CONCERTS AT THE KIOSKO DEL ARENAL AND LOTS OF MUSIC FOR ALL TASTES AT BILBAO BASQUE FEST 2025
- The festival, organized by the Bilbao City Council, will take place from April 16 to 19 to enjoy with all five senses the richness of Basque culture through jazz, folk, rock, traditional and contemporary sounds.
- The concerts of the renowned Basque folk music group Korrontzi and the quintet OrekaTx, as well as the open-air dance of the group Orekꓘa will offer the opportunity to delight at the Kiosko del Arenal on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday starting at 8:30 pm.
- The festival’s opening event at Azkuna Zentroa on Wednesday, April 16 at 7:00 pm will be presented by Sensei Music Ensemble, a project that combines jazz, pop, and folk in an experimental and emotional way.
Bilbao Basque Fest 2025, the festival that will be held this year from April 16 to 19, offering the opportunity to enjoy the richness of Basque culture during Easter week with all five senses, strongly focuses on music, with a lineup that brings together almost all musical formats and styles: jazz, folk, rock, traditional and contemporary sounds…
One of the highlights of the festival this year is the concert by the Basque folk music group Korrontzi, led by Agus Barandiaran, which will take place on Thursday, April 17 at 8:30 pm at the Kiosko del Arenal, combining the trikitixa and traditional dances. The following day, at the same time and location, the quintet OrekaTx will perform their show Koklea, which merges the txalaparta with organic materials such as wood, stone, bamboo, and ice. On Saturday, April 19, the final day of the festival, the open-air dance will be provided by Orekꓘa, a group of eight musicians from the bands Oxabi, Garilak 26, and Urrats, who will entertain the evening at the Kiosko del Arenal starting at 8:30 pm.
The party at Bilbao Basque Fest 2025 is guaranteed in the Plaza del Gas, every day from 7:00 pm, as the groups Lorratz (Thursday), Gaztedi (Friday) and Goi-herri (Saturday) will fill the space with joyful euskal dantzas for everyone to enjoy a fun popular party.
FOLKLORE AND CONTEMPORARY SOUNDS AT AZKUNA ZENTROA
The inaugural event of the festival on Wednesday, April 16 starting at 7:00 pm will be presented by Sensei Music Ensemble, a project led by Alex López, combining jazz, pop, and folk in an experimental and emotional way. A choral performance, where this veteran bassist and double bassist is surrounded by a group of musicians with whom he has shared the stage during his over 20-year career.
The next day in the afternoon (6:30 pm), the Municipal Band of Txistularis de Bilbao will perform ‘Dizdira’, which combines traditional music and dance through the fusion of popular melodies with more current themes from Kepa Junkera, Aitor Furundarena, or Xabier Zabala. The ensemble will be accompanied by accordionist Garazi Navas, dancers from the Oinkari group, and four giants from the Gaztedi dance group of Bilbao.
On Friday, April 18 at 7:00 pm, Iñaki Plaza Band will take the stage, merging tradition and musical innovation through the sounds of the trikitixa, txalaparta, and alboka to create a unique sonic experience. The txistulari Iñaki Palacios will close this series of performances on Saturday afternoon with a concert that combines electronic chords and recognizable sounds of Basque folklore.
FEMALE ROCK AT SALA AZKENA
During the night, the festival extends its concert offerings to Sala Azkena with two Basque rock artists. The socially conscious songs of the musical project ON, led by Itsaso Gutiérrez Retolaza, will take center stage on the night of Friday, April 18 starting at 9:00 pm, with Iñigo Lurgain on bass and Maialen Arana on drums.
The following day, Saturday at 9:00 pm, the native of Bilbao Clara Corral will take the stage at Sala Azkena to share her introspective lyrics that explore self-awareness and allow the audience to identify with universal emotions such as love, sadness, and hope.
KAFE ANTZOKIA, JAZZON ARETOA, AND DJ’S AT MARZANA
Kafe Antzokia will once again be the venue for the Basque Fest Rock City series, featuring performances by the best bands in the Basque scene, with the most vibrant rock and roll nights: Arnau & The Honky Tonk Losers, Moonshine Wagon, Micky & The Buzz, Solomillo Wellington, The Inciters, The Cherry Boppers, Nat Simons, and Las Furias will offer concerts every day at 10:00 pm.
Nerea Arrieta Trío, led by Bilbao pianist and singer Nerea Arrieta, will headline the Basque Jazz at Jazzon Aretoa on Saturday April 19 starting at 8:00 pm. She is an emerging figure in the Basque scene, performing a repertoire of original compositions and standards, accompanied by Fran Serrano (double bass) and Rakel Arbeloa (drums).
At the Muelle de Marzana, the magnetic rhythms of the DJ’s will not be missing, with a careful sound and lighting system.
ANIMATED KALEJIRA AND POETIC CONCERT
The energetic festive tunes of Fanfarre Sama Siku, with over four decades of history, will fill the streets of Diputación and Ledesma on Saturday April 19 starting at 1:00 pm, with popular pieces and cheerful contemporary tunes to liven up the center of the Villa at aperitif time.
Amaia Barrena and Txitxo will headline a concert on Thursday, April 17 that will intertwine songs and poems from the work “Roma es inevitable” at the Museo de Reproducciones. The complicity of both artists combined with the improvised sounds of the guitar will offer the audience a unique experience.
All information and the complete program of Bilbao Basque Fest 2025 is available at www.bilbao.eus/basquefest
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