Tag: spain

  • Elrow Town Marbella 2025: A Carnival of Sound and Color by the Sea

    Elrow Town Marbella 2025: A Carnival of Sound and Color by the Sea

    Marbella once again became the epicenter of electronic extravagance on Saturday, August 23rd, as Elrow Town landed at the OMA Fest venue in San Pedro Alcántara. From 4 in the afternoon until well past midnight, the festival delivered its signature explosion of colors, inflatables, confetti, and wild theatrics, turning the Costa del Sol into a surreal playground where house and techno ruled.

    The lineup read like a who’s who of global electronic music. Adam Beyer brought the weight of Drumcode with a hypnotic techno session that had the crowd in a trance, while Boris Brejcha, the masked maestro of high-tech minimal, injected his futuristic and melodic edge. Reinier Zonneveld offered one of the most anticipated sets of the night, performing live with pounding beats and modular synth wizardry that made the dancefloor erupt.

    Luciano’s tribal grooves and Loco Dice’s rolling rhythms brought that unmistakable underground house flavor, reminding everyone why they’ve been cornerstones of the international scene for decades. Rising stars like Anfisa Letyago showcased her distinctive blend of melodic yet driving techno, while Chelina Manuhutu represented with her infectious tech house energy.

    The diversity of sounds stretched across every corner of the venue. From the main stage to the Pink Cathedral hosted by Eden, and the wild Avenida Desperados, each area was a universe of its own. Miguel Bastida and Matroda kept things dark and heavy, while Dom Dolla and Odd Mob b2b Max Styler served irresistible basslines perfect for the Elrow madness. Spanish talents like Bastian Bux, Tini Gessler, and Oscar L reminded the audience that the Iberian Peninsula continues to be a breeding ground for cutting-edge club sounds.

    The venue itself played a key role in shaping the experience. The Recinto Ferial de San Pedro Alcántara offered ample space for massive stage productions, immersive decorations, and surreal characters wandering through the crowd. Everywhere you looked, there were bursts of color, floating inflatables, and confetti storms, the kind of theatricality that has made Elrow one of the most recognizable brands in the world.

    One of the most striking performances came from Fatima Hajji, who has become one of Spain’s most respected techno warriors. Her set was fierce and relentless, with galloping basslines and hypnotic synths that paid homage to her roots while showing the global reach of her sound. She commanded the decks with passion, and her connection with the Spanish crowd turned her performance into a collective celebration, as always.

    Tickets for future Elrow Town editions and other Elrow events can be found at the official website

  • The Desert Doesn’t Sleep: Inside Monegros Festival 2025:

    The Desert Doesn’t Sleep: Inside Monegros Festival 2025:

    On Saturday, July 26, 2025, the Monegros Desert exploded into life, or more aptly, into sound. Over 50,000 ravers from 90 countries converged in the arid plains of Aragón, Spain, for a 22‑hour marathon of electronic music across 13 stages, hosting more than 150 artists.

    At the core of this sonic city stood the UNREAL stage, a vast dystopian temple devoted to hard, imposing techno. With its towering LED structures, fog-shrouded runways, and brutalist visuals, it emerged as the most celebrated stage all day in our view. The production felt on another level: powerful sound systems, laser blades cutting through the dust, and visuals perfectly synchronized to the pounding beats.

    One of the most explosive highlights came with Pendulum (Live), whose long-awaited return to the Spanish desert was met with sheer delirium. Their drum & bass-driven live show tore through the heat like a storm: pounding breaks, explosive drops, and crowd-igniting riffs that brought raw rave energy back to the main stage. It wasn’t just a set—it was a full-blown spectacle, and one of the most memorable moments of the day.

    Meanwhile, Richie Hawtin and Laurent Garnier, two titans of techno history, offered something far more refined yet equally magnetic. Their sets were like sonic essays: meticulously constructed, flowing between minimal landscapes, deep house grooves, and elegant rhythmic progressions. They didn’t need fireworks—just masterful control and decades of craft to hypnotize the crowd.

    Andrés Campo, the festival’s hometown hero and emotional core, had multiple appearances throughout the day, but his individual set stood out as a perfect bridge between the festival’s identity and its evolution. Blending powerful, punchy techno with unexpected melodic detours, he injected his trademark charisma and warmth into a space often dominated by cold brutality.

    Then came one of the most original additions of this edition: the F2F (Face-to-Face) battles. These DJ duels turned back-to-back sets into adrenaline-fueled showdowns. Adrián Mills vs. Andrés Campo built a set full of tension and swagger, a tug-of-war between rising talent and established force. Blawan vs. SHDW leaned darker, more mental, pushing the crowd into a trance-like state of intensity. Meanwhile, Adam Beyer B2B Ilario Alicante delivered a high-energy, polished performance that contrasted styles with dramatic flair. These confrontations weren’t just gimmicks—they were fully developed musical dialogues, thrilling and unique.

    For those seeking something less industrial and more groove-oriented, Seth Troxler, Ben Sims, and Cinthie offered welcome shelter from the sonic assaults elsewhere. Their sets, rich in funk, house, and classic rhythm, served as essential palate cleansers, letting the crowd catch their breath while still dancing. These moments didn’t fight against the Monegros energy—they flowed with it, proving that soul and swing still have a place in the desert’s relentless pace.