There’s something deeply satisfying about a band that knows exactly who they are—and Black Hats sound like they’ve locked into their groove and thrown away the key on “Witness To Everything.” Built on a bassline that slinks rather than struts, the track wastes no time pulling you into its tight, restless orbit. There’s a distinctly British tension running through it—reggae-inflected low-end colliding with jittery, almost paranoid drum patterns—before those guitars kick in like a barbed-wire jolt to the system. It’s sharp, it’s urgent, and it absolutely refuses to sit still. If you hear echoes of The Jam in the DNA, you’re not wrong—but this isn’t retro cosplay. “Witness To Everything” feels wired for 2026: twitchy, politically aware, and emotionally charged. There’s a push and pull at its core—hope sparring with disillusionment—that gives the song real bite beneath the hooks. Vocally, it walks that perfect line between cool detachment and barely-contained frustration, delivering lyrics that feel both observational and personal—like someone documenting the chaos in real time and realising they can’t stay passive forever. It’s that “something’s got to give” energy, bottled and shaken. Production-wise, the band’s collaboration with Sam Williams continues to pay off. Everything hits with clarity and intent: no wasted space, no over-polishing—just lean, kinetic momentum that lets the groove and the grit do the talking. What really lands, though, is how complete the track feels. It’s got movement, tension, release—and crucially, replay value. The kind of song that sneaks back into your head hours later, uninvited but very welcome. As part of their upcoming four-track release, “Witness To Everything” doesn’t just hold its own—it sets a high bar. If this is the direction Black Hats are heading in, they’re not just knocking on the door anymore—they’re already halfway through it. Turn it up. Pay attention. Sit back and enjoy. You can listen here: Black Hats

Brace yourself, Benidorm. The hairspray is flammable, the riffs are loaded, and your liver has just filed a formal complaint. On May 23, 2026 , the glorious concrete cathedral that is the Auditorio Julio Iglesias becomes ground zero for a full-throttle, no-nonsense, zero-apologies celebration of Spanish rock royalty as the Iberia Festival fires up its next chapter—and honestly, subtlety has left the building. This isn’t your “sip a craft beer and nod thoughtfully” kind of festival. This is a “lose your voice by 7pm and make new best friends in the smoking area” situation. Front and centre is the eternal punk hurricane Evaristo , a man who doesn’t so much perform as detonate. Expect righteous chaos, shouted anthems, and at least one moment where you question your life choices—in a good way. Then comes the gravel-throated legend himself, El Drogas , carrying decades of rock history like a battered leather jacket that somehow still looks cooler than anything you own. His addition to the 2026 lineup has already sent fans into a mild frenzy —and frankly, it’s justified. Need more? Of course you do. Reincidentes are rolling in with their politically-charged, fist-in-the-air anthems, ready to turn the crowd into one giant, sweaty choir. Meanwhile, Def Con Dos (yes, those chaos merchants) promise a set that will feel like a riot disguised as a party. And just when you think you might need a breather—nope. Sekía step up, bringing fresh fire and proving this isn’t just a nostalgia trip—it’s a living, breathing beast of a lineup. Set in the heart of Benidorm—that glorious mash-up of skyscrapers, sunburn, and questionable decisions—the Iberia Festival has built a reputation over more than a decade as a temple of Spanish pop-rock and punk energy . This 2026 edition? It feels like a statement. After setbacks in previous editions (including weather chaos that knocked plans sideways, the festival is back with something to prove—and it’s doing it the only way it knows how: louder, bigger, and with absolutely no chill. If your idea of a perfect Saturday involves volume, attitude, and a lineup that reads like a greatest hits of Spanish rock rebellion, then the Iberia Festival isn’t just an option—it’s a moral obligation. Just don’t plan anything important for the next day. For tickets and more information: Iberia Festival

Suncream? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Emotional readiness for two days of shouting lyrics with strangers while holding a lukewarm beer? Questionable—but that’s exactly the point. Welcome to Del Poble Fest, the Valencian love letter to live music, long afternoons, and the beautiful chaos of summer done properly. On June 19–20, 2026, the laid-back coastal calm of Tavernes de la Valldigna gets hijacked—in the best possible way—by a festival that’s basically what would happen if your local fiestas suddenly booked half of Spanish radio and turned the volume up to “regret.” This is only the second edition, but don’t let that fool you—the first one pulled in over 17,000 people, so the secret’s already out. Now it’s back, bigger, louder, and with a tan line. We’re talking a crowd-pleasing, arms-in-the-air, sing-every-word kind of lineup. Confirmed names include: Loquillo bringing pure rock ‘n’ roll swagger, Taburete serving up indie-pop anthems, Álvaro de Luna for emotional singalongs at sunset, Beret ready to break hearts and fix them again and just when you thought it couldn’t get more stacked, additions like Malú and Fangoria crank things up another notch. Set across a sprawling 25,000 m² site with two stages, VIP zones, and a dangerously tempting food setup, this isn’t just about music—it’s about the full sensory overload. There’s even a next-level street food concept thrown into the mix, because nothing says “festival” like debating life choices over gourmet burgers at 2am. While other festivals are busy building influencer zones and charging €12 for water, Del Poble Fest is leaning hard into something rarer: actual atmosphere. It’s designed to bring back that pueblo spirit—music, community, chaos, and the kind of night where you end up singing with someone you met 30 seconds ago like you’ve known them since 2003. Del Poble Fest isn’t trying to be the coolest festival in Spain. It’s t rying to be the most fun—and honestly, that’s a much better goal. For tickets and more information: Del Poble Festival

There’s a certain kind of band that feels like a clenched fist punching straight through the speakers — raw, urgent and impossible to ignore. Waterboarding School are very much that kind of band, and their new EP Steer Clear lands like a blast of compressed fury that refuses to let up from the first second to the last. Clocking in at just four tracks and around eleven minutes, Steer Clear wastes absolutely no time getting its message across. What the EP lacks in length it more than makes up for in attitude, energy and punch, delivering a tight, no-nonsense slab of punk-fuelled noise that feels built for sweaty basement gigs and blown-out speakers. The EP opens with “Functionality”, a track that immediately establishes the band’s sonic identity. Guitars slash through the mix with a gritty, distorted bite while the rhythm section barrels forward like a runaway train. The song feels restless and urgent, setting the tone for what follows: music that moves fast, hits hard and never hangs around long enough to get comfortable. Next comes “Living A Lie,” the shortest track on the record, but also one of its most explosive. At just over two minutes, it’s a burst of pure adrenaline — the kind of song that sounds like it was written to be shouted back by a packed room of fans pressed up against the stage. The third track, “Nonsense,” stretches things slightly but keeps the momentum firmly pinned to the floor. There’s a chaotic charm to the song’s structure: riffs collide, rhythms shift and the vocals ride the storm with snarling intensity. It’s messy in the best possible way — the sound of a band pushing their energy to the edge without ever losing control. The EP closes with “Complaints,” arguably the record’s most cathartic moment. The song pulls together everything that makes Waterboarding School compelling: jagged guitars, relentless percussion and vocals that sound like they’re being spat directly from the pit of someone’s chest. Across these four tracks, the band demonstrates a knack for packing maximum impact into minimal running time. There’s no filler here, no wasted moments — just fast, tight songs that feel deliberately built to be played loud and often. What makes Steer Clear stand out isn’t just the speed or the aggression — it’s the sense that Waterboarding School understand the spirit of underground punk. The EP has that DIY immediacy, the feeling that these songs were born in rehearsal rooms, late-night writing sessions and chaotic live shows rather than polished studio boardrooms. Yet at the same time the production has enough clarity to let every instrument punch through the mix. The guitars crunch, the bass rumbles underneath the chaos and the drums snap with a sharp, driving urgency that keeps the whole thing hurtling forward. Perhaps the most telling thing about Steer Clear is that the moment it ends, you immediately want to start it again. The EP’s four-track, rapid-fire format makes it feel almost like a concentrated shot of punk adrenaline — short enough to spin repeatedly, but powerful enough to leave a lasting impression. In an age of bloated albums and endless streaming playlists, there’s something refreshing about a band that keeps things lean, loud and unapologetically direct. With Steer Clear , Waterboarding School deliver exactly what the title promises: a blistering warning shot from a band that clearly isn’t interested in playing it safe. It’s fast, furious, and absolutely packed with attitude — the kind of EP that reminds you why underground guitar music still matters. Turn it up, let it rip, and don’t be surprised if you end up playing it three times in a row. For more information: Waterboarding School

Fifty years in and still redefining what a world-class music festival can be, the legendary North Sea Jazz Festival has just unveiled another major moment for its blockbuster 2026 edition. This year’s prestigious Artist in Residence title goes to the extraordinary Cécile McLorin Salvant — a composer, singer and visual artist widely regarded as one of the most important voices in modern jazz. And as if that wasn’t enough, guitar icon Pat Metheny is set to revisit his groundbreaking 1976 debut Bright Size Life in a once-in-a-generation performance created especially for the festival’s 50th anniversary celebrations. For North Sea Jazz, this is more than another line-up announcement. It’s a statement of intent. McLorin Salvant arrives in Rotterdam carrying a reputation few contemporary jazz artists can match. Hailed by The New York Times in the same breath as immortals like Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, she first exploded onto the international scene after winning the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2010. Her acclaimed breakthrough album WomanChild cemented her as a generational talent, while three consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album turned her into one of the defining artists of modern jazz. Now, with eight albums behind her — including 2025’s daring and deeply personal Oh Snap — she takes centre stage at North Sea Jazz with not one, but four unique performances across the weekend. Friday sees her present material from Oh Snap, while Saturday brings Book of Ayres, another ambitious chapter in her constantly evolving artistic world. On Sunday, she doubles up with two major performances: one alongside the renowned Metropole Orchestra conducted by Jules Buckley, and another intimate collaboration with pianist Sullivan Fortner. If there was ever an artist capable of embodying the adventurous spirit of North Sea Jazz, it’s McLorin Salvant — fearless, genre-defying and impossible to predict. Then comes Pat Metheny’s contribution to the anniversary celebrations, and it promises to be something truly historic. To mark 50 years since the release of Bright Size Life — one of the most influential jazz albums of the modern era — Metheny will revisit the record in a way fans never expected to see again. Originally released on ECM Records in 1976, the album helped redefine jazz fusion with its open, lyrical sound and became a landmark recording for generations of musicians. At Metheny’s own request, Dutch composer and conductor Tyn Wybenga has reimagined the album for a large ensemble format. The result will be performed live at North Sea Jazz with Metheny joined by the Brainteaser Orchestra — marking the first time since the 1970s that the guitarist has revisited Bright Size Life in this form. For jazz fans, it’s the kind of event that instantly enters festival folklore. North Sea Jazz 2026 is already shaping up as one of the defining music events of the year, balancing heritage, innovation and pure musical ambition across a line-up that continues to push far beyond the traditional boundaries of jazz. For tickets and more information. North Sea Jazz Festival

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

On Sunday 22 March, the lush green setting of Botànic Cullera transforms into a meeting point for music, art and Mediterranean soul as the fifth edition of the Músiques i Art al Botànic cycle rolls into town. It’s the kind of Sunday plan that feels almost too good to be true: fresh air, culture, live blues and a proper Valencian paella to round things off. The day begins gently at 10:00am, when the gates swing open and visitors can wander through the botanical gardens, soaking up the relaxed atmosphere. At 11:00am, creativity takes centre stage with the opening of the exhibition “Forma i Essència”, curated by the cultural collective Paleta i Pinzell — a showcase celebrating colour, form and artistic expression surrounded by nature. But at 12:00pm sharp, things are going to get loud in the best possible way. Enter Nasty Boogie, one of Valencia’s most respected blues outfits, bringing their gritty, sweat-soaked sound to the garden stage. Formed in Valencia in the mid-2000s, the band built their reputation on a deep love for the classic blues traditions of Chicago, the West Coast and Texas. Their music blends smoky harmonica riffs, sharp guitar lines and a rhythm section that swings like a late-night barroom jam. Fronted by harmonica player and vocalist Daniel Tena, alongside guitarist Raúl Rabadán, bassist Fran Moreno and drummer Juanjo Iniesta, the group channels the spirit of the great blues masters while keeping their sound fresh and electrifying. Since forming, they’ve played major blues festivals across Spain and shared stages with international acts, carving out a reputation as one of the most authentic blues bands on the Valencian circuit. Expect scorching harmonica runs, rolling boogie grooves and that unmistakable blues swagger that turns a sunny Sunday into a full-blown musical celebration. And when the last notes fade? The aroma of paella at 14:30 will bring everyone back down to earth — the perfect way to recharge after a morning of art, music and dancing under the Valencian sky. Nature, culture, blues and rice. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday in Cullera. Tickets and more information are available via Moving Tickets — but if you’re anywhere near Valencia on March 22, this is one botanical session of blues you won’t want to miss. Tickets and more information: Moving Tickets

Valencia’s underground rock circuit is about to experience a serious blast of raw, primal rock ’n’ roll when Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds arrive at 16 Toneladas on Friday, March 27, 2026. And they’re not coming alone. Joining the party will be Swiss garage firestarters The Giant Robots and the riotous rock ’n’ roll outfit Eh, Mertxe!, promising a triple-bill built for sweaty floors, ringing ears and full-throttle rock chaos. Doors open at 22:30 with the show kicking off at 23:00, turning one of Valencia’s most beloved rock clubs into a late-night temple of fuzz, distortion and vintage garage swagger. At the centre of the storm stands the legendary Kid Congo Powers — one of the most fascinating figures in modern underground rock history. Across decades, Powers has played a crucial role in shaping some of the most influential alternative bands of the late twentieth century. His guitar work helped define the swampy voodoo rock of The Gun Club, the psychobilly sleaze of The Cramps, and the dark, cinematic sound of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.But with Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds, he returned to something closer to his musical roots — a feral blend of garage rock, chicano rhythm, psychedelic fuzz and soul-soaked basslines. Their music feels like a lost broadcast from some mythical underground radio station where punk, rockabilly and psychedelic rock all collide at once. The band arrives in Valencia with a brand-new record, “La Araña Es La Vida,” released on cult garage label In The Red Records, recorded with the current line-up of Kid Congo alongside Kiki Solis, Ron Miller, and Mark Cisneros. On stage, their songs explode into hypnotic grooves and volcanic guitar lines — a psychedelic jungle of sound that almost dares the audience not to dance. Supporting them are The Giant Robots, a long-running rock ’n’ roll outfit from Lausanne whose sound is equal parts vintage garage, punk attitude and pure rock absurdity. Formed in the mid-1990s, the band have spent years spreading their infectious brand of fuzz-soaked garage punk across Europe, releasing singles, albums and tearing through clubs with a swagger that feels ripped straight from the golden age of dirty rock ’n’ roll. Their songs are fast, loud, and proudly chaotic — exactly the kind of sound that fits perfectly inside a packed club with sticky floors and guitars pushed into the red. Completing the line-up are Eh, Mertxe!, a high-energy rock ’n’ roll outfit originally from the Basque scene and now active across Spain’s underground circuit. Since forming in 2015 they’ve built a reputation for explosive live shows driven by sharp guitars and infectious choruses, releasing several EPs before their acclaimed 2022 album Lo Sabes Bien. Their sound sits somewhere between classic garage rock, punk energy and street-level rock ’n’ roll attitude — a perfect warm-up before the headliners tear the roof off. Shows like this are exactly what keeps the city’s alternative music scene alive. A legendary guitarist, two ferocious support bands, and one of Valencia’s most beloved rock venues packed wall-to-wall with fans ready for noise. For a few hours on March 27, 16 Toneladas will become a time machine back to the raw, dangerous spirit of rock ’n’ roll — the kind where the guitars snarl, the crowd sweats, and the night ends with everyone stumbling into the street buzzing from the sound. Because when Kid Congo rolls into town, it’s never just a concert. It’s a garage-rock séance led by one of the genre’s true survivors! For tickets and more information: 16 Toneladas

There are festivals with massive corporate stages, VIP terraces and endless sponsor banners. And then there are festivals like Concerts del Pinar — a wild, sweaty, pine-scented gathering where guitars howl under Mediterranean skies and thousands of people come together because they still believe in the power of loud music. From June 18 to June 20, 2026, the rebellious heart of Castellón will beat once again inside the towering trees of the Pinar del Grau, as the sixth edition of the festival unleashes three days of punk, rock and underground electricity. Concerts del Pinar has built its reputation on something beautifully simple: great bands, a natural setting and a crowd that genuinely loves music. Since its birth in 2020, the festival has grown steadily while holding onto its independent spirit — transforming the pine forest by the Mediterranean into one of the most distinctive live-music spaces in eastern Spain. By night the place feels almost surreal. Guitars echo through the trees. The smell of pine mixes with beer and sea air. And somewhere between the stage lights and the branches above, rock and roll takes on a slightly mythical quality. It’s intimate. It’s loud. And it’s gloriously human-scale. For 2026 the organisers have assembled 12 bands across three nights, pulling together a fierce mix of punk legends, heavy underground favourites and rising alternative acts. Leading the charge this year are some of the most explosive names in the European and Spanish alternative scenes: Narco – the Andalusian rap-metal wrecking ball known for brutal riffs and politically charged fury Non Servium – Madrid’s street-punk institution with decades of boots-and-barricades anthems O’Funk’illo – masters of Andalusian funk-rock groove Bala – the Galician noise-rock duo who sound like an entire army of distortion pedals Niña Coyote eta Chico Tornado – volcanic Basque garage rock The Casualties – legendary New York street-punk veterans bringing global punk pedigree And that’s only the start - also storming the stage across the weekend are Parquesvr, Deaf Devils, Bandits, Annacrusa, Lady Mambo and the gloriously named Sintron Prospecto Lavativa, ensuring that every corner of the underground gets a moment in the spotlight. One of the most remarkable things about Concerts del Pinar is the loyalty it inspires. Previous editions have drawn thousands of fans from across Spain, proving that a festival doesn’t need massive corporate budgets to thrive — just passion, great programming and a crowd ready to lose their voices in front of a stage. The demand for the 2026 edition shows just how strong that connection has become: over 70% of tickets sold within a week of the line-up announcement, suggesting that another packed forest of music lovers is inevitable. And maybe that’s the magic of this festival. Concerts del Pinar isn’t trying to compete with giant European mega-festivals. It doesn’t need to. Instead it offers something far better:three nights of guitars, sweat, noise and community in a pine forest beside the sea. By the time the last distortion-soaked chord rings out on June 20, the trees of Castellón will once again have witnessed something glorious. A small festival.A big sound.And a reminder that punk rock still belongs in the wild. For tickets and more information: Concerts Del Pinar

There are albums that politely arrive, shake your hand and sit quietly in the corner and then there’s Garrote Vil, the ferocious new release from Madrid’s rap-hardcore agitators XpresidentX — a record that kicks the door off its hinges, raids Spain’s cultural attic and detonates the whole thing in a glorious explosion of satire, riffs and political bite. Released in January 2026, Garrote Vil is the band’s fifth studio album, and it might just be their most complete, sharpest and most ambitious work yet. What immediately sets Garrote Vil apart is its concept. Every track on the album is built around samples taken from Spanish popular culture — fragments of copla, TV songs, political propaganda and classic melodies that generations of Spaniards recognise instantly. But this isn’t nostalgia - It’s sabotage. Those familiar melodies collide head-on with rap-metal riffs, hardcore drums and savage lyrical attacks, creating a sound that feels like a pirate broadcast hijacking decades of Spanish culture and turning it into protest music. One moment you’re hearing echoes of Lola Flores or Paloma San Basilio, the next you’re plunged into a wall of distortion and politically charged verses. The contrast is brilliant — and deliberately uncomfortable. If earlier XpresidentX records leaned heavily into humour and chaos, Garrote Vil sharpens the knife.The satire is still there — sarcastic, biting and often hilarious — but the social commentary feels more direct and mature, tackling everything from politics and corruption to social hypocrisy and cultural absurdities. Tracks like “No vengas a Madrid,” “Jubilación a los 18,” and “Cristo de la Corrupción” land like punches to the ribs, while songs such as “Underground” celebrate the DIY struggle of surviving outside the mainstream music machine. Musically the band sound tighter and more explosive than ever — rap flows crashing into hardcore breakdowns, punk energy colliding with hip-hop swagger. It’s messy, loud and absolutely intentional. Part of what makes Garrote Vil work so well is the chemistry within the band itself. The line-up — Samuel Barranco, Lasyra, Irene Xtrem, Edu DS and Arce — operates like a perfectly tuned riot machine, combining rap delivery, hardcore aggression and punk chaos into a sound that is unmistakably their own. Add in guest appearances from figures across Spain’s alternative scene — including members of bands like Narco and Lucy — and the record becomes a kind of underground summit meeting for rebellious Spanish rock and rap. More than anything, Garrote Vil feels like a band hitting its creative stride. It’s fearless in its ideas, brutal in its execution and packed with the kind of anarchic energy that made XpresidentX such a cult force in the first place. But now that chaos is focused. The jokes cut deeper.The riffs hit harder.The message lands louder. Put simply, this isn’t just another XpresidentX record. It’s the moment where the band fully weaponise their mix of punk, rap and political satire — turning Spanish pop culture itself into ammunition. For more information: XPresidentX

Valencia’s underground rock scene is about to get a serious injection of South American punk attitude when 2 Minutos roll into Rock City on March 20, 2026 as part of their explosive European Tour 2026. For fans of raw, no-nonsense punk rock, this is the kind of gig that promises sweat on the walls, boots on the stage and a room full of people shouting every lyric like their lives depend on it. And helping to kick the night into gear will be local support act A Tercio Pelao, who will warm up the crowd before the Argentine veterans unleash their legendary street-punk assault. Formed in the gritty Buenos Aires suburb of Valentín Alsina, 2 Minutos have spent more than 30 years flying the flag for Latin American punk. Their music is built on the essentials: fast guitars, pounding drums and lyrics rooted in everyday life, rebellion and working-class identity. Across decades of touring and recordings, the band has become a cult institution in Spanish-speaking punk circles, with songs like “Ya No Sos Igual” and “Le Hace Falta Un Beso” turning into anthems for multiple generations of fans. Their upcoming European run will see them tearing through venues across Germany and Spain, including stops in Berlin, Mallorca, Bilbao, Madrid and Barcelona — with Valencia set to host one of the most anticipated dates of the tour. The show takes place at Rock City in Almàssera, just outside Valencia — a venue famous for its intimate but high-energy atmosphere and a capacity of around 500 people, making it the perfect pressure cooker for a punk gig of this magnitude. In a room this size, the distance between band and audience disappears completely. Expect stage-diving, circle pits and the kind of communal chaos that only punk rock can generate. Opening the night are A Tercio Pelao, a rising force in the local scene whose gritty rock sound and high-octane live performances make them the ideal band to ignite the crowd before the headliners hit the stage. For a gig like this, the support slot isn’t just a warm-up — it’s part of the ritual. By the time 2 Minutos walk on stage, the room will already be primed for a full-blown punk eruption. With doors opening at 21:00 and tickets already circulating among Valencia’s rock faithful, the concert is shaping up to be one of the loudest nights of the spring calendar. Because when 2 Minutos arrive in town, they don’t deliver a polite concert. They deliver a full-throttle punk gathering — a room full of guitars, sweat, rebellion and songs that refuse to age. For tickets and more information: Rock City

Friday night in Peter Rock Club was not a gig. It was a small-scale uprising disguised as a concert. The posters said XPresidentX were playing. The crowd knew what that meant. Not a polite indie show. Not a tidy rock set. What it actually meant was political satire, rap-metal aggression and a room full of people ready to scream every word like it was written directly for them. And from the moment the first beat dropped, the place went feral. XpresidentX have built their reputation on two things: razor-sharp political humour and the kind of live energy that turns small venues into boiling pressure cookers. Their shows feel less like concerts and more like anarchic theatre, where the punchlines arrive wrapped in distorted riffs and hip-hop beats. Inside Peter Rock Club, the stage lights flashed and the band launched straight into their arsenal of savage, satirical anthems. No slow build. No warm-up. Just immediate sonic confrontation. The crowd — a dense, sweating mass packed tight against the stage — responded instantly. Fists in the air. Lyrics shouted back at the band with the conviction of people who know exactly what they’re yelling about. It wasn’t just a crowd - It was a congregation. What makes a show like this work is proximity. Peter Rock Club is the kind of venue where the barrier between band and audience barely exists. One step forward and you’re practically in the pit. That intimacy turned the entire gig into a feedback loop of energy. Every time the band dropped a lyric dripping with sarcasm or rage, the audience fired it right back at them twice as loud. Beer sloshed across the floor, bodies surged forward and the air inside the club grew thick with sweat and adrenaline. This is the natural habitat for XPresidentX — loud rooms, angry songs and crowds who understand the joke is deadly serious. After the controlled chaos of XPresidentX, the night didn’t wind down — it simply shifted gears. Taking the stage next were Radity, delivering a punchy set that kept the room buzzing long after the political grenades had finished exploding. Where XPresidentX brought satirical fury, Radity brought raw rock momentum, leaning into heavy riffs and high-energy grooves that kept the crowd locked in. By that point the audience was fully warmed up — sweaty, hoarse and ready for more noise — and the band rode that wave perfectly. It was the ideal follow-up: less satire, more pure sonic muscle, but the same sense of urgency. What made the night memorable wasn’t just the music — it was the atmosphere. Valencia crowds are famously passionate, but on this particular Friday they felt completely locked into the moment. Every lyric landed. Every punchline hit. Every guitar riff pushed the energy higher. By the time the lights came up, Peter Rock Club looked like a room that had survived a minor riot — the good kind. And somewhere in the ringing ears and exhausted grins was the feeling that live music still has the power to shake people awake. Words and photos: Rhyan Paul