City Of Fury

In the last few years, a new wave of bands has been quietly reshaping the live music scene in Valencia — young, ambitious groups blending classic influences with modern energy. Among them, City Of Fury have quickly built a reputation as one of the city’s most exciting rising acts, a band whose sound and stage presence feel as comfortable in gritty clubs as they do on big festival stages.

Formed in Valencia in late 2021, City Of Fury emerged from a shared love of British-influenced indie and alternative rock. The band is made up of Jordi Barell on lead vocals, rhythm guitar and synthesizers, Leandro Purry on lead guitar, Mark Elizondo on bass and backing vocals, and Adrián Blanco on drums. Together they have crafted a sound that blends driving guitar lines with analogue synth textures, giving their music a distinctly modern edge while nodding to the melodic swagger of classic UK indie rock. Although still a relatively young band, City Of Fury wasted little time getting serious about their music. Early recordings were tracked at LEMOB Studios in Kensal Green, London, a studio associated with producer Brendan Lynch, known for his work with acts like Primal Scream. The sessions produced a series of singles that established the band’s sonic identity — shimmering guitars, tight rhythms and a cinematic indie-rock atmosphere.

City Of Fury’s reputation has grown rapidly thanks to a strong presence on the live circuit. In their early years the band became a familiar name across Valencia’s venues, playing shows at respected spaces such as Loco Club, where they shared bills with other rising acts on the Spanish indie scene. They have also appeared at events in venues like 16 Toneladas, performing alongside international acts and demonstrating their ability to hold their own on larger stages. One particularly notable appearance saw the band perform as an opening act at the legendary Mestalla Stadium, where they played ahead of Valencian artist Farga in front of a large audience — an impressive step for a group still early in their career.

But perhaps their most high-profile support slot came when City Of Fury opened for Miles Kane at Sala Moon, placing them on the same bill as one of the UK’s most recognisable modern rock voices. Sharing the stage with Kane — a figure closely associated with the British indie revival through bands like The Rascals and The Last Shadow Puppets — felt like a natural fit for a band whose sound draws heavily from that same lineage.

The band’s connection with Valencia’s culture was on full display on Friday 6 March, when City Of Fury delivered one of their most memorable performances yet on the terrace of the Hard Rock Cafe Valencia. High above the city streets, with crowds gathering below and the energy of the approaching Fallas celebrations already building, the band unveiled their new track “Let’s Burn.” The song is written as a tribute to Valencia’s most famous festival — a celebration of fire, art and community that defines the city every March. As the clock struck midnight, the band launched into the track while fireworks exploded across the Valencian sky, creating a surreal moment where music, tradition and spectacle collided. The terrace was packed, the crowd stretching across the square below, and the band delivered the anthem exactly as it was intended — loud, proud and full of local pride.

“Let’s Burn” captures the spirit of Fallas: the build-up, the release, the flames and the collective celebration. Performed live with fireworks blazing behind them, it felt less like a gig and more like the soundtrack to the city itself.

With their growing list of live appearances, polished recordings and a sound that bridges British indie attitude with Mediterranean energy, City Of Fury are quickly becoming one of the most talked-about new bands on the Valencian scene. From club stages to stadium events, from opening for international stars to debuting new music under the fireworks of Fallas, City Of Fury are building momentum fast. If the roar of the crowd on that Hard Rock Cafe terrace was any indication, the band’s journey is only just beginning — and Valencia may well have its next breakout rock act in the making.

I managed to catch up with band members Jordi, Leandro and Mark after their gig at Hard Rock Cafe:

Great to meet you guys in Person! You have quite a unique approach to music. I recently photographed you at a concert where you were supporting Miles Kane and I really enjoyed your sound, stage presence and energy and it was obvious the crowd did as well.

Yeah, it was fun, it was just a really fun night! It was the typical support act – you get 5 minutes to sound check and then Bam! You are on stage performing. We had literally just got back from a great gig on London at The Dublin Castle, so we were just happy to be there and share our energy with the crowd! It was a crazy week - London then supporting Mile Kane! It was amazing to step on the stage at The Dublin Castle knowing how many great artists had played there before us!

Dublin Castle is a fantastic venue indeed! So, you played London, flew back to Valencia to support Miles Kane at Sala Moon and now we are here – I will let you guys explain where we are now and what has just happened!

We are in the Hard Rock Café, and we have just had the privilege of performing our new song - which we wrote especially for Las Fallas - on the terrace overlooking the Plaza as the fireworks went off behind us!  So, a massive thank you to Vitto and The Hard Rock Café! We are all from overseas, none of us are Valencian and when we all arrived in Valencia, we were impacted by Las Fallas – so we had to write a song dedicated to it.  We are from Argentina and Australia - so being here in Valencia and witnessing Las Fallas has just been incredible.

Why are you called “City Of Fury”?

There is a band in Buenos Aires Called “Soda Stereo”, and they had a track called “En La Ciudad De La Furia” (In The City Of Fury) and that is the reason why we decided to name the band “City Of Fury”

Jordi and Leandro – you are both from Argentina and Mark you are from Australia. I guess Jordi and Leandro you may have crossed paths before forming the band, but Mark – how does Australia fit into the mix?

Well, I was playing guitar at a gig and Jordi and Leandro where in the crowd. After the gig, I was like “I live down the road near the beach, everyone back to my house!”  - it was a summers day, we had beers a BBQ and we all started talking - from there the band was formed! With beer and meat, you can resolve anything!!!

How long have you all been here in Valenica?

I’ve been here 15 years, and Jordi and Leandro have been here 7 years and 9 years. So, all of us quite a while and the band has been together 3 or 4 years  now.  We spend a lot of time creating music and thinking about music and we are a bit pedantic – well more pedantic than other people, so we have recorded songs, re-recorded songs, changed studios, changed producers – all in the search for our little niche and now we think we have definitively found it with our new studio and with Luis Martinez we are creating music we are really happy with.

So, what is next for City Of Fury?

We want to release new music. We have an album on the way; we have 8 songs ready to be released. So, budget permitting hopefully in the next month or two we will start releasing more songs and keep on riding the wave. A new website is on the way, new merchandise and the album with be vinyl and digital. Our next gig is on May 23^rd and Rockstar in Benidorm and lots more coming after that. We have been to Benidorm before, and we are ready for the carnage!!!! 

If you could support any band – dead or alive – who would it be?

Oh man – that’s a hard one. We all have our personal dream gig – Oasis, Pink Floyd, The Clash – lets go with The Clash!

Pizza – Pineapple yes or no?

(after a lot of arguing the following statement was released!) If it is American pizza, then yes. But if it is proper Pizza, hell no!!!

If you guys could go back to when you were starting out, what advice would you give you yourselves?

It’s all good and just keep on going! And open your minds to all types of music. Find what you love and let it kill you!

Finally, a message for the fans out there – because until two weeks ago I had never heard of “City Of Fury” and now I am a massive fan!

We love you and thank you – there is a lot more music coming and we are excited to share it with you.  Oh and buy merchandise!

You can check out their music on Spotify here: City Of Fury

Words and photos: Rhyan Paul