The Cruïlla festival – from July 10 to 13 at the Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona – has already presented its final line-up, which adds to the names already presented – The Smashing Pumpkins, Avril Lavigne, Trueno and Peter Fox on the international scene, while that among the locals Albert Pla, Amaral, Funzo stand out
In revealing the unknowns, its director, Jordi Herreruela, has insisted on the diversity that has characterized the festival since the first edition 15 years ago (although, covid-19, this will be the 14th edition), one of its pillars, in addition to distinguishing because it places the emphasis eminently on the local public, without growing unnecessarily – with a self-imposed limit of 25,000 people per day – and the desire to be a reflection of the city that hosts it, “the best Barcelona”, according to Herreruela.
Of the four days that the contest lasts, the organization has tried to ensure that the first two maintain some specificities. Thus, on Wednesday we wanted to target the younger audience and will be dedicated above all to urban music, with emerging artists such as Kora or Sila Lua, but also more established artists such as Rojuu, Figa Flawas and María Escarmiento, and with María Becerra, Trueno, 31Fam and Funzo
On Thursday, however, they wanted to reserve it for dancing, an idea that arose in the midst of Covid, Herreruela recalled: “We have to have a festival in which people dance, and after trying it last year we saw that, in addition, people “He knows how to dance and you have to bet on dance and orchestras.” Thinking on the one hand about the public that likes music with Latin American roots, with big names like Chucho Valdés and the 50th anniversary of Irakere, Grupo Niche or “the queen of merengue”, Olga Tañón. Now, a good dose of rumba canalla has also been scheduled, a pending subject, with proposals such as Azucarillo Kings, Ladila Rusa, Albert Pla – “one day we will have to pay tribute to him,” said Herreruela – or La Plazuela.
On Friday, with more indie overtones, with headliners such as Avril Lavigne, Amaral, The Kooks and Kasabian, but there will also be artists such as Murcia’s Nunatak, Ganges, Malmö 040, Shinova, Depedro, Rayden and Selah Sue.
On the last day of the festival, there will be space for emerging local talents such as Al·lèrgiques al Pòl·len, Roba Estesa, Zetak or Pole to shine, and then move on to more established artists such as Xarim Aresté – “we love everything he does and We believe that it is unfair that it does not have more recognition,” said the director of Cruïlla, Ginestà o Marala, Oques Grasses and The Tyets – whom the festival has seen grow – to reach great figures such as The Smashing Pumpkins and The Pet Shop Boys and without discrediting music legends like Johhny Mar or artists of the stature of Calexico, Aurora (“like putting Björk and Taylor Swift together”–) or !!! (Chk Chk Chk), which will close the festival and, according to Herreruela, “it will be a party.”
