| Bilbao BBK Live | |
| Location: | Kobetamendi Bilbao, Spain |
| Years Active: | 2006–present |
| Founders: | Basque Government Last Tour International |
| Dates: | 12–14 July |
| Organizer: | Last Tour Concerts |
Bilbao BBK Live is a rock and pop music festival that takes place annually in the city of Bilbao, Spain. Since its beginnings, the festival is held in its entirety on a special complex built specifically for the event on the slopes of Mount Cobetas, located southwest of the city.
The first edition was organized by Basque musical promoter Last Tour International and sponsored by the Bilbao City Council in the year 2006 under the name Bilbao Live Festival. Since the following year, the festival has been sponsored by local savings bank Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa, who gave it its current name. The festival is the first of its kind and size to happen in the region. In the 2011 edition, the festival exceeded 100,000 visitors for the first time, doubling the 2006 attendance.[1] The 2012 event was reported to left an economical impact estimated in over 17.5 million euros in the city.[2]
The festival was nominated for "Best Foreign Festival" at the UK Festival Awards in 2010 and 2011,[3] and for "Best Medium-Sized European Festival" at the European Festivals Awards three consecutive times in 2009–2011.[4]
After an unsuccessful attempt to establish a street circuit in the city for the Formula Renault 3.5 in July 2005, the city Government decided to fill in the summer events calendar with an open-air music festival.[5] In early 2006, it approached local musical promoter Last Tour International, responsible for the organization of the Azkena Rock Festival, celebrated in nearby Vitoria-Gasteiz since 2002. The newborn festival received the name of Bilbao Live Festival, and had a budget of 4.2 million euros.[5] [6] The newly developed area in mount Cobetas was chosen as the location, which included two main stages for the rock acts, two electronic music tents, one pop music tent, and several bars and shops.[5] Over 40 national and international bands participated in the first edition, celebrated during three days between 13 and 15 July 2006. The headliners included American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, British bands Placebo and Pretenders, and Argentinians Andrés Calamaro and Ariel Roth, former members of rock band Los Rodríguez.[7] [8]
Over 51,000 people attended this first edition, and was considered a "success".[8] LTI representative, Alfonso Santiago praised the organization and the music acts,[9] and defined the festival as a "good starting point".[8] The festival was well received by critics, the authorities, and the general public, and a second edition for the next year was confirmed on 28 July 2006, with the possibility of making it a "permanent musical event" of the city's cultural offer.[10] [11]
In early 2007, local savings bank Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa decided to become an official sponsor for the festival, as part of the actions for its 100th anniversary celebration campaign. As a result, the festival's name was changed to Bilbao BBK Live.[12] Unlike other sponsorship renamings, where the sponsor's name is usually dropped in an informal context, this festival is commonly referred to as "the BBK Live" or simply "the BBK". The second edition enjoyed a "significant budget rise", and the area designated for the stages and camping was also increased from 70,000 to 110,000 m2.[13] The 2007 edition was also the first (and currently only) to be celebrated in June, a decision took based on the "European summer festival calendar". An extra date was also added, spanning two weekends, 21-22 and 28–29 June. American bands Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Incubus, New York Dolls, My Chemical Romance, and British heavy metal band Iron Maiden were among the international headliners for this edition, meanwhile local rock band Fito & Fitipaldis stood out among Spanish acts, and received the largest audience of the event.[14] Over 95,000 people attended the event, and produced an economical impact estimated in 13 million euros.[15]
For the 2008 edition, the festival moved back to its original dates in the first weekend of July and a three-day programme. This edition was headlined by American acts R.E.M., Lenny Kravitz, ZZ Top, and British bands The Police, The Prodigy, and Madness.[16] This year saw the introduction of a new festival in the city; Kobetasonik was focused in heavy metal music, was headlined by Kiss and Judas Priest, and was held two weeks before BBK Live in the same venue at mount Cobetas. Bilbao BBK Live 08 was attended by a little less than 80,000 people, well below the expected 95,000. Rain and difficult access to the site, available only through shuttle buses provided by a private party instead of the city's public buses as in past editions, were seen as factors for the decrease in attendance.[17] However, the edition was still considered a success, and despite a project of moving the festival to a new location at an abandoned amusement park in mount Artxanda,[18] the organization decided to stick to Cobetas, and promised improvements in the area and services for 2009.[19]
The fourth edition, held between 9–11 July 2009 suffered greatly from the financial crisis that struck Spain in that period. As a result, the line-up was considerately "less commercial", as defined by the organization. Headliners included Depeche Mode, Jane's Addiction, Kaiser Chiefs, Editors, and second-timers Placebo, among others.[20] The festival received over 52,600 visitors, a "foreseen decrease",[21] and although considered a "step back", the continuity of the festival was confirmed.[22] This edition saw an increase of foreign visitors, a 5-point increase from the past edition, totaling 14,6%. Foreign attendees came principally from France and the United Kingdom. This was mainly due to a special offer aimed to anyone with a postal address outside of Spain, with a three-day ticket for £40, one third of the standard price.[20] [23] [24]
Number of visitors: 51.000
| Stages | |||
| 13 July | 14 July | 15 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals The Cult The Cardigans Ladytron Ojos de Brujo Lori Meyers Gatibu | Guns N' Roses Deftones Blue Öyster Cult Fun Lovin' Criminals Mando Diao Heavy Trash Hash | Placebo Andrés Calamaro y Ariel Rot Tricky The Pretenders Los Planetas Rinôçérôse El Inquilino Comunista El Columpio Asesino Zodiacs | |
| Stages | |||
| 13 July | 14 July | 15 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking Deluxx Capri Birdy Sindikaat Djs Carvalho Live FC Kahuna Alex Under & Paco Osuna | Iñigo Kriptonita The Mfa Live Matthew Dekay Alexander Kowalski feat Khan live Robbie Rivera Vitalic Cristian Varela Armin van Buuren John Lord Fonda live Markus Schulz Feliz Da Housecat | Donnacha costello Silicone Soul Front 242 Oxia Todd Terry Rex The Dog Derrick Carter Der Dritte Raum Francesco Farfa Junkie XL | |
Number of visitors: 94.712
| Stages | ||||
| 21 June | 22 June | 28 June | 29 June | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Maiden Within Temptation Mastodon Juliette & The Licks Stone Sour Bloodsimple Lauren Harris Vhäldemar | Red Hot Chili Peppers My Chemical Romance Fishbone Fermin Muguruza & afro-basque fire brigade Kula Shaker Billy Talent Berri Txarrak One Direction Drive | Fito & Fitipaldis New York Dolls Maceo Parker Los Ronaldos Muchachito Bombo Infierno I Love Ufo The Pinker Tones The Ellas Nun | Metallica Incubus The (International) Noise Conspiracy Bullet for My Valentine Nebula Zico Chain Idi Bihotz Biok Laia | |
Number of visitors: 79.810
| Stages | |||
| 4 July | 5 July | 6 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Police The Dandy Warhols The Charlatans Morcheeba The Raveonettes The Gift Fancy Gari | R.E.M. Lenny Kravitz The Prodigy The Fratellis The Sunday Drivers The Pigeon Detectives Krakovia Dynamo | Madness ZZ Top Tequila Riders on The Storm The Blues Brothers Band Quique González & La Aristocracia del Barrio | |
Number of visitors: 52.663
| Stages | |||
| 9 July | 10 July | 11 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depeche Mode Basement Jaxx Editors The Ting Tings Vetusta Morla The Gaslight Anthem Motor Lain | Jane's Addiction Kaiser Chiefs Echo and the Bunnymen Dave Matthews Band Chris Cornell Babyshambles Supergrass El Columpio Asesino | Placebo Primal Scream Fischerspooner Asian Dub Foundation Baddies The Phenomenal Handclap Band Cycle Expatriate Ama Say | |
Number of visitors: 76.579
| Stages | |||
| 8 July | 9 July | 10 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rammstein Slayer Skunk Anansie Rise Against Bullet for My Valentine Anti-Flag Volbeat Rise to Fall | Pearl Jam Alice in Chains Paul Weller Gogol Bordello Coheed and Cambria Biffy Clyro Dropkick Murphys Gómez Wild Beasts Cápsula | Faith No More Manic Street Preachers Jeff Tweedy Jet Feeder Tsool Los Campesinos! The Maccabees Band of Skulls Zain | |
Number of visitors: 103.083
| Stages | ||||
| 7 July | 8 July | 9 July | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coldplay Blondie Beady Eye The Twilight Singers Crystal Castles Russian Red Ken Zazpi Neon Trees Miss Caffeina Sweet Oblivion Mild Oink | Oink! Djs | Suede Kasabian Kaiser Chiefs Vetusta Morla !!! The Mars Volta TV on the Radio Noisettes Zarama CatPeople Mamba Beat Radiofunkens The Zombie Kids Montxo & Javi Green | The Black Crowes Jack Johnson The Chemical Brothers 30 Seconds to Mars M Clan Les Savy Fav Seasick Steve Japanese Voyeurs Enkore Estereotypo Smile Le Noise Independence Djs Optigan1 Dj | |
Number of visitors: 110.000
| Stages | |||
| 12 July | 13 July | 14 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cure Snow Patrol Bloc Party James Murphy The Maccabees Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Pat Mahoney Band of Skulls Lori Meyers The Gift Ben Howard Tribes Young Guns Belako La Habitación Roja McEnroe Varry Brava Elbis Reber Ciudadano Kane Montxo & Javi Green | Radiohead The Kooks Mumford & Sons Vetusta Morla Four Tet Noah and the Whale Warpaint Zea Mays We Are Augustines Etienne de Crecy Here We Go Magic Zoé Bigott Triángulo de Amor Bizarro Amós y LoSantos Namek Planet Victoria's Secret DJs The Warriors DJs | Garbage Keane Glasvegas Sum 41 The View Eli "Paperboy" Reed Corizonas Enter Shikari The Big Pink The Inspector Cluzo & FB's Horns PS I Love You Pure Love The Black Belle Rubick Supersubmarina Onda Vaga Lauroba Dani Less & Oskar Destroy (Independence Club) Nasty Mondays | |
Number of visitors: 105.000
| Stages | |||
| 11 July | 12 July | 13 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depeche Mode Two Door Cinema Club Editors Biffy Clyro Alt-J Billy Talent Charles Bradley & his extraordinaires Delorean Toy Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Miss Caffeina L. A. Arcane Roots Little Boots Dj Amable Banda de Turistas Skasti y Javi Green & Montxo | Kings of Leon PiL The Vaccines Klaxons Mark Lanegan Band 2ManyDJs Benjamin Biolay with special guest Carl Barat Standstill presenta Cénit Gary Clark Jr. Johnny Borrell & Zazou Spector Birdy Nam Nam Fuel Fandango Los Zigarros Ciudadano Kane The Warriors DJs Herri Oihua Ainara LeGardon y The home phonema | Green Day Vampire Weekend Fatboy Slim The Hives Fermin Muguruza Kontrakantxa White Denim We Are Standard Twin Shadow Delorentos Jamie N Commons Hacktivist The Bots Syberia Zuloak You don't know me Daniless DJ / Göo Elyella Djs Sr. Chinarro y Bel Bee Bee | |
Number of visitors: 120.000
| Stages | |||||
| 10 July | 11 July | 12 July | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franz Ferdinand Phoenix Vetusta Morla Crystal Fighters John Newman White Lies Hercules and Love Affair Parquet Courts The Last Internationale Allen Stone Dorian Future of the Left Kostrok Eskean Kristo The Suicide of Western Culture This not many djs Za | Los Pilotos | The Prodigy Jack Johnson Bastille Foster the People Conor Oberst Frank Turner & The sleeping souls Palma Violets Dawes El Columpio Asesino Izal Chet Faker The 1975 Baio Sine3 Croissant djs Anímic Lasers Clip | Pional El Txef_A | The Black Keys MGMT The Lumineers Band of Horses Los Enemigos Skaters Belako John Talabot Kuroma La M.O.D.A Elliott Brood The Rebels Smoke Idols WLDV M a j e s t a d Fira Fem Kresy Headbirds Cardupuser | |
Number of visitors: 120.000
| Stages | ||||||
| 9 July | 10 July | 11 July | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumford & Sons Disclosure Counting Crows Future Islands BRMC Capital Cities Of Montreal Bleachers Triggerfinger Dover Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Monarchy Marmozets Buffetlibre Novedades Carminha Olde Gods Músculo | Larregi (banden lehia) Javi Green Boreals Exxasens Nueva Vulcano | The Jesus and Mary Chain Alt-J Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals Azealia Banks James Bay Chromeo Dj Set Catfish and the Bottlemen We Were Promised Jetpacks Shaka Ponk Arizona Baby Zea Mays Begun Live Fort Romeau Dj Fra The London Souls Jupiter Lion Der Panther Siesta | Nazca Huias Grises Champs | Muse Of Monsters and Men SBTRKT Kodaline The Cat Empire Vintage Trouble The Ting Tings Delorean Sheppard Zoot Woman Julio Bashmore Bear's Den Lapalux Marc Piñol Trajano | The Parrots Elyella DJs Sau Poler Señores Muñik Caveliers of Fun John Grvy Neuman I am dive | |
Number of visitors: 102.865
| Stages | |||
| 7 July | 8 July | 9 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcade Fire New Order M83 Chvrches Hot Chip Years & Years Blood Red Shoes Hola a Todo el Mundo Hidrogenesse French Films Hinds Little Scream DMA's Gallant K-X-P Rural Zombies Begiz Begi Them flying monkeys Ochoymedio DJs Dark DJ | Pixies Underworld Love of Lesbian Ocean Colour Scene (Performing Moseley Shoals) Grimes José GonzáLez We Are Standard Belako Junior Boys Slaves C. Tangana Sophie Nudozurdo Blossoms Hana John Berkhout Inheaven Green Class David Kano Daniless | Foals Tame Impala Editors Father John Misty Soulwax Courtney Barnett 2Manydjs DJ Set Wolf Alice Jagwar Ma Triángulo de Amor Bizarro León Benavente Mcenroe Juventud Juché Bad Breeding Soleá Morente Soledad Velez Yellow Big Machine Correos Dekot Bilbadino DJ | |
| Basoa | |||
| 7 July | 8 July | 9 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four Tet Floating Points Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) Horse Meat Disco (Severino & Jim Stanton) ABU SOU | Erol Alkan Tim Sweeney Fort Romeau Jeremy Greenspan & Borys Edu Imbernon Undo | âMe Red Axes Agents of Time Live Pional Cpi (Marc Piñol & Hugo Capablanca) JMII Javi Green | |
Number of visitors: 112.114
| Stages | |||
| 6 July | 7 July | 8 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depeche Mode Justice The 1975 Austra Cage the Elephant Spoon The Avalanches Xoel López Cabbage Circa Waves GusGus Idles Niña Coyote eta Chico Tornado Rrucculla Rufus T. Firefly Vulk Zazkel David Van Bylen Dj Maadraassoo | The Killers Phoenix Fleet Foxes Royal Blood Explosions in the Sky Trentemøller Anímic Carla Morrison Coque Malla Empty Files Izaro Jens Lekman Jessy Lanza Joe Goddard (live) Los Punsetes Sundara Karma The Amazons Daniless B2B Dark DJ The horrers DJ Set | Die Antwoord Two Door Cinema Club Primal Scream Brian Wilson presents Pet Sound !!! (chk chk chk) Blonde Redhead Aterciopelados Los Bengala Biznaga Dellafuente & Maka Kokoshca Saint Motel The Lemon Twigs The Orwells The Parrots Naranja WhoMadeWho JotaPop DJ marc Dorian DJ set | |
| Basoa | |||
| 6 July | 7 July | 8 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon The Black Madonna Mike Servito Honey Soudsystem Baldo | Daphni DJ Tennis Marvin & Guy Nicola Cruz Bawrust | Andrew Weatherall Motor City Drum Ensemble Job Jobse Lena Willikens Javi Green | |
| Stages | |||
| 12 July | 13 July | 14 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence and the Machine alt-J Childish Gambino Bomba Estéreo Cigarettes After Sex Mount Kimbie Bad Gyal Gaz Coombes Iseo & Dodosound Parquet Courts Temples Ed is Dead Let's Eat Grandma Lukiek Maria Arnal i Marcel Bagés Melenas Morgan Quentin Gas & Los Zíngaros Rural Zombies Edu Anmu Inmir | The xx The Chemical Brothers My Bloody Valentine David Byrne Friendly Fires Fat White Family Meute Neuman Mexrrissey Porches Sophie Anteros Borrokan Carolina Durante Cecilia Payne Gengahr Nunatak Pet Fennec Dark Dj Hal9000 Rock Nights | Gorillaz Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Benjamin Clementine Fischerspooner Hot Chip Megamix James Jungle Ana Curra Bejo Cooper Nilüfer Yanya Triángulo de Amor Bizarro Young Fathers Aneguria GreenClass Joe La Reina Las Odio The Zephyr Bones Yonaka DaniLess Dj Mato Dj/Göo | |
| Basoa | |||
| 12 July | 13 July | 14 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modeselektor (DJ Set) Prosumer Optimo (Espacio) Skatebård Cora Novoa | Ben UFO Hunee Avalon Emerson Dekmantel Soundsystem Dj Fra | John Talabot Anthony Naples Young Marco Samo DJ Daniel Baughman | |
| Lasai | |||
| Romy Ramzi Luka Productions Young Turks dj DJ Lilocox | Joe Goddard Sophie Slow Porn Sutsche Ibon Errazkin | Discodromo Tolouse Low Trax Magic Teapot Records YY Olivia | |
| Stages | |||
| 11 July | 12 July | 13 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liam Gallagher Thom Yorke Tomorrow's Modern Boxes Modeselektor live Nils Frahm Vetusta Morla John Grant Khruangbin Nicola Cruz live Slaves Sleaford Mods Yaeji The Voidz Baiuca BELATZ Biig Piig DELAPORTE Derby Motoreta's Burrito Kachimba EraBatera IDER Mr K Ms. Nina SUA The Psychotic Monks | The Strokes Rosalía Suede The Blaze Brockhampton Idles Omar Souleyman Princess Nokia Second Anari ANTIFAN Cecilio G. DJake Georgia Jonathan Bree The Intergalactic Republic of Kongo Lester y Eliza Mourn Mueveloreina Olatz Salvador Oso Leone UNIFORMS Zaza | Weezer The Good, the Bad & the Queen Hot Chip Vince Staples 2 Many DJ's DJ Set Cut Copy HVOB Live Kero Kero Bonito Nadia Rose Nathy Peluso Shame Alien Tango Boy Azooga Cala Vento Charlotte Adigéry Cupido Las Ligas Menores Nøgen Pony Bravo Serrulla Viagra Boys | |
| Basoa | |||
| 11 July | 12 July | 13 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honey Dijon Midland Octo Octa Courtesy Ketiov | Laurent Garnier Bicep DJ Set DJ Seinfeld Moxie Álvaro Cabana | John Talabot Todd Terje DJ Set DJ Dustin Tama Sumo Alicia Carrera | |
| Lasai | |||
| 11 July | 12 July | 13 July | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper Tielrooij Elena Colombi Fort Romeau Miravalles Orpheu The Wizard | DJohnson Julian Falk Mislav Muevelocumbia Olivia | Fenna Fiction Ninja Nuel Phuong Dan Sacha Mambo | |
The 2012 edition is said to have left an economical impact estimated in over 17.5 million euros, taking into account the expenditures of the general public, organization, sponsors, and artists during the three days of the festival. This indicates an increase of 1.3 million when compared to the previous edition.[2] During festival days, the city's hotels had an occupancy rate of 95%.[25] LTI spokesman, Alfonso Santiago, stated that Bilbao has established itself as the third Spanish concert capital, behind Madrid and Barcelona.[26]
Along with Aste Nagusia, the local patronage festival held each August, BBK Live is often cited as an important component of the city's cultural offer, and responsible for the 200,000 tourists that Bilbao receives each summer.[27] Many travel agencies offer special packages with transportation, accommodation and festival tickets.[28]
Bilbao BBK Live is an open-air festival that takes place at Kobetamendi, located in Mount Cobetas, southeast from the city centre. With 18.5ha, it is Bilbao's largest park. The venue is built each year around a 110,000 m2 area and features three main stages, a DJs Tent, VIP zone, backstage facilities, food and drinks markets, and two camping areas, that total 30000m2 and have a total capacity of 15,000 people.
Since 2011, the organization decided to arrange a series of spin-off concerts to be held at Sala BBK, a small venue located at the centre of the city, on the Gran Vía, the city's main street. Under the name Bilbao BBK Live Bereziak (Basque: Bilbao BBK Live Specials), it consists of a cycle of small profile concerts with a very limited capacity, distributed along the year. Among the artists that participated in this specials are: Lambchop, M. Ward, and Tortoise.[29] [30]