Euskaraz irakurri: Azkena Rock Festivalek utzi dizkigun zortzi izen

Four stages, three nights, 50,000 attendees, more than sixty groups and soloists on the bill… Beyond the numbers, the 22nd edition of the Azkena Rock Festival in Vitoria-Gasteiz has left some names of its own.

Queens of the Stone Age

Josh Homme’s band swept Mendizabala in their concert on Friday, and endorsed rock standards: musical prowess (it is a spectacle to see Jon Theodore, Michael Shuman, Troy Van Leeuwen and Homme himself perform, who sometimes sees his prestige overshadowed as a guitarist for his role as frontman), great songs (although it can be argued that the repertoire satisfied fans of their more current material more and there were those who missed some more classics), splendid sound (overwhelming in the sections in which they played songs from the Songs for the deafa 21st century rock staple, tuned in C, lower than the rest of their songs), attitude, mastery of the situation and presence (elegant play of lights that accompanies the music, which is what it’s all about) .

Troy Van Leeuwen and Josh Homme, on Friday in Mendizabala. Photo: Oscar L Tejeda

If someone asks what a big rock concert should be like in 2024, I would take them directly to Mendizabala at 00:20 last Saturday. The queens sit on the throne of today’s great rock groups.

Jane’s Addiction

Although with less exuberance than Queens of the Stone Age (Perry Farrell’s voice is not what it was), the founding quartet of the Los Angeles group offered a good concert on the first night of the festival.

Dave Navarro, Eric Avery, Stephen Perkins and Farrell himself, all charisma, lived up to their prestige as one of the groups that created what has come to be called alternative rock.

Whispering Sons

Unfortunately somewhat tarnished by the rain on Thursday, the Belgian group confirmed its position as one of the great unknown treasures of the festival, and became one of the main discoveries for many.

Propelled by the voice of Fenne Kuppens, they left evidence in Vitoria of their dark post punk with a melancholic aftertaste. I hope they come here to present their new album in the hall. The great calm.

Whispering Sons. Photo: Jordi Vidal.

Redd Kross

Perfect band for the perfect moment. The mix of garage and rock with catchy and lively choruses was a great boost to the atmosphere on Friday afternoon.

Redd Kross. Photo: Paco Poyato.

The Californian group led by brothers Jeff (guitar and vocals) and Steve (bassist, also in Off! and Melvins) McDonald, who published their first album in 1982, took a step forward throughout the day with a good series of great songs , both classics and a preview of his next one, which is published this Friday, June 28.

Mavis Staples

With a proposal almost opposite to that of Whispering Sons (this is the great thing about festivals like these), the great legend Mavis Staples distributed on Saturday, despite her advanced age, funk, blues and soul on the Respect stage, where otherwise .

A lesson in fundamentals and vocal mastery, accompanied by a more than efficient band. Great concert.

Mavis Staples. Photo: Jordi Vidal.

Ezpalak

The Zestoa group more than fulfilled its role on Friday, on the Love stage at 6:00 p.m. and with the sun in its face. With a ten-point attitude and a very correct sound, the quartet attracted more and more audiences with their chantable rock and punk attitude.

Three studio albums and a live show in four years, in addition to live shows like the one last Friday in which a remarkable part of the audience accompanied them singing songs like “Itzala”, leave testimony to a remarkable group that we can continue to follow. .

Juanjo Berasain (Ezpalak). Photo: Jordi Vidal.

Lisa & The Lips

The concerts of the Virgen Blanca, on Fridays and Saturdays at noon, are one of the most valuable heritage of Azkena. Knowing this, the festival organization scheduled the free concert by Lisa & The Lips for Friday, in which the singer from The Bellrays made the entire city dance.

Morning concert by Lisa & The Lips at the Virgen Blanca. Photo: Paco Poyato.

Public

Another of the most valuable assets of the festival, if not the greatest, is its audience. 50,000 people have enjoyed the ARF 2024 programming, and have once again provided a rock and music-loving personality (not always the main characteristic of the festival audience) to the festival.

Friday was the day with the greatest influx of people, and there were moments when the large entrance was noticeable, but, despite being close to the sold out, the venue was comfortable and the cleanliness in the bathrooms and the rest of the venue was notable. .

Photo: Paco Poyato.

Next year, the Azkena Rock Festival will be held on June 19, 20 and 21 in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Source: Eitb

Bruce

Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.