For a Monday night in Valencia, 16 TONELADAS | ROCK CLUB felt less like a venue and more like the inside of a full-scale punk rock riot. Sweat dripped from the ceiling. Pints flew through the air. Bodies crashed together in a relentless sea of pogoing limbs while crowdsurfers floated above the audience like drunken Celtic pirates riding the chaos. And somewhere in the middle of all the glorious madness, The Rumjacks absolutely detonated the venue. But before the Australian Celtic punk heavyweights even hit the stage, ROT! had already transformed the atmosphere from “Monday night” into complete mayhem. From the moment they walked out, ROT! attacked the room with pure energy, firing up the packed crowd with a furious blast of punk attitude, banjo-fuelled chaos and infectious singalong moments that immediately got the pit moving. There was no slow build-up and no holding back — within minutes the audience was bouncing, shouting and surging toward the front like the headline act had already begun. And that’s what made the night feel special from the start. This wasn’t one of those sleepy weekday crowds waiting politely for the main event. Valencia’s punk community arrived ready for war. By the time ROT! finished their set, the floor was already soaked in beer, voices were already wrecked and security were already preparing themselves for a very long evening. Then The Rumjacks took over. The reaction was instant. The first few notes triggered absolute bedlam as the venue erupted into a bouncing wall of bodies, raised fists and flying plastic cups. Whiskey-soaked folk melodies collided with razor-sharp punk riffs while the band hammered through anthem after anthem to a crowd that simply refused to stand still. Crowdsurfers launched themselves constantly. Circle pits swallowed half the room. Friends screamed lyrics into each other’s faces with arms wrapped around shoulders while complete strangers lifted fallen fans back to their feet before diving straight back into the chaos again. For a Monday night, it felt unbelievably alive. The Rumjacks have always mastered that perfect balance between aggression and melody — music built equally for the pub, the pit and the heartbroken soul. Live, those songs become even more explosive. Every fiddle line sent another wave of movement through the audience, every huge chorus became a gang vocal, and every breakdown pushed the atmosphere closer toward complete collapse. And through it all, 16 Toneladas once again proved why it remains one of Valencia’s most important live venues. There’s something beautifully raw about gigs there. No pretension. No polished arena distance. Just sweat, noise, community and total immersion. Nights like this remind you what live music is supposed to feel like before algorithms and VIP packages got involved. By the end of the show, the venue looked like a battlefield — soaked shirts, crushed cups, exhausted smiles and fans staggering out into the Valencia night still buzzing from the adrenaline. ROT! lit the fuse. The Rumjacks blew the roof off. And for one glorious Monday night, Valencia belonged entirely to punk rock. Words and photos: Rhyan Paul

There are some concerts that feel less like gigs and more like the official start of summer in Valencia. This Saturday morning at La Pèrgola looks set to become exactly one of those moments. On May 23, Concerts de La Pèrgola once again transforms the Marina into the city’s favourite open-air meeting point as Rupatrupa and Intraperlo bring a soundtrack of rumba, reggae, indie emotion and sun-soaked energy to the Mediterranean waterfront. And if previous editions are anything to go by, expect cold beers, dancing in sunglasses before midday and one of those glorious Valencia afternoons where nobody wants to go home. Because La Pèrgola has mastered something few cities manage to achieve: making lunchtime concerts feel essential. While most of Europe is still waking up and reaching for coffee, Valencia heads to the sea for live music, vermouth and sunshine. There’s something beautifully chaotic about it all — guitars echoing across the marina while crowds gather beneath blue skies, drinks in hand, already moving to the rhythm before the clock even hits noon. And this weekend’s lineup feels perfectly built for that atmosphere. Rupatrupa arrive carrying the kind of energy that was made for outdoor stages beside the sea. Blending rumba, reggae and acoustic-driven warmth with lyrics and melodies that instantly pull crowds together, the band have built a reputation for concerts that feel intimate no matter how many people are watching. Their live shows aren’t about distance or spectacle — they’re about connection. The sort of gigs where strangers suddenly end up singing together by the second chorus. In the setting of La Pèrgola, that vibe could become something special. Then comes Intraperlo, bringing a completely different but equally magnetic flavour to the afternoon. Their sound moves between emotional indie textures, sharp guitars and direct songwriting that hits with honesty rather than pretension. There’s a rawness to their music that fits perfectly with the spirit of La Pèrgola itself — authentic, immediate and alive. And honestly, few places in Europe can touch this atmosphere when everything aligns. The sea breeze drifting through the crowd.Sunlight reflecting off plastic beer cups.Groups of friends dancing beside the stage.Families sprawled across the marina.The smell of salt air mixing with street food and spilled lager. It’s not just a concert anymore. It’s become part of Valencia’s cultural identity. Over the last few years, Concerts de La Pèrgola has evolved into one of the city’s most beloved live music institutions — proving repeatedly that you don’t need midnight darkness for a gig to feel electric. Sometimes the best live music moments happen under blazing Mediterranean sunshine with a cold drink in your hand and absolutely nowhere else you’d rather be. And this Saturday feels destined to deliver exactly that. From 11am onwards, La Marina will once again become the heartbeat of Valencia’s weekend — loud, joyful and beautifully alive. Honestly, Saturdays don’t get much better than this. For tickets and more information: Concerts De La Pèrgola

The Mediterranean sun was blazing, cold beers were already flowing before midday, and somewhere between the smell of sea salt and amplifier feedback, Valencia once again proved that nobody does daytime live music quite like La Pèrgola. By lunchtime, the marina was buzzing. Families, indie kids, garage-rock obsessives, tattooed punks, vermouth drinkers and curious tourists flooded into La Marina de València for another sun-drenched edition of Concerts de La Pèrgola — the city’s legendary open-air music series where Saturdays begin not with silence, but with fuzz pedals, dancing and glorious noise under blue skies. And with the Mediterranean sparkling behind the stage like something from a dream, Wau y Los Arrrghs!!! and Tumba Swing delivered the perfect soundtrack to one of those unforgettable Valencia afternoons where music, sunshine and chaos collide beautifully. First up came Tumba Swing, dragging the crowd headfirst into a wild, sweat-soaked fusion of swing, rhythm, rockabilly and vintage madness. Their infectious grooves immediately loosened up the audience, turning the marina into an open-air dancefloor before many people had even finished their first drink. Couples spun across the concrete, friends bounced shoulder-to-shoulder beneath sunglasses and straw hats, and the entire atmosphere felt gloriously alive. But when Wau y Los Arrrghs!!! hit the stage, the entire place exploded. Raw garage punk energy tore through the speakers as the legendary Valencian band unleashed their trademark cocktail of fuzz-drenched riffs, frantic rhythms and full-throttle rock ’n’ roll chaos. Loud, unhinged and impossible to ignore, they transformed La Pèrgola into a swirling mass of dancing bodies, raised beers and grinning faces. And the crowd absolutely loved every second of it! Nobody at La Pèrgola stands politely nodding along. This place moves. People dance here. They scream lyrics into the sea breeze. They spill drinks while throwing shapes in the sunshine. Kids sat on shoulders while die-hard fans packed themselves tightly against the barriers, feeding off the wild energy pouring from the stage. That’s the magic of La Pèrgola. Over the years, this concert series has become far more than just another live music event. It has evolved into one of Valencia’s most beloved cultural rituals — a uniquely Mediterranean collision of community, live music and sunshine that few cities anywhere in Europe can rival. And Satruday felt like another perfect chapter in its growing mythology. There was something cinematic about the entire scene: seagulls circling overhead, sunlight bouncing off beer cups, guitars echoing out across the harbour while hundreds of people danced away their Saturday afternoon beneath the blazing Valencian sky. No pretension.No barriers.No fake coolness. Just great bands, freezing drinks, beautiful weather and a crowd completely lost in the moment. By the time the final chords rang out across the marina, faces were sunburnt, voices were wrecked and nobody seemed remotely interested in going home. And honestly? That’s exactly how Saturdays in Valencia should feel. Words and photos: Rhyan Paul

There are cities that smile politely for tourists. Valencia is not one of them anymore. Valencia now sweats. It screams. It drinks warm beer at 3am in Russafa while someone in a Motörhead shirt argues about whether Raw Power or London Calling changed civilisation more. Somewhere nearby, a snare drum explodes through a basement wall while cigarette smoke curls around tattooed arms and broken guitar strings. And standing in the middle of this glorious racket for the past few years has been one man with a camera hanging from his neck like a loaded weapon: Rhyan Paul. From June 1st until July 31st, the walls of Bukowski Bar will become stained with sweat, distortion and monochrome electricity as Valencia Rocks! opens to the public — a photographic exhibition documenting the beautiful chaos of live music across the Valencian region and beyond. And this isn’t some polite gallery experience where people whisper into wine glasses while pretending to understand abstract concepts. This is a full-contact collision between photography and rock ’n’ roll. The exhibition, curated by The Music Mole Magazine , drags together Rhyan Paul’s ferocious collection of live photography featuring local heroes, Spanish underground legends and internationally recognised bands caught in moments of absolute combustion. And the thing about Rhyan’s photography is this: it doesn’t feel staged. It feels survived. You can almost smell the stale backstage lager in the pictures. You can hear amplifiers humming through the grain of the black-and-white shots. These aren’t sanitised PR photographs designed to flatter fragile egos. These are documents from the frontline. Real moments. Real sweat. Real people temporarily escaping reality inside dark venues scattered across Valencia, Castellón, Alicante and beyond. British-born but now deeply wired into Valencia’s cultural bloodstream, Rhyan Paul has spent over three decades embedded in music subculture. According to his biography, he drifted through London’s jungle scene, Miami nightlife, Ibiza’s Balearic madness and countless underground movements before eventually planting roots in Valencia. And somehow, all of those previous lives leak into the work. You see it in the framing. In the obsession with faces twisted by volume and emotion. In the grainy violence of the shadows. There’s a dangerous honesty to these images — like they were shot by someone who understands that music is sometimes less entertainment and more survival mechanism. The list of artists Rhyan has photographed reads like the contents of an unhinged record collection discovered in the bedroom of somebody who probably owes money to several former lovers: The Human League, Johnny Marr, Cypress Hill, The Happy Mondays, Simple Minds, Dead Kennedys, Def Con Dos, Seguridad Social and countless others from the punk, hardcore, indie and metal underground. But Valencia Rocks! is not simply a greatest-hits wall of famous faces. The soul of the exhibition lies in the local scene itself. The exhibition captures the veins of the Valencian music underground — the bands hauling their own gear at 2am, the promoters risking financial ruin for art, the fans who never stopped showing up after COVID nearly strangled live music to death. This is a love letter to the scene that exists beyond algorithms and streaming statistics. And there could not be a more appropriate venue than Bukowski Bar itself. Because Bukowski isn’t merely a bar. It’s one of those rare surviving cultural bunkers where music still matters more than image. A place where conversations about records become philosophical warfare by midnight. Hidden in Russafa’s restless bloodstream, Bukowski has long been a refuge for Valencia’s alternative tribes — musicians, photographers, insomniacs, artists, DJs, punks and beautifully damaged souls looking for somewhere real in an increasingly artificial world. The bar’s atmosphere feels permanently soaked in feedback and literature. Like Charles Bukowski himself might stumble through the door demanding whiskey and complaining about modern music before accidentally falling asleep beside the jukebox. And that matters. Because this exhibition doesn’t belong inside a pristine white cube gallery. It belongs inside a place with scars. A place where people still dance badly. A place where memories are made loudly. Valencia itself has become one of Europe’s most fascinating live music ecosystems in recent years. Venues such as Loco Club, 16 Toneladas, Sala Moon and countless independent spaces have helped transform the city into a vital stop for touring artists while simultaneously nurturing an exploding local underground. Rhyan Paul has been there documenting much of it — camera raised like a witness to the noise. So from June 1st, walk into Bukowski Bar. Order something cold. Stand in front of the photographs. Look at the faces in the frames. The sweat. The fury. The joy. The exhaustion. Then remember this: Long after the last guitar note dies, photography becomes the final echo..... Check out Rhyan Paul: Here and Bukowski Bar: Here

One week. Seven days. That’s all that stands between Valencia and one of the most important heavy metal shows the city has ever hosted. On May 25, thrash legends Megadeth bring their earth-shaking Farewell Tour to the spectacular Roig Arena — and the countdown has officially entered its final, deafening stretch. This isn’t just another legacy act rolling through town for a quick nostalgia hit. This is the closing chapter of one of the fiercest, smartest and most technically devastating bands ever to emerge from the metal underground. After more than four decades of speed, precision, chaos and survival, Megadeth are preparing to say goodbye to the stage — and Valencia gets to witness the carnage firsthand. Founded in 1983 by the relentlessly driven Dave Mustaine following his departure from Metallica, Megadeth didn’t just join the thrash movement — they helped invent it. Alongside Slayer and Anthrax, they became part of metal’s sacred “Big Four,” pushing aggression, musicianship and political bite to levels most bands still can’t touch. Albums like Rust in Peace, Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? and Countdown to Extinction became blueprints for generations of heavy music that followed. And now, the endgame has arrived. Expect a setlist loaded with absolute weapons: “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due,” “Hangar 18,” “Symphony of Destruction,” “Tornado of Souls” — the kind of songs that don’t simply get played live, they detonate. Fans can also expect material from the band’s final studio album, fittingly titled Megadeth, released as both a farewell statement and one last declaration of intent. What makes this date hit even harder is the setting itself. Valencia’s Roig Arena has rapidly established itself as one of Spain’s premier live venues, attracting global artists across every genre imaginable. But on May 25, it transforms into something else entirely: a cathedral for distortion, volume and pure heavy metal catharsis. For Valencia’s rock and metal community, this show feels bigger than a concert. It’s a moment. A final salute to a band that soundtracked rebellion, frustration, survival and adrenaline for millions of fans across multiple generations. Whether you discovered Megadeth through battered cassette tapes, MTV-era riffs, festival pits or late-night headphone sessions, this farewell tour carries emotional weight that goes far beyond nostalgia. And perhaps that’s why anticipation across the city feels so intense right now. Because everyone knows what this means: there is no “next time.” No future reunion promises. No guarantee of another run. This is the last blast. In one week, the lights will drop inside Roig Arena. The amps will roar alive. Thousands of fists will rise into the air. And for one final night, Valencia will stand inside the thunderous legacy of one of metal’s greatest institutions before the curtain finally falls. For tickets and more information: Roig Arena

The heat rises differently in Valencia during summer. The air gets heavier, the nights get louder and the city begins to pulse to the sound of amplifiers, basslines and thousands of voices singing into the Mediterranean sky. And right at the centre of it all stands one of Spain’s most iconic live music institutions: Conciertos de Viveros. For decades, the legendary Jardines de Viveros have transformed into a cathedral of live music every July — a place where rock legends, indie heroes, reggae icons, Latin superstars and underground favourites collide beneath the palm trees in the heart of Valencia. But 2026 feels different. Bigger. Louder. Bolder. This year’s edition doesn’t just continue the legacy — it detonates it. The 2026 line-up is absolutely stacked. We’re talking genuine heavyweights. Hard rock immortals Deep Purple bringing decades of riffs, fire and sheer volume to Valencia. Garbage returning with their dark, razor-sharp alternative rock anthems. Reggae giants UB40 delivering pure summer euphoria under the city lights. And that’s just scratching the surface. Then there’s the metal. The glorious, unapologetic metal. WarCry arrive ready to shake the Jardines de Viveros to their foundations alongside Opera Magna in what promises to be one of the most explosive nights of the entire series — a full-scale assault of riffs, fists-in-the-air choruses and pure heavy music catharsis. But what makes Conciertos de Viveros so special isn’t simply the names on the poster. It’s the atmosphere. There are bigger festivals. There are louder festivals. But few events in Spain manage to combine history, culture and live music energy quite like this. One night you’re watching a legendary international band tear through classics surrounded by ancient gardens and summer humidity; the next you’re discovering a rising local artist in front of a crowd that treats music like religion. And 2026’s edition embraces that diversity harder than ever. Pop, rock, indie, Latin, reggae, electronic music and metal all crash together across 18 nights of live music that reflect the chaos, colour and spirit of Valencia itself. Ana Torroja, Juan Magán, Valeria Castro, The Jacksons and Danny Ocean all bring different sounds, different crowds and different energies into one colossal summer collision. There’s also something beautifully rebellious about the survival of Viveros itself. In a music industry increasingly dominated by mega-festivals, corporate branding and identikit experiences, Conciertos de Viveros still feels human. Sweaty. Real. A place where generations mix naturally — old-school rock fans standing shoulder to shoulder with younger crowds discovering live music for the first time. For Valencia, these concerts are not just events. They’re ritual. Tradition. Summer identity. And when the lights drop this July and the first guitars roar through the Jardines de Viveros once again, the city will remember exactly why Conciertos de Viveros remains one of the most important and beloved live music series anywhere in Spain. For tickets and more information: Conciertos De Viveros

In an era where independent music culture often fights to survive against algorithms, corporate festivals and copy-and-paste line-ups, Gazpatxo Fest Cultura has emerged as one of the Valencian underground’s true success stories — a fearless, fiercely independent powerhouse built on passion, punk spirit and an unwavering love for live music. The Valencia-based collective has spent years carving out its own lane within Spain’s alternative music scene, growing from grassroots promoters into a full-scale cultural force covering festivals, artist management, booking, record label services, communication, production and tour promotion. At the heart of Gazpatxo Fest Cultura is a simple philosophy: build scenes, support artists and keep independent culture alive. And that attitude runs through everything they do. The company has become best known for its explosive live events and festivals, spearheaded by the legendary Gazpatxo Rock Festival — one of the longest-running independent festivals in the Valencian Community. Across more than two decades, the festival has welcomed over a hundred bands and built a loyal following thanks to its raw energy, community atmosphere and unapologetically alternative identity. But Gazpatxo FestCultura’s reach stretches far beyond one festival. Their growing portfolio also includes events such as Festival Incendiari, Cinturó Jove Fest, Mallà Rock and FestCarròs, helping turn towns and venues across the region into meeting points for punk, rock, metal, ska, urban music and underground culture. Every event carries the same DNA: authentic artists, passionate crowds and the kind of atmosphere that reminds people why live music still matters. Away from the stages and festival fields, Gazpatxo FestCultura has evolved into a true 360º music company. Through artist management, booking and promotion, the collective works closely with emerging and established acts alike, helping bands grow organically while maintaining their identity and independence. Their roster reflects the same rebellious energy that defines the company itself — artists with attitude, personality and something real to say. The company’s record label and publishing arm further reinforces that commitment to independent music, giving artists a platform to release and promote their work without losing creative control. Combined with their expertise in communication, marketing and event production, Gazpatxo FestCultura has become a crucial engine within the Valencian music ecosystem. More than just promoters, Gazpatxo FestCultura represent a movement — one rooted in DIY ethics, community spirit and a genuine belief in the power of underground music culture. In a scene constantly chasing trends, they continue doing things their own way: louder, bolder and with their feet firmly planted in the front row. I recently managed to pry the ever busy Daniel Rodilla away from his desk for a coffee and a chat. This is what he had to say: Daniel tell me about Gazpatxo Well Gazpatxo Fest Cultura is a company based in Valencia; we are basically a 360 company around music. Live music mainly – we are a management company, a booking company, promoter of various festivals and we have also just started a new record label. And you have some fantastic bands on your roster.. Yes! That’s what we think too! We work with great bands like El Reno Renardo, Manifa, Rat-Zinger, The Locos, Porco Bravo, Reina Mora, Cactus XpresidentX, MOMO, Punk Sailor and many more. We are also looking to take on new bands, so the roster is always growing. The first time we met was at Gazpatxo Rock Festival in Ayora, last year. You must tell us about this because I didn’t believe there could be such a cool festival in the mountains, in the middle of winter (Valencian winter but still cold!) It’s basically the beginning of the company! Alfonzo who is one the guys from Gazpatxo FestCultura, he founded the festival in 2006, 20 years ago, together with some friends. It was his hometown, he liked Rock and heavy music – so he decided to create a festival there! The first artist was Benito Kamelas – who you photographed last year when you came. They kept repeating the festival every year and in 2019 that’s when the office came and we started working on all the different things that we do now. That’s basically the reason it started – young guys in a small town looking for something to do so they started a festival – and here we are 20 years later! There is something quite magical about Gazpatxo Rock Festival in the fact that it stops for lunch and everyone has a bowl of free Gazpachos Ayorinos. Yes! It’s a Spanish urban legend that lunch is sacred. I would say it’s possibly one of the only festivals where we give free food for everybody. You come and around 1pm you get your free plate of Gazpachos Ayorinos, basically because we understand it’s our obligation to ensure everyone has lunch. If you are coming to a festival at midday, you cannot expect people to go through till early hours of the following day with no food. Also, it’s part of the cultural heritage of Ayora. So it’s giving back to the people. Looking ahead you have Llos Festival this coming Saturday. Yes, it’s a small festival about an hour from Valencia city. We have great artists performing – Narco, Sons of Aguirre, Malifeta, Kamizazes, Cactus, Gargall, Reina Mora and Santy Mataix. It’s the first year we have been involved in this festival. It’s run by the people of Aielo de Malferit and they have been running the festival for 6 years now and they needed to grow the festival. So, we spoke to them and now we are involved this year. Then after that you have Incendiari in Burjassot, which is April 18th. Yeah, not even 20 days after Llos, we have this festival. It’s a different style of music, less heavy – here we call it post punk. I think you would call it Indie music. It’s a smaller festival, maybe 1000 people and again great artists – La Paloma, Ultralágrima, Biznaga, Grande Amore, Lucy.
 Then in June in Valencia City we have the punk rock event with Soziedad Alkoholika, Angelus Apátrida, Bala, Deaf Devils and Vaire at the Nits De Vivers. Moreover you are managing the artists and their bookings, running the record label – how do you get time to relax? We go to concerts to relax! So, in my free time I play music and go to concerts! Music is my life. I am from Lliria, its a smaller town that’s known for its music – mainly classical music. So, every family has a musician. You start playing music when you are young, I think I was seven years old. It’s my life. I play trombone! Are you in a band right now? Yeah, I play with a band called La Trocamba Matanusca, its instrumental music. I used to play in a band called Funkiwisand another called The Dance Crashers, from here in Valencia. I have played with all different bands, anyone who calls me and pays me money (LOL)

 What is your favourite band? Or does it change depending on your mood? 
 Well, it changes maybe every week. Sometimes every day. This week I am back into the Arctic Monkeys, last week it was darker, then I might go back to Spanish punk rock. Anything that’s punk, rock and good quality – I probably like. If you could book any band or artist (dead or alive) for one of your festivals. Who would it be? Right now, I would love to book Berri Txarrak. I love them, we love them in the office, and it might just be because they are not available. But I would love to book them! 

 What are the plans moving forwards Gazpatxo FestCultura? Gazpatxo Rock will continue of course, Llos will continue, we try and plan long term, but it is difficult because with artists touring schedules it can be difficult to plan long term. We have all of 2026 pretty much booked now, but we are just starting on 2027. One of the ideas is that the record label will grow. 

We are always trying to work more and better, so that’s basically the idea. Keep growing, but always ensuring we are doing good quality work and respecting as much as we can everybody. Finally, what is music to you? 

 Well as we were saying music for me is the most important art that a human can have. It’s my life. I think that people who say they do not like music, they do like it but they just haven’t realised it yet. You cannot go anywhere without hearing music. You go shopping, you hear music, you go driving, there is music. If you are sad you listen to music, if you are happy you listen to music. So, for me music its life! Want to know more? Check out: Gazpatxo Fest Cultura

One of Spain’s biggest summer music events is preparing to enter a bold new era. BIGSOUND Festival returns on June 26 and 27 with what promises to be its most ambitious edition yet — and it will do so from a brand-new location. After several hugely successful years at Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences, BIGSOUND is moving to Parc Central in Torrent, a larger and more versatile site designed to accommodate the festival’s continued growth and ever-expanding audience. The relocation marks a major new chapter for the festival, which has rapidly established itself as one of the country’s premier urban and mainstream music events. Far from slowing the festival’s momentum, the move allows BIGSOUND to evolve on an even bigger scale. The new venue will offer over 40,000 square metres of space, improved infrastructure, additional stages, expanded chill-out areas, shaded zones, upgraded food and drink facilities and reinforced transport connections, including special Metrovalencia services and shuttle buses for festival goers. Most importantly, the blockbuster line-up remains untouched. BIGSOUND 2026 will once again bring together some of the hottest names in Spanish and international music, with artists including David Bisbal, Lola Índigo, Rels B, Nathy Peluso, Ana Mena, Rigoberta Bandini, Juan Magán and Rusowsky leading a line-up built to dominate the summer festival season. With multiple sold-out editions already behind it, BIGSOUND is no longer simply a festival — it has become a cultural phenomenon for a new generation of music fans. Its arrival in Torrent signals not just a change of scenery, but a significant expansion in ambition, scale and experience. This summer, BIGSOUND is set to prove once again why it remains one of the most exciting and fastest-growing festivals in Spain. For tickets and more information: BIGSOUND

Valencia’s live music calendar is about to get louder, faster and a lot more rowdy. On Monday 18 May, Australian Celtic punk heavyweights The Rumjacks land at 16 Toneladas for what promises to be one of the most energetic club shows of the month. Joining them on the bill are local firestarters ROT!, making this a double-header built for flying pints, stomping feet and zero standing still. Since forming in 2008, The Rumjacks have carved out a fierce international reputation by fusing the speed and aggression of punk rock with the melody and spirit of Celtic folk traditions. The result is a sound that hits hard but still knows how to raise a grin — rebellious, raucous and packed with singalong hooks. Their songs charge forward with the energy of a street party gone gloriously off the rails, mixing guitars, folk instrumentation and a swaggering sense of fun. They are the kind of band who turn every room into a celebration, whether you arrived as a lifelong fan or just wandered in curious. There are few better places in Valencia for a gig like this than 16 Toneladas. Long established as one of the city’s most loved grassroots venues, the room has built a strong reputation for live sound, close-up intensity and booking acts with genuine edge. It is exactly the sort of space where The Rumjacks thrive — packed crowd, low ceiling, loud voices and that electric feeling that anything could happen. Expect sweat on the walls, choruses shouted back at the stage and the kind of atmosphere only a proper club show can deliver. Opening the night are ROT!, a Celtic punk outfit from L’Horta Nord who bring fast rhythms and traditional touches including bagpipes, accordion and banjo. They are the ideal support act: local energy meeting international headliners in a line-up united by speed, melody and punk spirit. For Valencia fans, it is also a chance to see homegrown talent sharing the stage with one of the genre’s best-known touring names. This is not a passive-watch-from-the-back type of concert. The Rumjacks deal in movement, noise and collective joy. Whether you come for the Celtic hooks, the punk punch or simply the promise of a memorable Monday night, this show looks set to deliver. Valencia has plenty of great venues and plenty of good gigs, but nights where band, room and atmosphere align like this are worth grabbing early. for tickets and more information: 16 Toneladas

Valencia’s live circuit is about to welcome true rock royalty. On 15 May, legendary Californian outsiders Redd Kross roll into Loco Club for a night that promises riffs, hooks, attitude and the kind of infectious chaos only a band of their pedigree can deliver. For lovers of alternative rock, power pop and punk history, this is one of the standout club dates of the season. Few groups have carved such a unique lane as Redd Kross. Led by brothers Jeff and Steven McDonald, the Los Angeles band have spent more than four decades blending punk bite, glam swagger, melodic brilliance and a gloriously off-centre sense of humour. They were doing genre-mixing long before it became fashionable, influencing waves of indie and alternative artists that followed. They are one of those bands musicians adore, critics respect and fans become fiercely loyal to. Redd Kross have always sounded like themselves — and in a crowded music world, that is no small achievement. Club shows from bands of this stature always feel special, but Loco Club is the perfect room for it. Intimate enough to feel every chord and every grin from the stage, yet lively enough to generate serious atmosphere, it offers exactly the kind of close-up connection that makes concerts memorable. This is not an arena nostalgia lap. This is a chance to experience a cult giant in the right environment: sweaty, loud, personal and alive. With a catalogue stretching from early punk-pop blasts to the acclaimed Researching the Blues era and beyond, fans can expect a setlist rich in quality and surprises. Redd Kross have always balanced sharp songwriting with playful unpredictability, so expect deep cuts, beloved favourites and the possibility of something left-field. Their live reputation rests on energy and joy as much as musicianship. They make serious music without ever taking themselves too seriously — a rare and winning combination. There is something fitting about a band like Redd Kross playing a venue like Loco Club in a city that truly values live music. Valencia crowds know how to show up for quality, and this feels like one of those nights where artist, room and audience click perfectly. Doors open, amps warm, crowd tight to the stage, choruses shouted back, smiles everywhere. That is the promise here. Some concerts are about charts. Others are about legacy, taste and seeing a great band in the setting they deserve. This is firmly the latter. For tickets and more information: Loco Club

Two nights. Same city. Same artist. Zero tickets left. That’s not hype—that’s takeover. It started with one date: May 22, 2026.A big show, sure—but still, just one night. Then the tickets disappeared. Gone. Completely sold out. So fast, in fact, that a second date had to be added—May 21—just to keep up with demand. And now? Same story. Two nights.Two full houses.No seats left. Aitana’s rise has been steady, but what’s happening right now feels different. Bigger. Louder. Unavoidable. From her early breakthrough to four studio albums and a global pop identity, she’s crossed that invisible line—from successful artist to generational figure. And these two Valencia shows are proof of it. Because selling out one arena is impressive. Selling out two, back-to-back, before the tour even properly lands? That’s dominance. These concerts sit inside the orbit of Cuarto Azul—the album that’s pushed her further into global territory, without losing that direct, emotional connection with her audience. That connection is what’s filling the room. Fans who’ve grown with her.Fans who’ve just arrived.Fans who refused to miss it—and now can’t get in. The Roig Arena is still a relatively new heavyweight in the city’s live circuit, but this is the kind of booking that defines a venue early. Two consecutive sold-out nights isn’t just a success—it’s a statement: Valencia isn’t just on the tour map.It’s a destination. At this point, getting in is its own side quest—resale hunts, last-minute miracles, WhatsApp groups lighting up with “anyone selling???” Because when a show hits this level of demand, it stops being optional.It becomes essential. May 21 and 22 aren’t just concerts.They’re a snapshot of where Spanish pop is right now—and who’s leading it. Two nights.Zero tickets.One artist pulling an entire city into orbit. And inside that room, when the lights drop and the first note hits, it won’t feel like hype. It’ll feel earned. For more information: Roig Arena

The Waterboys have never been a band afraid of conviction, intelligence or speaking plainly when the moment demands it. With their new single “Don’t Even Have To Say His Name,” they deliver a sharp, spirited and unapologetic protest song that proves great music can still challenge, provoke and hit with real force. Written by Mike Scott, the track is a direct rejection of the Trump era, but what makes it land so effectively is that it rises above simple slogan-making. Rather than settling for blunt outrage, The Waterboys channel anger into something musically alive, lyrically pointed and full of the band’s trademark character. This is protest with craft. From the first bars, the song carries urgency. There is momentum in the arrangement, a sense of purpose driving everything forward, while Scott’s voice sounds energised and fully committed. He does not merely perform the lyric — he inhabits it. The result is a track that feels immediate, sincere and impossible to mistake for empty posturing. The title itself is brilliantly chosen. “Don’t Even Have To Say His Name” captures the exhaustion, disbelief and wider symbolism attached to the subject, all while giving the song a hook that is clever, memorable and instantly conversation-starting. It says plenty without needing to overstate the obvious. Musically, The Waterboys remain masters of blending roots-rock spirit with literate songwriting and emotional bite. There is a muscular directness here, but also texture and movement that lift the track above being just a statement piece. It sounds like a real song first — which is exactly why the message hits harder. Mike Scott’s comments about rejecting bullying and defending decency come through clearly in the performance. Yet the song avoids preaching because it comes from conviction rather than calculation. You believe every line because The Waterboys have always stood for something deeper than trends or convenience. There is also something refreshing about hearing a veteran band still sounding engaged with the world around them. Many long-running acts retreat into nostalgia. The Waterboys continue to create, respond and challenge. “Don’t Even Have To Say His Name” shows a group still very much awake, still sharp and still relevant. Timing matters too. With the band preparing for their only Spanish show of 2026 at Roig Arena Valencia on 3 September, the single arrives as a reminder that The Waterboys are not just revisiting their glorious past through The Fisherman’s Blues Revue — they are still adding new chapters with purpose and fire. Most importantly, the song works because it channels frustration into energy rather than despair. It is defiant, intelligent and alive. With “Don’t Even Have To Say His Name,” The Waterboys have delivered a bold modern protest song from a band who still know exactly how to make noise that matters. Fierce, timely and full of spirit, it is another strong statement from one of Britain and Ireland’s most enduringly vital acts. For Valencia concert tickets: Roig Arena