In Spain, there are music festivals in many cities big and small. Whether you are into electronic music, pop, indie, rock or heavy metal, you will surely find yours. And if you happen to also like to visit museums, here is a list of suggestions to enjoy both. The problem is, which one(s) to choose?
Bilbao BBK Live +Museo Guggenheim
Held since 2006, it has become an institution in the world of music festivals. Rosalía, The Strokes and Suede are some of the names performing from 11-13 July in Kobetamendi. To make the most of your weekend, visit Lucio Fontana’s exhibition at the Guggenheim. The Italo-Argentinian artist masterly turned painted canvases into three-dimensional artworks by cutting them with the help of a stiletto.
Mad Cool + Museo del Prado
Coinciding with Bilbao BBK Live, the Madrid festival is adding a new day as a presentation, with Rosalía headlining the bill. Other acts performing at Valdebebas-Ifema include The Chemical Brothers, Iggy Pop, and The Cure. Back in the city centre, treat yourself with a visit to the Prado Museum to celebrate its bicentenary.
DCode Festival + Museo Reina Sofía
It could be said this festival marks the end of summer. If you are in Madrid on 7 September, go see Amaral, Miss Caffeina and Two Door Cinema Club. The following day is your last chance to enjoy Tetsuya Ishida’s disturbing bodies turned into machine parts, on show at the Reina Sofía Museum.
Sónar + Fundación Joan Miró
Electronic music will again this year take over Barcelona on 18, 19 and 20 July. Grenadian Dellafuente, Underworld, Disclosure and 140 other artists will perform at Sónar Day and Sónar Night. To take a break from music, immerse yourself in the Joan Miró Foundation to admire the paintings, drawings, sculptures and works on paper that so much contributed to European Surrealism.
Rock Fest Barcelona + Macba
If you want to find out what happened to Europe, the Swedish band whose hit 'The Final Countdown' we’ve all sung along, don’t miss Rock Fest Barcelona. Boikot, Def con Dos and legendary bands ZZ Top and Def Leppard are also headliners. And if you feel like more music, visit Christian Marclay’s sonic compositions at Macba. This great plan will schedule you on 4 to 7 July.
Rosalia, The Strokes or Suede await you in Kobetamendi, Bilbao. © BBK Live
Heineken Jazzaldia + Chillida Leku
From 24 to 28 July Martirio, Chano Domínguez, Neneh Cherry, Joan Báez, and Diana Krall are some of the artists performing on San Sebastián’s streets and beaches as part of Europe’s oldest jazz festival. For the culture-thirsty, the recently re-opened Chillida Leku showing the sculptures of Eduardo Chillida is just a few kilometres away.
Festival Jazz Vitoria + Gasteiz - Artium
Jazz lovers rejoice! From 15-20 July, the 43rd edition of Vitoria’s Jazz Festival features Kamasi Washington, Jorge Drexler, Gregory Porter, and Omara Portuondo, among others. During or after the festival, visit the exhibition devoted to the relationship between art and comics on show at the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art.
WOS Festival + Centro Galego de Arte Contemporáneo (CGAC)
The bill of this festival celebrated in Santiago de Compostela is top secret. However, judging by previous editions, with Suso Saiz, Robert Henke, Silver Apples and Spectrum among the headliners, we’re sure it won’t be disappointing. At around the same dates, from 11-15 September, the CGAC showcases the work of Max de Esteban, which reflects on the digitalization of the economy and the radicalization of the neoliberal agenda.
Tsunami Xixón + La Laboral
If you happen to be in Gijón on 2 August to flee the summer heat and enjoy the city’s gastronomy, don’t miss the Tsunami Xixón festival, with acts including The Offspring, Good Charlotte and Carolina Durante. Finish off your vacation by visiting the impressive Laboral University building, which will be showing Landscapes to Listen To by Juanjo Palacios, an original installation made up of sounds from Asturias’s biosphere reserves.
Caravan Sur Sevilla Music Festival + Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo
While most of the country goes back to routine, in Seville summer is not quite over yet. At least not until the end of this festival featuring protest acts such as Pussy Riot, O Funkillo and Ilegales. The festival is held at the Andalusian Centre for Contemporary Art, with art exhibitions to enjoy in between shows.
After a summer like this, you will wish to return to the sweet dullness of autumn!
