Bilbao BBK Live has scored a goal this year by becoming the only Spanish festival that will host the show of ‘West End Girl’, the new classic by Lily Allen. But, beyond that claim, its lineup brings together legends of the caliber of Robbie Williams and David Byrne, fundamental figures of our time like FKA twigs and Calvin Harris as the great master of ceremonies. JENESAISPOP, of course, is half official. Tickets in different modalities are still available.
On July 9, 10 and 11, Mount Kobetamendi will also host, as part of its 20th anniversary, concerts by these ten jewels of the lineup that we couldn’t help but recommend. An example of the quality and care of the programming is the presence of both emerging stars such as Hemlocke Springs or Paris Paloma and artists with everything to become the big names of the future, such as HorsegiirL or Don West.
Alabama Shakes
The group that reinvented blues rock thanks to great albums like ‘Sound & Color’, driven by the impressive voice of Brittany Howard, not only returns to the stage, but also presents its first album in 11 years. On August 28 we will be able to enjoy ‘I Must Be Dreaming’, of which we already know the previews ‘American Dream’ and ‘Another Life’, to which ‘I Feel Hope Coming’ will be added this Friday.
TOMORA
The unexpected union of Tom Rowlands, from The Chemical Brothers, and the Norwegian singer AURORA, the closest thing we have to a 21st century Björk, has resulted in an album that naturally combines the hallmarks of both artists: the most delicate and atmospheric facet of ‘Come Closer’, the most explosive and forceful pulse of ‘Ring the Alarm’ and a majority of songs delivered to the dark force of the night.
hemlocke springs
We have been recommending hemlocke springs since 2022, since his eccentric and surreal pop style, which sounds like a mix of Marina and the Diamonds and Willy Wonka, has practically no equal today. His promise has been confirmed with the release of his wonderful debut, ‘the apple tree under the sea’, and his performance at Bilbao BBK Live is especially recommended because it marks his debut in Spain.
Apparatus
One of the key names of European IDM, both alone and as part of Moderat, returns to Spain and does so with an album under his arm that may be the most experimental of his career. ‘A Hum of Maybe’ is a compilation of his musical interests and, at the same time, a renewal through textures, structures and instrumental ideas that make up an essential work by the German artist.
Paris Paloma
Paris Paloma is one of the current pop artists with a greater focus on issues such as feminism, female rage, social expectations of women or misogyny. All this is reflected in his great success ‘Labour’, which, included in his recommendable 2024 debut, ‘Cacophony’, already exceeds 400 million views. Her viral statements about the constant judgment of female bodies have contributed to expanding her popularity, but her delicate sound between indie folk and pop is more than enough reason to approach her proposal.
Don West
Returning to the good curatorial taste of Bilbao BBK Live, we ended up talking about Don West, the Australian soulman who you can’t miss if you like Leon Bridges, Jungle or Michael Kiwanuka. His album ‘Give Me All Your Love’ is a delight that will dazzle lovers of the brightest soul and the Motown era: the melodies and arrangements of songs like ‘Send It Back’ are as captivating as the expressive voice of the artist, who deserves to be much better known.
CMAT
One of the Irish pop stars with the greatest international projection, CMAT has earned the recognition of the general public thanks to his wit and sense of humor, the same ones he uses to denounce the fact that his body continues to be the object of scrutiny. That is precisely the theme of their great single ‘Take a Sexy Picture of Me’, although ‘EURO-COUNTRY’ also throws darts at the economic crisis of 2008, at politicians like Bertie Ahern or at American cultural hegemony. Olivia Rodrigo is a fan and, when you discover how hilarious her live performance is, you will be too.
Westside Cowboy
Bilbao BBK Live once again demonstrates its talent as a discoverer of emerging international bands still little known in Spain. Westside Cowboy have already started to make a name for themselves supporting groups like Geese and with songs like ‘The Wahs’. Their sound, halfway between American country rock, British indie and punk, is generating a notable cult following. Mount Kobetamendi will be a great opportunity to discover their particular proposal, baptized by themselves as “Britainicana”.
HorsegiirL
The girl with the horse’s head returns to Spain, this time with a new album under her arm: ‘NATURE IS HEALING’, a work of ecological and utopian inspiration published by RCA Records and born after an ayahuasca trip through Ecuador. Influences from the new age of the 80s, the pop of the 90s, the EDM of the 2010s, Ibiza house “via ABBA” according to Pitchfork or PC Music coexist in an album that has already received support from Arca on social networks.
Mietze Conte
Happy hardcore from the Austrian Alps: this is Mietze Conte’s proposal. The Viennese producer became known in 2022 with the hit ‘bunnybunnybunny’ and since then he has not stopped stringing together anthems for the hyperpop generation. Eurodance, happy hardcore and a touch of trademark chaos come together in EPs like ‘Nervous’, ‘Under My Bed’ or ‘dreaming of your latte art’, as well as great songs like ‘nanana’ or ‘No Nein’, along with 1tbsp. If skyrocketing BPMs and a constant high are your thing, write down its name.
