One thing is guaranteed after our shows as the audiences are leaving they all have a wonderful smile on their faces. That for us is the best.
How are you feeling about the upcoming documentary?
It is impossible to put one's life into a sixty minute movie. I think it tells my story as Tonino Baliardo. I have been very lucky and privileged on my journey. I have my wonderful family and my music which is portrayed in the documentary.