Having announced its impressive 2018 line-up in full with acts including My Bloody Valentine, Gorillaz, The xx, Florence & The Machine and Childish Gambino to name just a few, Bilbao BBK Live now reveals a big surprise for festival-goers, with three special events set to bring music to the city streets for an entire week during the festival.
Only music can bring the mountain to the city… Bilbao BBK Live descends from the green pastures of Kobetamendi to bring over 50 bands and cultural activities to the city streets. A taste of the festival on Bilbao’s streets with three singular events: Night + Day, new this year at the hand of headline act The xx; Hirian, which makes a welcome return to Bilbao La Vieja, and Bilbao BBK Live Bereziak, already a classic.
NIGHT + DAY
6-11 July, Various Locations, Bilbao
Tickets: On sale from Friday 13 April at www.bilbaobbklive.com
Curated by The xx, Night + Day is a festival within a festival that celebrates the band’s favourite places around the world, through unique collaborations with local artists and communities. A week of music, cinema, radio and afterparties in Bilbao at the hand of one of the festival’s headline acts. From 6 to 11 July, the city will be host to a diverse range of cultural activities, notably a performance by Jamie xx & more, a magical evening featuring big figures from the world of electronica on two stages outside the city’s most iconic background: the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Tickets go on sale on Friday 13 April, with discounts available for festival pass holders. The full Night + Day programme will be revealed soon.
HIRIAN
26 May, Bilbao La Vieja
Free entry
Bilbao is a city replete with character and creativity, which is constantly evolving. A social and cultural melting pot where its inhabitants take centre stage. This is even more evident in Bilbao La Vieja, where emerging artists share space and often the same concerns, with neighbourhood associations and social movements, a laboratory of ideas in a district amidst regeneration. Bilbao BBK Live, together with Heineken, historically committed to Bilbao’s musical development because it shares the same cutting edge and progressive spirit as the city, and the Bilbao Council, wish to support the neighbourhood’s transformational energy and pass it on to anyone who visits its streets on 26 May through Hirian (“In the city”).
Faithful to Bilbao La Vieja’s transgressive spirit, the musical programme for the day’s free performances is based on fresh and attractive ideas, as current as they are diverse. New this year, we have increased the number of stages and there will be surprises to come in other spaces. The Mercado dosdemayo will be joining festivities, on this occasion the bohemian and alternative flea market – a meeting point for anyone wishing to drop by calle Dos de Mayo looking to browse, have a good time, join in and buy second hand and/or artisan items – will be holding a special musical flea market. Also, the neighbourhood will be hosting the X Bilbao International Record Fair between 26 and 27 May in Bilborock, organised by KLTR Events S.L. At the Fair you can find both vinyl records and CDs and other music-related curiosities.
Hirian will feature performances by Aneguria, Astola & Ratón, Audience, Billy Boom Band, Brisa Fenoy, Daniel Kyo, Dave P, El_txef_a, Flamingo Tours, Hidrogenesse, Javiera Mena, Josele Santiago, Ladilla Rusa, La Prohibida, Los Paralíticos del Ritmo, Mueveloreina, Mujeres, Nathy Peluso, Pional, The Excitements and Trajano! The artists will be spread over the stages at Plaza de los Tres Pilares, Muelle Marzana, Plaza Corazón de María, Plaza del Mercado de La Ribera and Plaza Bilbao La Vieja.
BILBAO BBK LIVE BEREZIAK
12, 13 and 14 July, Various Locations, Bilbao
Free entry
As in previous years Bilbao BBK Live Bereziak brings the essence of the festival to the very heart of the city. This year, it has added two new urban stages, one at Torres Isozaki in collaboration with Heineken (who will be supporting Bereziak once again), and outside the San Mamés stadium. The entire city will be able enjoy live music on 12, 13 and 14 July, coinciding with the dates of the festival, with free performances by D’Valentina, Gengahr, Grises, Joe Crepúsculo, Meute, Neuman, Parquet Courts, Polock, Rural Zombies, Triángulo De Amor Bizarro, Venturi, Yawnes and more bands to be announced some of who will be doing a double, playing in the city and at the festival proper.
The festival atmosphere will expand throughout the city centre, at Plaza Convivencia (Torres Isozaki), Jardines de Albia, Kiosko del Arenal, La Ribera, San Mamés (outside), a boat on the estuary and outside the BBK Venue, where the traditional surprise concert will be held.
