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Bilbao BBK: ‘Our focus is on maintaining our ID’

Bilbao BBK Live organisers have stressed the importance of festivals carving out their own identity after pulling 110,000 fans to its 2024 incarnation.

The Last Tour-promoted festival, which takes place in two mountains – Kobetamendi and Arraiz – averaged more than 35,000 fans per day from 11-13 July, with 26% travelling to the Basque capital from abroad.

“We are very satisfied and happy because we have made some improvements in terms of structures to improve comfort, visibility and we know that they have worked due to the positive comments received by the attendees,” Eva Castillo, director of communications at Last Tour, tells IQ.

“We continue to be attractive to new audiences – seven out of 10 attendees are between 18 and 39 years old – as well as keeping those who have been coming since the first edition. We also maintain the balance between the international public travelling from more than 50 countries, and the national-local public.”

Acts included Massive Attack, Grace Jones, The Prodigy, Jungle, Mulatu Astatke, Air, Ezra Collective, Los Planetas, MEUTE, Slowdive, Sen Senra, Maria José Llergo and Orbital.

“Every year it is more difficult to find headliners because there are so many festivals and so many artists are doing headline shows,” notes Castillo. “Even so, Bilbao BBK Live is an established and internationally recognised festival, which makes it easier.

“Our focus is always on maintaining the identity of the festival, which makes us unique and is the reason the public chooses us and decides to come to Bilbao for three days from any part of the world. We are working hard to minimise the environmental impact of the festival and increase its social impact.”

“The trend is to create festivals with a strong identity of their own: medium-sized, sustainable and committed to the territory where they are held”

Spain’s Last Tour provided shuttle services for ticket-holders to travel between the campsite and festival site, and also sought to reduce the Bilbao BBK Live’s carbon footprint by organising a walking tour, accompanied by a brass band. The festival also featured plastic-free, eco-friendly stage designs with wood linings and biomaterial compositions, while the BALORE (Basque for “values”) space highlighted its commitment to environmental and social causes.

“This year we have conducted several measurements to improve sustainability regarding the mobility of people attending the festival, which will help us improve this aspect in the next edition,” says Castillo. “Likewise, we hope to be able to apply the previously mentioned prototype with wind and solar energy in new scenarios. Similarly, we remain very attentive and closely follow all new talents, not only in music but also in other disciplines, especially those from the region, to give them visibility and continue reinforcing our identity.”

Furthermore, promoters adapted the site in an effort to improve the visitor experience.

“We have reduced visual noise by repositioning some structures and we have implemented the American FOH to improve the visibility of the San Miguel stage,” she says. “We already did this on the main stage in the previous edition with very good results.

“On the other hand, we are implementing different actions to reduce our environmental impact and increase our social impact. We have set up a prototype to measure the wind and solar energy we can generate for the stages. We are doing this project in collaboration with Repsol and have implemented it on the Txiki Stage.”

With Bilbao BBK set to return from 10-12 July 2025, Castillo also reflects on the common thread in the growth of the European sector in recent years.

“We believe that the trend is to create festivals with a strong identity of their own: medium-sized, sustainable and committed to the territory where they are held,” she finishes. “It is very important to think about all the parties involved: attendees, artists, brands, etc. We have been working in this way for years and we will continue along these lines.”

 


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Last Tour reflects on Bilbao BBK Live triumph

Spanish independent promoter Last Tour has revealed that international sales helped drive a record year for its Bilbao BBK Live festival.

Held from 6-8 July, the festival’s 17th annual edition averaged crowds of 40,000 per day to see artists such as Florence + The Machine, Arctic Monkeys, The Chemical Brothers, Pavement and Idles, breaking the attendance record set in 2022.

Organisers say 35% of fans travelled from overseas, with 75 countries represented – led by the UK, France, the US, Germany and Italy. Three-day tickets sold out, along with passes for the final night headlined by Arctic Monkeys.

“It has been an excellent edition, and we are thrilled with the results,” Last Tour communication director Eva Castillo tells IQ. “The audience response has been great, and the changes we made, such as the new FOH setup and lower bar height, have been well-received.

“Throughout the year, we have worked on various improvements that have proven successful during the festival. We carefully listen to audience feedback each year to enhance their experience for the next edition, and they were pleased with the implemented improvements this time.”

“Diversity shone at the festival, with attendees of all kinds coexisting in the same natural space, creating a more inclusive, greener and cleaner event”

Earlier this year, the festival, along with Last Tour stablemates Cala Mijas and BIME, became the first in Europe to receive B Corp certification, joining the B Corp community – a global movement using the power of business to tackle social and environmental issues.

Day tickets for Bilbao BBK Live were priced €66, while three-day passes cost €164, or €182 plus camping. A total of €3 from each ticket was donated to help alleviate the effects of the 2022 fire at Mount Balmaseda in Enkarterri. Excess food was also donated to the Biscay Food Bank, and support was given to the migrant population through organisations such as Ongi Etorri Errefuxiatuak and KoopSF34.

Organisers also again dedicated their efforts to creating a space free from sexual assault with the EZ DA EZ (No means no) campaign, and introduced the Maite-Jokoa programme, promoting healthy relationships through sex education in entertainment venues.

“Diversity shone at the festival, with attendees of all kinds coexisting in the same natural space, creating a more inclusive, greener and cleaner event,” says Castillo. “Furthermore, 100 people with reduced mobility enjoyed the concerts from the new platform of Bilbao BBK Live, making the festival safe and accessible for everyone.

“Four young individuals from the LAN program, which is part of the Down Syndrome Foundation and other intellectual disabilities in the Basque Country, also gained valuable work experience during the festival.”

“The venue is unique, and this year it has been more present than ever”

Bilbao BBK Live takes place in two mountains: Kobetamendi, where the festival is held, and Arraiz, where the campsite is located, meaning mobility is a major challenge every year. In response, Last Tour provided free shuttle services operating continuously from Wednesday to Sunday.

“We also enhanced the bus services with reserved date and time slots and promoted a walking route, Kobetamendi Irteera, to reach the festival,” adds Castillo, who hails Kobetamendi as the festival’s “main headliner”.

“The venue is unique, and this year it has been more present than ever, thanks to the green decoration and the lightening of structures and stages,” she says. “Another highlight, as always, has been the audience, to whom we express our gratitude for their attitude and vitality. They have been respectful and mindful of the environment that hosts the festival, which helps us reduce the environmental impact with each edition.

“And of course, we want to acknowledge the bands and artists who have performed at the festival and delivered stellar performances, such as Florence + The Machine, Arctic Monkeys, Pavement and Phoenix.”

Bilbao BBK Live returns to Kobetamendi, Bilbao, from 11-13 July 2024.

 


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