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Valencia is set to ignite with rhythm and energy as the “ I Love Reggaeton ” festival returns to the City of Arts and Sciences on Friday, 30 May 2025. This open-air celebration promises a nostalgic journey through the golden era of reggaeton and electrolatino, featuring over 20 renowned artists from around the globe. Headlining the event is the iconic Ivy Queen , often hailed as “La Reina del Reggaetón,” known for her empowering anthem “Quiero Bailar.” Joining her are the legendary duo Baby Rasta & Gringo , pioneers of the genre with hits like “Me Niegas.” The lineup also boasts performances by Andy Rivera, Chimbala, Guaynaa, Joey Montana, Aldo Ranks, Carlitos Rossy, Henry Méndez, DJ Playero, Nova, Xriz, Lorna, K-Narias, José de Rico, Charly Rodríguez, DCS, Dr. Bellido , and the dynamic Dame Más Gasolina DJs .  Beyond the music, attendees can indulge in a diverse gastronomic zone featuring Latin American flavors, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. The festival also offers thematic areas for memorable photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise stalls, and comfortable rest zones to recharge between performances.  Prepare to dance the night away under the Valencian sky, reliving the classics that defined a generation. Whether you’re a longtime reggaeton enthusiast or new to the genre, “ I Love Reggaeton ” promises an unforgettable experience filled with rhythm, culture, and community. For more information and tickets: I LOVE REGGAETON

Formed in 1995 Acid Mothers Temple ( Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. to use the full name!) are a Japanese Psychedelic Rock band with a mind bending 102 studio album, 9 EPs, 56 Live Albums and 6 Compilation albums to their name. Thats 173 album releases in 30 years!! On Saturday 26th April they performed at 16 Toneladas in Valenica, as part of their 30th anniversary Dark Within Of Astropia European tour. These guys are hardcore - 38 gigs in 38 days across europe! The club was capacity and the crowd eager as band members Kawabata Makoto (Guitar), Higashi Hiroshi (synthesizer), Jyonson Tsu (vocal, guitar), Satoshima Nani (drums) and Julien Omeyer (bass) took to the stage. Taking no prisoners they launched into a brutal, space-rock, synth-distorted performance - which is best described by music reviewer David Bennun: " In a non-stop stream of thrilling noise, they segue from supercharged stomp-rock, through doomy choral chanting and frazzled go-go, to a thundering melee of atonal freakouts. Then on to a pulsating, echo-drenched disco-rock groove, which morphs into a motorik rhythm too rapid even for the autobahn, works itself into a squalling frenzy, breaks cover as a kind of galloping, syncopated, Underworld-with-rabies affair, and flows into a long, chiming trance number climaxing in a collective instrumental howl." What followed was. nothing short of incredible, with the band taking us on a psychedelic musical journey and leaving the crowd happy, high and wanting more! New to Acid Mothers Temple ? Have a listen here: AMT Words & photos: Rhyan Paul

Friday, April 25th, was a drizzly night. Lines of eager concert goers stretched down Water Street in Rochester, NY and spilled into The Hall’s entrances. The venue filled quickly as the crowd formed a dense mass. There were no opening acts for American alternative rock band Soul Coughing . Just original members Mike Doughty, Mark degli Antoni, Yuval Gabay and Sebastian Steinberg  on their twenty fifth anniversary tour.  Originated in New York City, Soul Coughing came onto the scene in 1992 and has sustained time with a large cult following. A band known for its stream of conscious lyrics and experimental funk grooves mixed with sampled beats. The band rose to fame with hit singles like Down To This (1994), Super Bon Bon (1996), and Circles (1998). The bank broke up in the year 2000 and reunited after a twenty four year hiatus announcing their twenty fifth anniversary / reunion tour. So you can say that this concert was history in the making and a night many will not soon forget. Check them out on Spotify: Soul Coughing Words & photos: Bethany Couture

The magical Nits De Vivers returns to Jardin De Vivers in Valenica from May 29th to June 8th. The 2025 edition is jammed packed with incredible artists performing across the two week event. Kicking on on May 29th, there are performances to suit everyones muscia taste, a dedicated food area with gastronomical delights all set in one of Valenica's most beautiful gardens. "A series of concerts where music and nature merge in an incomparable setting for summer nights. NITS DE VIVERS presents a reference musical program for the city of Valencia during 2 intense weeks between July and August. A meeting point where you can live a musical and gastronomic experience within the most emblematic Gardens of the city. The Royal Gardens, better known as the Nurseries, are a beautiful park that houses a wide variety of plant species, recreating different environments and accompanied by numerous sculptures, fountains, ponds and various installations. Its variety contains a genuine Mediterranean character. Incomparable setting to enjoy the best live music." For tickets and more information: Nits De Vivers

Following the success of its first edition, Original Fest returns for a second installment on May 9th, 10th, and 11th at the Caliza Pool Bar venue in Puerto de Sagunto. The 2025 edition will feature 19 bands, including both emerging talents and well-established groups, covering genres such as rock, pop, punk, indie, and heavy metal. Admission is free and open to the public. The festival, which will take place for three days, will present "a careful selection of bands that stand out for their compositional quality and their scenic proposal," explain their promoters. Specifically, the participants are: Meketrefes, Los nodoyunas, Tu ex, Decadencia blues band, Eterna, Wildtrhoats, Valandaluz, El beso del sapo, 15 watts, Tensión no resolsuelta, The fires, Otras yerbas, Sentencia, Pateticus, Evanora, Bendita locura, Vulturna, Ronda norte, Faradaï and Terror cuplé. "The Original Fest was born to fill a gap in the current music scene," they explain from the organization of the event. "We want the public to discover that there is life beyond the covers and that the groups with their own songs have a space to be heard ." For more information: Original Fest

Nottingham (UK) band, Divorce , will perform on the 30th April at Loco Club , Valencia as part of their extensive 2025 " Drive To Goldenhammer " tour which covers the UK, Europe and the USA. the band, who describe themselves as "Wilco meets ABBA" have recently released their debut album "Drive To Goldenhammer" - which has received fantastic reviews: The Guardian calling the album "richly executed and emotionally resonant" and Far Out giving it 4 out of 5 stars. With many of their events sold out, this a band you do not wan to miss! The last few remaining tickets are on sale here: Loco Club

April 2025 - Lancaster, PA - Launch Music Conference Roderik’s no stranger to the Launch Music Conference that’s held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania once a year. This event is one of the first shows the band ever played— and you could feel that history the second they stepped out. The New Jersey band came out swinging, and holding nothing back. Diving straight into the set, they owned that stage from the jump. Songs like Let Go, Everything,Where’d You Go and Save Me . One of the most powerful moments came during Let Go, with the line: “I’ve been on the ledge for so damn long, waiting for a reason to get off.”It’s the kind of lyric that hits you right in your chest. Looking around in the room the crowd seemed to really take hold to it. Lead singer Jake Salazar made sure the crowd felt every word. On two occasions, he jumped off the stage and walked through the audience as he sang—breaking down that barrier between performer and fan, which pulled everyone deeper into the experience. A lot of folks in the crowd may not have known Roderik before that night—but by the end of the set, they were paying attention. While their set may have been over, that wasn’t the end. The band stuck around at their merch table, talking with fans, snapping photos, and making connections with anyone who came up to them. Rodrick’s return to Launch wasn’t just a performance—it felt like a full circle moment. It was raw, honest and loud in all the right ways. Meet the Band: Jake Salazar - Vocals JT Sutherland - Guitar (Not Present For Show) Danny Nugent - Drums David P.J - Bass Catch Roderik Live: May 10th - Berkeley Backyard, Asbury Park, New Jersey Follow Roderik: Instagram Facebook Words & photos: Ashley Pineyro

Rudi Action Protrudi, is an American rock musician, songwriter, record producer, artist, and actor best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of the garage band the “Fuzztones”.  I recently met up with Rudio in Valencia for a beer before their concert at 16 Toneledas.     Hi Rudi! Second day of the Spanish tour, welcome back to Valencia – as always for you guys its back-to-back concerts across the Peninsula. Would you have it any other way though?   Hey Rhyan, great to catch up! Yeah, I wouldn't mind a day off in between gigs. That'd be nice. You know, we don't ever really get a chance to explore the cities. We just basically go to the hotel, then we go to the sound check, then we go to a restaurant, then we do the gig and then we go home, you know? So, we don't really see that much. If I did have to change anything, it would be couple days off between gigs to go sightseeing.   I know it’s only day two of the tour, but how's it all going so far?   Real good, it always is. Spain is one of our biggest audiences and out most Dedicated. Yeah, so very, very good. Well, I mean, we only did one show so far, but we almost always sell out the venues, so I'm expecting it to be great tonight here in Valencia. It’s our third visit to 16 Toneladas and we love the venue.     I had to do some maths today, because I cannot believe it’s nearly 45 years since you started the Fuzztones. When you first started out did you ever imagine that you would become known as the pioneers of the garage band movement, multiple album releases, world tours and 45 years later still doing it as passionately?   No! It's funny, when I started out, we started out basically as a joke. My band was “Tina Peel” up until the beginning of 1980 and just for fun we decided to become our own opening act, so we called it the “Fabulous Fuzz Tones”. If we weren't taking it seriously at all, we had some outrageous psychedelic outfits made-up in lime green and bright orange fake fur, and very loud Paisley clothes because “Tina Peel” was very loud. So, we dressed very loud very campy, and we learned a set of classic garage stuff. We kind of figured everybody would know it. Stuff that had been a hit in the 60’s. Like” I Had Too Much To Dream”, “Pushing Too Hard”, “Gloria”.   The thing is, it went over really well and at that time we were getting very sick of “Tina Peel” because people never seem to get it. we had a coked-up manager who was trying to make us more commercially acceptable, we had a big record label following us around who was trying to get us to be more commercial and it wasn't fun anymore. So, we did the “Fuzztones” part as fun and then we decided the audience really liked it and we were getting off on the music.   The very first “Fuzztones” band was 1979. We hadn’t broken up “Tina Peel” yet and we only did two shows. By 1980 we decided we've had enough of “Tina Peel” and we formed the “Fuzztones”, we dropped the “Fabulous and took it seriously. We started adding some lesser-known material, but mostly stills covers an there was a reason for that. It was because the people in the band had never played garage music. If you've never played garage music, you're certainly not going to be able to write garage music. M idea was. - OK, let's play covers and get the style down and we're comfortable with the style that we can progress to writing. So that’s what we did!   The first line up of the “Fuzztones” was a four piece for two years. We don't really have any recorded tracks other than there's two songs that were cut live at CBGB's that were on the Snake Oil album. If you want to hear that line up of the band, that's where you can hear it.   We were pretty good an after two years we got really good. People started to notice us and then our bass player quit, which happened with “Tina Peel”. We had the same problem every time we started to really make headway; the bass player would quit, and we have to go try to find someone else and go all the way back to ground zero and start again and this was a reoccurring theme. I got fed up and I said, “fuck this!” and I broke up the band in 1982.   Well, it just so happened that Michael Jay, the bass player for “Lysergic Emanations” and Alon his friend who played lead guitar for “Lysergic Emanations”, they happened to see one of our last shows and as a very last-ditch attempt before I broke up the band I put an advert in the “Village Voice” - looking for a bass player.    Michael called me, said I'm your guy. So I got kind of excited, because he was familiar. I mean, you have to understand, in New York in 1982 or 1980 even more, no one had a clue what we were doing. No clue. And we would audition people, and we get people that look like the Grateful Dead or a junkie!  Yeah, we had lot of junkies would come down! No one could play. No one had a clue, no one looked right, it was really a dead end.   So, when Michael came, he didn't look right either. I mean he definitely had a 60s vibe, but he was dressed all in his Carnaby Street stuff with a little English cap on and little Roger McGuinness glasses. I thought, who's this fruitcake? He played and sounded good – he had a Vox Bass, but I still had reservations, and he was a little bit bossy, started telling us what we should be doing, and I don't take well to that. So I broke up the band and I joined a rockabilly band that I liked that is in New York. But as soon as I joined, the drummer left! So we got Ira Elliott who turned out to be “Lysergic Emanations” drummer.   But then the band changed their music, and they weren't doing this hardcore rockabilly sound that I joined for. So I didn’t like that!  Meanwhile, Michael J was harassing me all the time. Calling me on the phone, coming to the gigs, saying “You must reform the “Fuzztones”. He was a real pain in the ass, but then one day he said the right thing. “I got a guitar player, and he's got a Rickenbacker Guitar and a Vox Amp”.  OK, I wanted to hear this, because you have realised nobody had this stuff. I mean when the “Fuzztones” started, you couldn't even buy a fuzz-box. They were antiques. They didn't make fuzz-boxes. They made heavy metal pedals, but no fuzz-boxes.   He came down soon as we started playing, it sounded like the “Lysergic Emanations” line up, so we reformed and that lineup of the band stayed together until 1986 - then we broke up again!It’s a reoccurring thing and in the 44 years we've been together, we probably went through 17 lineups. The current lineup have been together for 8 years and everyone gets along very well, we're all very tight friends. We have played together all over Europe, Japan, Mexico and South America.  We get along really good, everybody is so professional and none of the addiction problems that we've had in the past, the ego problems that we've had in the past, girl problems, we don't have any of that. So yeah, we're all really happy!  I'm pretty sure this this band stay together until the end!     You released your last studio album in 2022, “Encore” and in 2023 you released the live album “Live At The Dive ‘85” Anything new coming in 2025?   Yes, but not as the “Fuzztones”! I have been working on a solo album that I started during the lockdown when there was no one to play with, I got really inspired. I wrote 13 new songs and almost all of them are recorded. I play all the instruments except for the drums, which Marco plays. I don't have a record deal yet, but I'm certain I will, and it be released on vinyl and digital in about 6 months.     Interesting you mention releasing on vinyl - its making such a comeback, a very expensive comeback! Are you as fan of physical releases?   That was the whole idea, convince everybody into giving away their albums and CD’s and then bring back vinyl as a trend and everybody fell for it. I have a huge record collection, and I never got rid of any of it. Every piece of vinyl you own has a memory attached to it.  Also, you can't beat the 12-inch artwork. That's one thing that CDs never had. You have to the record store and dig through the record boxes - that’s where the fun is!   When I was younger, I used to save up some money, go to the store and look for an album that had cool cover. I had no idea what it was going sound like, and I took a chance, thinking” If this music sounds anything like how cool the cover is, - it’s going to be fucking cool!”   Like “The Velvet Underground” - all it said was Andy Warhol and there was a yellow banana cover, and I got that in 1966, the year it came out – amazing piece of vinyl!     Looking back, what was the “Fuzztones” most memorable concert?   I can’t pick just one! There's been so many - performing “Screaming Jay Hawkins” was a very big one. We filled in for the Ramones at the Elixir Festival in 1985 and we were playing with really big name acts - “Depeche Mode”, “The Clash” and “Midnight Oil” and the major French magazine at the time said that we were the revelation of the festival. It was televised on TV – so that was very big! Playing the “Rock Palace” Germanys rock TV show that was really big. We also played in front of 20,000 people at a Belgium festival with “The Mission” – those guys were really cocky and really deprecating towards us. So we blew them off the stage really hardcore and when they went on the stage afterwards, they only got through three songs. The audience was pelting them with mud and yelling “Fuzztones” so that was really memorable! The singer stormed off saying “You're all the bunch of fucking wankers!” I enjoyed that!!   What sets the “Fuzztones” apart from other Garage Rock bands?   We're better! We are the best rock'n'roll band that's out there now - in my opinion, but there's lots of things, there's lots of things. There are loads of garage bands and a lot of them are very good, but they are not like the “Fuzztones” because they tend to copy instead of interpreting - which is very big difference. When we do a cover song, we make it our own because we have a specific style and I like to equate it with bands like “The Rolling Stones” or “The Beatles”, the way they do a cover you know immediately it was them. When I do write a song. I have not been prolific in the past because I was very hard on myself. The originals must be as good as the covers or else what's the purpose? After doing this for so long, I find songwriting easy now and I'm writing a whole lot more than I used to.     Who has been your biggest influences?    Vocally, I'd say Jim Morrison and Jerry Lee Lewis. Jim for his crooning style and Jerry Lee for his phrasing.  Guitar wise Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Link Wray – which is funny because none of them are garage!     What advice would you give to up-and-coming Garage Bands?   I would say do it for the love of music and don't expect anything to come out of it other than enjoyment. If you get more than it's icing on the cake. But if you're not enjoying what you're doing, then forget it.  First, the audience knows and second of all, garage isn't like modern day pop or rap, It's not a formula. It's a raw form of music that if you play it in a formula way - and some people do - everybody can tell right away. It's like immediately, oh, that’s a cliché. You must throw in surprises.     We have never shied away from a challenge and covered really unpredictable artists. Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin. Black Oak, Arkansas. No other garage band would do that because they would be so afraid of what the purists would say, but we made those songs into Garage Songs. We covered “New York, New York”, We covered “Lord Have Mercy On My Soul” by “Black Oak” and made it sound like the “13th Floor Elevators”. There's a. There's a talent, to be able to adapt a song and change it - you know, really change it! We did a “Ramone” song and made it sound like the “Electric Punes!”     Rudi – its been great catching up with you and looking forward to seeing you guys here again in 2025 celebrating 45 years of the “Fuzztones”!   Thanks Rhyan, its gonna be a great year and we are looking forward to it!    Words and Photos: Rhyan Paul Article originally published in Reckless Magazine: https://www.recklessmagazine.com/home/nightofthephantom

On April 12th the mighty Def Con Dos performed at Sauvage Club in Alzira, Valencia. They are not only one of my favourite bands and one I have photographed at both massive festivals and intimate venues, but also a really fucking cool group of talented musicians who have become friends. I knew it was going to be a good concert! We met up early for a secret photoshoot for a really exciting new project the band have planned (more details to follow on that!) and then it was time for the main event. The crowd was eagerly awaiting and burst into roars of delight as César Strawberry (vocals), Alberto Marin (Guitar), Kiki Tornado (drums), J Al. Ándalus (bass), Sagan Ummo (vocals) and Samuel Barranco (vocal) took to the stage. What followed can only be described as 90 minutes of non-stop rap metal madness! Classics including "Acción Mutante", "Sigo Siendo Heterosexual", "De Cacería" and "Ultramemia" being performed with the energy of chipmunks on Redbull to a devoted dancefloor of hardcore fans. Its hard to choose favourite tracks from a Def Con Dos performance, but Mara Gilbert taking to the stage to perform on "A.M.V" and the ultra-brutal "El Día De La Bestia" are definitely up there! If yoy haven't already checked out Def Con Dos and you like rap metal, then I suggest you do. You will not be disappointed! Words and photos: Rhyan Paul

On April 7th The Horrors performed at Sala Moon in Valencia. It was the final night their whirlwind four date Spanish tour (Santiago de Compostela, Barcelona, Madrid and Valenica). It has been a while since the band has performed in Valencia and the venue was at capacity with eager fans, waiting for Farris Badwan and crew to take the stage. The lighting was dim and moody - the perfect vibe for The Horrors performance (although a nightmare for photographers!) and they kicked off the concert with "Silence That Remains" from their 2024 album "Night Life" - which incidently is the bands first album in eight years. The following hours was an epic mix of songs old and new, with the concert ending on "Who Can Say" from 2009. A three song encore followed with "Lotus Eater, Scarlett Fields and STRMB" before the band bid the fans fairwell and left the stage. Words & Photos: Rhyan Paul

Austin Pysch Fest returns to the Far Out Lounge in Austin from April 25-27, 2025, bringing together a stellar lineup of artists who continue to redefine psychedelic and experimental music. Presented by Levitation, the festival will feature legendary acts like Dinosaur Jr., Darkside, and Kim Gordon alongside rising stars such as Geordie Greep and Sasami. With a mix of past and present innovators, this three-day event promises an unforgettable journey into the depths of sound and visuals. For more information and tickets check out: Austin Psych Fest

On 2nd and 3rd May, Warm Up Festiva l returns to Murcia for the 2025 edition. Always a fantastic weekend of music, Warm Up is looking to continue the trend with bands include Franz Ferdinand, M.I.A., Crystal Fighters, Claptone and many more. The last few remaining tickets are available to purchase here: Warm Up