How can I put it diplomatically?
There are heaps of cool things about Spain: the climate, the food, and the people. But communicating in English is not necessarily one of them. Luckily, that doesn’t stop Spaniards from appreciating foreign artists. After all, music is a universal language, and any reason is good to party and have a good time here.
So, if you’re an artist from Oz, looking to expand overseas, this might be your moment. Major Spanish festivals have recently been paying close attention to the music from the Antipodes. This year is no different.
PART 229 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE
Okay, so before you ask. I’ve been based in Spain on and off for a few years. And I’ve seen firsthand how much the music scene here has changed (and that for the better) in the last decade.
When I first moved to Spain for a job, I noticed there weren’t many English-speaking entertainment options for expats, especially those living in big cities: Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia.
Let me put this in perspective for you. While you don’t really need to understand the local language to go to a Real Madrid football game or to buy the delish local wine in a supermarket, it becomes a slight issue if you want to go to the cinema. Movies are dubbed here, for example. Which means Chris Hemsworth has his assigned Spanish voiceover counterpart. And I mean, like forever, so most Spanish people have probably never heard and never will hear his deep voice and the Aussie accent.
A similar thing was true for the live music sector. Don’t get me wrong – since I speak Spanish, I have my fave local artists, too. But – and here comes the shocker – I also listen to heaps of music from countries like the UK, the States, Australia, etc. So I really missed seeing English-speaking acts live. To the extent that when a (then) rising Aussie artist, Troye Sivan, visited Madrid in December 2015, I honestly thought the organisers made a mistake… and missed out on the tix.
But times, they are a-changin’. And I’m stoked to report that the above is no longer the case. Since the pandemic, Spanish organisers have been punching well above their weight, scouting acts from all over the world to attract more people to their events. That includes booking Australian talent.
For the record, I’m not only referring to the internationally acclaimed acts. Nick Cave, Tame Impala or King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard might frequently top festival bills. But artists who are a bit less recognisable in Europe have also been included in the line-ups over the years. Amongst them are Gang of Youths, Stella Donnelly and Tropical Fuck Storm.
This brings me to anno domini 2025.
Spain’s most famous festival is probably Primavera Sound, whose current edition is already done and dusted. And guess who was one of the headliners this time? Troye Sivan himself. Apart from this multiple-ARIA winner from 2024, Parcels and Confidence Man also waved the Aussie flag at the Barcelona-based event.
But summer has only just started in the Northern Hemisphere. And so has the live music madness.
So, here are three other Spanish festivals featuring acts from the Land Down Under, where you might see me rocking out this year.
BBK LIVE – BILBAO
What: Let me put it this way. Normally, when notable international artists and events pass through Spain, they would stop in Barcelona or the nation’s capital, Madrid. So, the fact that there’s a festival in the North of Spain of this scale is a huge achievement for the region. The first event of its kind, it not only significantly boosts the local economy but also attracts a pretty impressive crowd (around 100k attendees, depending on the year). A special venue has also been built to host the festival, using the natural slopes of Mount Kobatemandi in the southwestern part of the city.
Why: In my humble view, BBK Live is an underdog that has gained quite a reputation in the European live music sector in the last decade or so. And it’s not only my opinion. It’s also proven by some music industry nominations: for “Best Foreign Festival” at the UK Festival Awards in 2010 and 2011, and “Best Medium-Sized European Festival” at the European Festivals Awards between 2009 and 2011.
(And on a side note: it’s much cooler in that region of Spain in mid-July. You can thank me for that info later.)
When: 10-12 July 2025 (Thursday-Saturday)
Where: Bilbao, Basque Country
Tickets: Single day = EUR 75 or 3 days = EUR 175
Headliners: Pulp, Raye, Kaytranada, Michael Kiwanuka and more
Aussie reps: Amyl and the Sniffers and Kylie Minogue
In other news: After being dropped from a Scottish festival bill, the controversial Northern Irish hip-hop group Kneecap have been announced as the last-minute addition to BBK Live. If that’s not making a statement by the festival, then I don’t know what is. Plus, if you’ve been following Kneecap’s story over the last half a year or so, you know this is a not-to-be-missed kind of performance.
MAD COOL – MADRID
What: Barcelona has Primavera Sound, but since 2016, Madrid has boasted its own staple music event. Despite the sweltering July heat, Mad Cool has been attracting crowds to the Spanish capital year after year. The festival noted record attendance in 2018. 240,000 (!!!) people visited it that year. Different formats have been explored since – from a 5-day venture to a 3-day fling. Regardless of how long it lasts, it surely rocks my boat.
Why: I was at the inaugural edition. And you know, normally, you start small, and then you grow. But the organisers went all out on the very first go: The Who, The Prodigy, Neil Young, Bastille, Garbage… And even though the festival set the bar really high for the next iterations, it’s consistently delivered a solid line-up over the years. What’s not to like?
When: 10-12 July 2025 (Thursday-Saturday)
Where: Villaverde, just south of Madrid
Tickets: Single day = EUR 89 or 3 days = from EUR 199
Headliners: Muse, Olivia Rodrigo, Benson Boone, Iggy Pop and more
Aussie reps: Royel Otis, The Teskey Brothers, JET and Battlesnake
In other news: To top it all, Mad Cool collaborates with the famed Brunch Electronik this year, bringing you an additional day (13 July) of bangers, courtesy of Peggy Gou, Jungle (DJ Set), Mau P and Macarena Hoffmann.
ROCKLAND FEST – SANTO DOMINGO DE LA CALZADA
What: I’ll be honest. I’d never heard of this Spanish music affair. But one of my Aussie music biz contacts manages your new favourite metal band, Battlesnake. And she mentioned she would be in Spain with them during the European summer, for a few festivals, including this one. So, I did some digging. And all I can say is this. Any headbanging fans out there? Cancel all other plans. This is the place for you to be this summer.
Why: I’ll give you three reasons. 1. Rockland Fest‘s epic 2025 line-up. 2. It’s in the famous Spanish wine region. 3. This is not criticism, but it’s kind of in the middle of nowhere. And that means you’ll be able to enjoy the vibe of an authentic Spanish town, as opposed to the big city vibe.
When: 18-20 July 2025 (Friday-Sunday)
Where: Santo Domingo de la Calzada in the La Rioja region
Tickets: Single day = EUR 71.5 or 3 days = EUR 104.5
Headliners: Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, The Black Keys, Refused and more
Aussie reps: JET, Battlesnake and Wolfmother
In other news: If I can give the organisers a tip, I’d run the website and socials in English, too. While I totally commend you for honouring the local language, international fans will surely appreciate this gesture.
Here’s also a bonus tip for Aussie music lovers. One of my all-time fave EDM outfits, Rüfüs Du Sol, are playing two (!) shows on two consecutive days in Madrid very soon.
The first one is a part of their current world tour, promoting the new ‘Inhale / Exhale’ album. Tix for this one have, obvs, been sold out for weeks.
But the following day, 2/3 of the band will do a DJ set for a Brunch Electronik Madrid edition. And tix for this occasion are still available.
So… Where in Spain are you going to high-five me this summer?
Cover photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
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