Bilbao BBK
Bilbao, Spain | 10-12 July
Bilbao BBK is placed carefully in the idyllic northern Basque Country of Spain with the small mountain range swerving as a breath-taking backdrop to the three-day festival. The locals queued diligently outside, donning well-worn band tees while sipping ‘Kaliximoto’, the Spanish delicacy of red wine and coke.
The line-up, in this journalist’s opinion, was primarily packed with safe pop-rock acts. However, contradicting this was the Cardiff-based punk outfit Future of the Left, who kicked things off wildly with a mesh of screams and short jumpy riffs. The opening act’s sound waves shook the punters violently. marking the start of the festival with a ferocious awakening. The crowds quickly began to pour in.
At this small-scale festival, overlapping was rare on the timetable, so tough decisions boiled down to the likes of: White Lies Vs Allen Stone and mojitos Vs reverse Jagerbombs. Allen Stone and mojitos triumphed this time. The soulful hippie was spectacular; he mesmerized the crowd with his overpowering vocal range as the crowd attempted to mimic and hit those high notes in Unaware. I now may suffer from tinnitus. Hercules and Love Affair fucking nailed it with a joyous set of fun loving New York disco beats. The crowd went wild and the atmosphere was unbeatable in the triangular Sony tent.
With Friday starting at what felt like an absurdly early time for this Jagermeister loving girl (quick word to the wise, they don’t use any alcohol measurements in Spain), Chet Faker opened day two. Unfortunately, it seemed that many of the punters were busy having a siesta during this slot. The sense excitement from the crowds for The Prodigy later that evening was almost overbearing. The sound quality may have been poor quality, but spirits couldn’t be dampened due to the fact it was this writer’s birthday. Rocking a tiara and a large cup of spirits, I jumped in unison with the crowd to the likes of Smack My Bitch Up, Fire Starter and rarity Jetfighter. Amidst the all the madness, my hair was literally set alight by a Marlboro-smoking Spaniard moshing beside me in a lion costume. Another round was quickly in order for recuperation.
The final day was all about The Black Keys and admittedly an anti-climax with more sound issues, but regardless the crowd bopped and jumped enthusiastically. By MGMT, steam was running out which meant regrettably missing out on John Talabot’s DJ set at 4.20 am.
With giant brands blasting their logos onto your eyeballs from every direction, there was not one stall to be seen selling any festival one-offs like an over priced flower garland or an ugly pair of baggy harems. Maybe the Spanish are onto something with that. But if the site lacked the aesthetics you wanted, you could always make a daytime trip to the Guggenheim Museum where you can get all the art you need. Bilbao BBK was an experience of atmosphere and a great insight into the Basque lifestyle and welcoming personality. For that alone I want to attend every year.
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Words: Isis O’Regan
Photography: Musicsnapper, Rhythmandphotos + Tom Hagen
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