Andalucia Big Festival 2022 | Festivals

Andalucia Big Festival - Thursday

Andalucia Big Festival 2022 poster with C Tangana, Franz Ferdinand and Suede

Render of the AndaluciaBig festival site in Malaga

The organisers of 2022 Andalucia Big festival, Mad Cool announced on 4 April 2023 that there will not be a 2023 (second) edition. The inaugural event was announced on 7th April 2022 by Juan Marin (former Andalucia Tourism councillor) who pointed out that the economic benefit of the event would be in excess of 25m€. Mad Cool cited a change in the Administration caused delay in negotiations for a second edition. Negotiations for an Andalucia Big Festival in 2024 will resume after Easter with the Junta de Andalucía, Malaga City Council and the Diputación of Malaga (provincial authority). Whether negotiiations ever took place on not with the Arturo Bernal (Juan Marins sucessor) as Andalucia Tourism councillor has not been made public. There have been no further announcement made again about this festival.

Andalucia Big Festival, Malaga 8th 9th 10th September 2022

Contemporary music and dance festivals in Andalucia

by Chris Chaplow and Alex Cutts

A successful inaugural edition of this Andalucia tourist board sponsored event took place in swiftly created festival site at the Feria (Fairground) west of city centre in Málaga from Thursday 8th to Saturday 10th September 2022. This inaugural edition attracted about 100.000* over the three days to the three stage 50.000 m2 arena.

Muse, Jamiroquia, JC Tangana, Franz Ferdinand and SUEDE headlined and supporting bands included Biffy Clyro, Glass Animals, Years & Years, Michael Kiwanuka, Paolo Nutini, AURORA and Lucy Dacus. Other names were Nova Twins, Stereophonics, Run the Jewels, Vetusta Morla, Los Planetas, Sylvie Kreusch, Morgan, 091.

Almost unnoticed, a sister project Andalucía Live was a free entrance concert series in Almería, Granada, Jaén, Córdoba, Sevilla, Algeciras and Huelva during the preceding fortnight, headlined by UK duo Blood Red Shoes and supported by several Andalucian bands.

Thursday line comprised C Tangana, Franz Ferdinand / SUEDE , Biffy Clyro, Stereophonics, Run the Jewels, Glass Animals, Wolf Alice, Kurt Vile & The Viaolators plus, Viva Belgrano, Lucy Dacus, Morgan, Javvypablo, Life, Ghouljaboy, Joey Valence & Brae.

Friday line up comprised Jamiroquia, Vetusta Morla, Glass Animals, Michael Kiwanuka, Paulo Nutini, Kevin Morby plus Los Zigarros, Sports Team, Yard Act, Nova Twins, Niños Mutantes, Montel Fish, Sylvie Kreusch, The Dip, Goa, La Perra Blanco.

Saturday Line up comprised Muse, Years ∧ Years, Los Plenetas, Aurora, Delapoere, Maria Jose LLergo, O)!, Nikki Hill plus Gus Dapperton, Niña Coyote eta Chico Tornado, Sofia Valdés, Adios Amores, Spiritual Camp, Niños Luchando.

The international line up of artists were intended to compensate for their scarcity over the last few years at other events. The event was aimed to draw 30% international tourists, and help Andalucia bands and company infrastructure justifying the 4m euro Junta Andalucia sponsorship which was 80% EU subsidy.

The festival was well organised with high levels of staffing, security and associated services. The queues were not excesive for such a large event.

Rage Against The Machine were due to headline on Thursday night but cancelled for medical reasons on 11-08-2022 along with all their UK and European tour dates. They were replaced by C Tangana and Franz Ferdinand and SUEDE.

Andalucia Big Setlists

AndaluciaBig festival most artist setlists from Setlist.fm the setlist Wiki. (May need to scroll back to 10-09-2022).

Playlists

Playlists of bands who played at Andalucia Big. Playlist on Spotify by Alex Cutts:

AndaluciaBig festival playlist - Thursday

AndaluciaBig festival playlist - Friday

AndaluciaBig festival playlist - Saturday

Andalucia Big Festival Spotify playlist by Salva Moreno Bonilla - 179 songs 13 hrs.

Playlist Oficial de Andalucía Big Festival on Spotify by Mad Cool - 92 songs 6 hrs.

Festival Venue

Venue was a remarkably swiftly created festival site at the Malaga city fairground (Recinto Ferial, Cortijo de Torres) located just to the west of the city centre. Entrance to the large festival site was from Avenida de la Malagueñas, the avenue to the south of the Congress centre (Palacio de Congresos).

There were three stage, Main stage called Andalucia, and opposite was the second stage called Alhambra, on the other side was a smaller and more alternative music Tres ‘3’ stage. The main Andalucia stage featured high screens either side. There was a short stage runway leading into the audience on day 1 and 3 within a wide central audience separation area running all the way back to the music desk. The Alhambra stage was the second stage and the alternate performance stage. A raised VIP terrace was located between (slightly offset) the two main stages. Artist timing were only published on Monday before festival; acts started 'with English puntuality' at 16.30 hrs and finished about 02.00 hrs.

In the entrance area attendees collected their access ‘wrist bands’ on pressentation of a QR coded 'ticket' voucher. The wrist band was also used for buying food, drinks, merchandise. It could be charged by credit card from a large stand at the festival site or on the festival website or via the Festival App.

Additional exits were provided into the Avenida de la Malagueñas at the finish. The free festival late night return shuttle buses to Malaga city centre were waiting out of the way a few block to the north on Avenida José Ortege de Gasset. Taxis and VTP (Uber) also had special stands nearby. There was more than ample free parking in the fairground carpark west of the Congress Hall.

Overall the festival which was covered in shiny green astroturf was well organised with plenty of staff and security. There were extensive social media complaints (and humour; balconies for rent) over the excessive volume which was noteably louder than the summer Feria of the previous week. Festival noise was reported 4km away. This bad publicity may well have been the reason for large influx of attendees on the Saturday night leading to all general tickets being 'Sold Out'.

Original Venue

The organisors Mad Cool announced on the 20th July that the venue site would change from Sacaba Beach to the Malaga summer Feria Ground. The reasons given were "increase in the comfort for the attendees, due to its better transport facilities and a maximum capacity that could be raised from 30.000 to 40,000 per day".

This appeared to be only half the story, whilst the Malaga Fairground (also called Cortijo de Torres) is well known locally and the annual feria is mid-August, it lacks character, the Sacaba Beach location was more emblematic. However it was near a residential district and public transport services to the beach site were more limited. Both locations were walkable to the city centre. It appears the Andalucia Tourist Board chose this emblamatic beach site without fully consulting the city council who had their reservations. They had not issued an event licence and had asked for their logo to be removed from the posters. Then on 4th July a constructor damaged a sewer pipe and the red flag had to be raised to prevent bathing at the beach for a week. A second break occurred on the 18 July. It seems that at a technical meeting between the sponsors, organisors and council at the begining of July it became clear that the beach site was not a posible option. se. Local music fans voiced opposition to the change in venue on social media and refunds refunds were made posible.

*The number of attendees was announced by the organisors just after the festival as 112.000 however this figure included the Andalucia Music Forum and the series of seven free Andalucia Live Concerts that took place in the other provincial capitals in the fortnight leading up to the main festival. Our reguests for a more detail breakdown have gone unanswered.

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Hotels

There are no hotels in the area next to the fairground venue. We recommend looking for a hotel in the city centre area and taking a bus, local train, or taxi to the venue. Malaga is not a large city so it is only a few kilometers to walk home if it is just not posible to wait for a taxi or an Uber. There are no campsites in Malaga city, the nearest being Torremolinos. Camping on the beach is strictly prohibited. If you are unable to find accomodation in Malaga city, try Torremolinos, the popular resort a few km west of Malaga. There is a local train station near the festival site, but you will need a taxi to return.

In Malaga city centre look out for an interesting area called Soho Art District. It is idealy located for exploring the city and getting to the feria ground.

Malaga - Things to See

Main sights in Malaga city centre include the cathedral and several churches, each with its own distinctive style. Malaga is now a city of over 30 museums headlined by the Picasso Museum and the Carmen Thyssen Museum. These are all located within a small walkable area. Monuments, include the Alcazaba and the Castillo de Gibralfaro with their fantastic views of the town and bay as well as the Roman Theatre.