From days on the seashore to sundown strolls, Spain has lengthy provided inspiration for the creatively minded. Some of the alluring locations for music followers in search of a contemporary journey, the nation offers an unmatched sequence of distinctive competition experiences.
After going through COVID-19 cancellations in 2020, solely a choose few made their return in 2021. Now, 2022’s season is about to mark the full-fledged return of a few of the world’s finest rock fests, so you’ll be able to benefit from your summer time in Spain.
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Primavera Sound, Barcelona
Dates: June 2-12, 2022 (Weekend 1 June 2-4, Weekend 2 June 9/11, with venue exhibits in between)
Attendance: 175,000–190,000
Held within the sprawling Parc del Fòrum, behemoth competition Primavera Sound is about to mark its return to the seaside park in dramatic trend. It is one of many world’s premier festivals, and concert-goers from across the globe flock to Barcelona’s shores for unlikely reunions, particular one-off performances and tour premieres. The road-up for 2022 brings again most of the deliberate headliners from the canceled 2020 version together with Huge Assault, Pavement, The Strokes, The Nationwide, Tyler, The Creator and Beck, together with new additions like Dua Lipa, Gorillaz, Megan Thee Stallion, Tame Impala, Phoenix and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Not solely is the competition increasing past the Iberian Peninsula later this yr with an LA version premiering in September, however subsequent yr’s Spanish program will host its first weekend in Barcelona, and transfer the second to Madrid, whereas additionally increasing to Latin America with new variations in Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires and Santiago De Chile in 2023.
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Vida Pageant, Vilanova i la Geltrú
Dates: June thirtieth, July 1 and a pair of, tenting accessible.
Attendance: 10,000
Held at Masia d’en Cabanyes, a dreamy villa within the coastal Catalan seashore city of Vilanova i la Geltrú close to the well-known resort city of Sitges, only a mere 35-minute practice journey from Barcelona, Vida Festival is the competition crafted for music connoisseurs. The grounds are appropriate for 25,000, however organizers restrict attendance to 10,000 to take care of a cushty ambiance. With set occasions that don’t overlap, followers can admire a greater diversity of acts with improved acoustics. The low-key affair nonetheless pulls in big-name acts, and this yr’s version doesn’t disappoint with indie darlings like Belle & Sebastian, Cat Energy, Soccer Mommy, The Avalanches, Alt-J, Black Pumas and Destroyer taking the stage. A secret winter version is held on the palatial Finca Mas Solers property in December; the line-up is teased upfront with clues however the artists are solely revealed once they take to the stage to carry out.
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Mad Cool Pageant, Madrid
Dates: July 6-10, returning September tenth for a particular Sundown version
Attendance: 135,000
Since 2016 the Spanish capital’s flagship Mad Cool Festival has forged Madrid because the centerpiece of the summer time competition circuit and is doubling down in ‘22 with a number of editions. The primary takes place over July sixth to the tenth, increasing to five full days and boastings performances by Metallica, Twenty One Pilots, Think about Dragons, The Killers, Stormzy, Muse, Kings of Leon, Florence + The Machine, Pixies and Jack White, earlier than returning in September for what’s being billed as Mad Cool Sundown with Rage In opposition to the Machine, Biffy Clyro, Glass Animals, Stereophonics, Run The Jewels and Kurt Vile & The Violators in tow, marking one of the spectacular packages round.
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Bilbao BBK Stay, Bilbao
Dates: July 7, 8, 9, Tenting accessible
Attendance: 110,000
Perched on the rolling hills of Mount Cobetas overlooking the creative coronary heart of the Basque Nation, Bilbao’s BBK Live is among the most enriching vacation spot music festivals. With units starting later within the afternoon, the times are left free to eat pintxos, peruse Museo Guggenheim and even go to close by Video games of Thrones filming areas.
This yr’s line-up boasts LCD Soundsystem, Placebo, Moderat, The Killers, Stromae, J Balvin and Pet Store Boys.
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Azkena Rock Pageant, Vitoria-Gasteiz
Dates: June 16-18, tenting accessible
Attendance: 45,000
Celebrating its twentieth anniversary, the Azkena Rock Festival takes pleasure within the raised-eyebrows from followers over its seemingly confused lineups, meant to enchantment throughout the spectrum of music followers and introduce totally different generations to artists they may not usually hunt down, this yr pairing the likes of Patti Smith with The Offspring, and Social Distortion with Emmylou Harris, there’s one thing for everybody to be launched to and is thought for its open and relaxed setting.
At La Virgen Blanca, the town sq. within the Previous Quarter, designed within the form of an almond, particular performances pop up across the monument to the Battle of Vitoria throughout the competition, making for an epic scene for once-in-a-lifetime performances.
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Sónar, Barcelona
Dates: June 16-18, 2022
Attendance: 120,000
Each June since 1994, Sónar has confirmed Barcelona as the middle of the European digital music scene. Break up between Sónar by Day and Sónar by Evening units, the multidisciplinary competition ties collectively music, know-how and creativity. A member of We Are Europe, a collective of eight main European occasions established to advertise artistic range and alternate by tradition, Sónar has spawned editions in Reykjavik, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Bogota and Buenos Aires. This yr’s Barcelona version returns with acts starting from The Chemical Brothers, Princess Nokia, Jayda G, Ms NIna, Moderat, Oneohtrix Level By no means and Arca.
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Pageant Cruïlla, Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona
Dates: July 6-9 (4 Days)
Attendance: 50,000
The identify “Cruïlla” means crossroads in Spanish, with an emphasis on a extra eclectic lineup, with an emphasis on native sounds, artwork and moreover comedy units.
Organising store at Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona lower than a month following Primavera Sound, this yr’s occasion brings Juan Luis Guerra, Jack White, Duran Duran, Scorching Chip, Residente, Molotov, Rels B and Trueno collectively to the Catalonia seaside.
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