10 must-see acts at Bilbao BBK 2024
Somewhere nestled in the mountains of the Basque Country, there’s a stage (or seven) and a sign that reads ‘Bilbao BBK Live’. Right now, it’s probably quiet enough to hear the sounds of nearby wildlife or perhaps the bustling of the city below, but come Thursday, it will turn into a haven of electronica and cultural celebration.
Bilbao BBK is yet to secure the mammoth reputation of its Barcelona-based peer, Primavera Sound, but it’s just as well-curated. Beyond the city-scape views that adorn the main stage and the lush greenery that envelops the site, the lineup traverses genres and generations, showcasing the shoegaze and electronica of the past, present and future.
Huge names like Massive Attack and The Prodigy promise an ode to the British electronic boom of the 1990s, and the iconic Grace Jones seems set to perform just as many outfit changes as she does hits during her headline set, but the quality of the music doesn’t stop at the headliners. There’s plenty to discover and dance to if you squint at the smaller names on the poster, too.
From the pulsing mixes of Welsh duo Overmono to the sunny self-defined “Tequila vibes” of Los Bitchos, the smaller stages seem set to showcase talented up-and-comers who are set to work their way up to headline slots. From big names to budding talent, we’ve collated our ten must-see acts at Bilbao BBK this year.
10 must-see acts at Bilbao BBK:
Air play Moon Safari
The dreamy duo who created the iconic ‘Sexy Boy’ will grace the mountains with a full play-through of their 1998 record, Moon Safari. Most bands couldn’t get away with picking one release and performing it in its entirety, but Air have already taken this record all around the world this year, stunning audiences each and every time with its quirky electronic elements and untouchable ambience.
Welcoming but inciting curiosity all the same, Moon Safari feels comparable to the festival itself. With slow grooves and spacey sparkles, it’s sure to sound just as good in the mountains as it does on wax, leaving audiences gently swaying along to cult favourites like ‘All I Need’ and ‘La femme d’argent’.
Massive Attack
When it comes to trip-hop, there’s no one quite like Massive Attack. The group pioneered the genre in the 1990s, dragging ethereal electronica through slightly murkier realms on seminal releases like Mezzanine. Their subtle beats and sensual ambience seem set to provide the perfect first-day headline set.
If listening to classics from Mezzanine live doesn’t sound transcendental enough, Massive Attack will be playing in the main Nagusia space, which provides the city of Bilbao as a background. It’s easy to imagine how the environment will only enhance the beauty and spectacle of their sound, leaving thousands of festival-goers standing in awe as the sun sets.
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are set to provide something a little heavier to accompany nightfall. The 1990s icons are locked in for a 2am set, which seems like the perfect time for their grimy brand of electronica. Far from the calming, swirling sensuality of their forerunners on this list, the Essex-born electronic outfit are guaranteed to get audiences moving in ways they never knew they could.
Genre classics like ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ and ‘Firestarter’ show off the slightly heavier electronic focus of the festival, allowing 1990s ravers to reminisce while paying tribute to the genre’s origins. It’s a nostalgia trip sandwiched between the future of the genre, the upcoming producers and performers that will finish what The Prodigy started.
Shygirl presents Club Shy
In lieu of rave nostalgia, Shygirl will bring hyperpop to the Txiki stage, which Bilbao BBK bills as “the place to discover new artists.” Shygirl isn’t necessarily brand new on the scene – she’s been reinventing and reinvigorating pop and club music for almost a decade now – but she’s yet to receive the props she deserves.
Tracks like ‘encore’ and ‘BDE’ have shown off her talent for pairing explicit lyricism with hard pop, but it’s the clubbing experience that she’ll be bringing to Kobetamendi this weekend. Club Shy, the club night that Shygirl has taken across Europe and the United States, finds its latest temporary home in Bilbao, endeavouring to turn the mountains into a dark and dingy basement.
NewDad
Ireland has one of the most exciting guitar music scenes in the world right now. Over the last few years, the country has spit out the likes of post-punk connoisseurs Fontaines D.C., spine-chilling shoegazers Just Mustard, and noise-makers Pillow Queens, but it’s Galway-born indie rockers NewDad who will represent the scene in Bilbao this year.
Led by vocalist Julie Dawson, the fuzzy four-piece make magic as they gaze down at their shoes. Beautiful bass riffs gently lull you into their sound as Dawson sings of nosebleeds and nightmares, her tones clean above the blurry noise. They’re a newcomer not to miss, as they’ll soon be appearing on much larger stages.
Los Bitchos
Los Bitchos will bring their sonic twists and twangs to the mountains this weekend, a setting that seems sure to embrace their sunny yet strange sound. The London-born band have garnered a reputation for their electric live show, which has landed them support slots with fellow psych-lovers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and even a slot at Glastonbury.
The band’s genre-blending sound seems to capture the spirit of much of the festival. Though they’re not necessarily an electronic outfit, they pull from innumerable styles and reference points, from danceable disco to surf rock to cumbia. It’s difficult to imagine anyone not getting along with their set, particularly if the sun complies.
Overmono
Alongside established electronic acts like Underworld and The Prodigy, this year’s lineup spotlights up-and-coming names in the scene, many of whom have already garnered a cult following. Overmono will provide a look at the future of the genre, mixing up a storm of pulsing electronica.
The Welsh-born duo have been making waves in the electronic scene, working with everyone from Fred again…. to Leeds’ beloved label Hessle Audio, and their softer rave sound just might provide the perfect follow-up to the agitated euphoria of ‘Born Slippy’. They’re essential listening for new electronic fans, and it’s easy to see why.
Slowdive
Just as the festival acts as an ode to the electronic artists of the past and the present, it also spotlights more historic acts in the shoegaze realm. Slowdive recently released a new album that reasserted their sacred position in the genre, while their live set seems to combine the new and the old in a glorious celebration of their changing sound.
Fans of Souvlaki will certainly get to hear their fair share of favourites — ‘When the Sun Hits’ will likely prove itself to be all the more affecting as the Bilbao sun shines down, and ‘Allison’ will leave audiences gazing down at the band’s pedals, but it will be a treat to hear gorgeous new tracks like ‘kisses’ too.
Alvvays – Beefeater, Saturday, 00:30
Indie fans of the 2010s will be plunged into heart-wrenching nostalgia when Alvvays take to the stage. Any sunglasses that may have been shrugged off in anticipation of a lighter set should be kept close to hand, as genre staples like ‘Archie, Marry Me’ and ‘Dreams Tonite’ are sure to eke out some tears.
But beyond the hits, Alvvays will also grace the stage with the sounds of their most recent album, Blue Rev, a soft-reassertion of their gentle indie genius. It’s a set that is sure to provide a welcome rest from raving, sitting firmly in the guitar leanings of the lineup. In between thumping sets of electronic euphoria, Molly Rankin’s dainty vocals and the tender dream pop that blankets them will be all the more comforting.
Floating Points
Also known as Samuel Shepherd, Floating Points has proven himself to be one of the most multi-talented producers in the contemporary electronic scene. He created one of the most interesting entries into the genre in 2019 with the strange and swirling Crush, then took a sharp left-turn into the jazz realm just two years later.
His set on the San Miguel this Saturday likely won’t be made up of soft saxophones and jazz flourishes, but it is certain to be as exciting and unpredictable as the rest of his work. Closing the festival with Floating Points feels like a testament to how much talent is packed into the weekend and just how wide-ranging it is.
