Andalucia Big 2022 Line Up

Andalucia Big 2022 - report

by Alex Cutts

September 2022 welcomed the first edition of Andalucia Big to Malaga’s Recinto Ferial grounds. Three stages - two main stages and a smaller third stage - hosted the likes of Muse, Years & Years, and Yard Act over three days. The close to sell out festival was reported to have welcomed 100,000 festival goers across the weekend. .

Although initial festival plans would have welcomed American rock band Rage Against The Machine to the stage on Thursday night, perhaps having drawn larger crowds than lesser internationally recognised Spanish performer C. Tangana wowed the crowd on the first night of the festival with his movie production-like performance. The festival catered for a variety of genres and its line up appealed to both their home and overseas audiences. International visitors could get a taste of Andalucia and its heritage with artists such as Maria Jose Llergo, as well as listening to home classics from bands such as Suede. Genres covered flamenco, R&B, Rock, Indie and many more.

As festivals move towards an effort to become completely cashless, a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Andalucia Big followed suit. Attendees received a ‘chargeable’ wristband on day one of the festival which could be topped up with credit and used to purchase food, drink and merchandise at the event. The festival said this was in an attempt to avoid customers from carrying cash and to ensure their safety and security whilst at the venue. The band could be topped up in 10€ increments. The wristband was also used to scan people out of the festival, to track daily figures. Any left over credit remaining on the wristband after the festival could be claimed back via the Andalucia Big website.

There was a wide selection of food vendors to choose from onsite, from Japanese cuisine to burgers, to pizza. Food was typically around the region of 10€ per portion. Drink prices ranged from 3.50€ for soft drinks to 10€ for a double pint of Alhambra beer or a Red Bull mixer. Customers must also pay a supplementary 1€ fee for a reusable plastic beaker, in addition to the price of their drink.

Top tip: Keep a hold of your cup and reuse it again and again over the course of the weekend so you only have to pay once! It makes a great souvenir after too!

The Recinto Ferial site was small in comparison to other festivals, housing only three stages, although welcoming 30,000 festival goers per day. The event ran smoothly and the acts were timed so that as soon as one headline act finished over on the Cervezas Alhambra stage the next was set to begin over the way on the main Andalucia stage. Being the first edition of the festival a few teething problems were to be expected. For future editions of Andalucia Big the festival would benefit from more toilet facilities in order to avoid queue times, along with more water points so that visitors can stay hydrated in the hot Andalucian sunshine, along with more access to shaded areas.

The price of a standard ticket cost 125€ (plus fees) for 3 days of music, or 69€ for a single day. For an additional fee, customers could upgrade to a VIP ticket, at 250€ (plus fees) for three days or 125€ for single day access. VIP wristband holders got exclusive access to a raised viewing platform for an unobstructed view of the two main stages. The platform was also covered and able to provide guests with shade during the day. Along with this ‘VIPs’ got access to their own private bar, with cheaper drinks prices and shorter queues. The upgrade also gave access to separate bathroom facilities and got customers a free Andalucia Big branded canvas tote goodie bag.

Festival goers have a few different options for transport to and from the festival site. Ubers or taxis from the centre of Malaga were easy to come by and typically cost around 9€ for a 15 minute long journey. There were many bus options from the city centre to the Recinto Ferial, with journeys taking around half an hour and tickets costing 1.40€ a fare. In the evening, as festival goers left the site, a short walk down the road awaited free shuttle busses to ferry guests back to the town centre.

Visitors would benefit from staying in the centre of Malaga to make the most of their time in the city. It is only a short commute to the festival site by public transport and gives festival goers plenty of options for things to do during the day to keep them occupied. A budget friendly accommodation option would be one of Malaga’s many hostels. The Urban Jungle Hostel in the heart of Malaga’s old town is a great option for younger festival goers. The hostel’s community feel makes it a great way to meet other fellow festival goers, particularly helpful for solo travellers and small groups or couples.

Arriving a couple of days before the festival, or leaving a few days after the festival finishes, allows visitors to enjoy Malaga’s many sights and offerings. The city centre is a short 20 minute car journey from Malaga Airport, and can also be easily accessed via train or shuttle bus. The Old Town offers many cultural and historical sightseeing activities; from the Alcazaba to the Roman Theatre, giving tourists a real insight into the city’s historic past. Discover Malaga’s famous painter Pablo Picasso and his abstract artworks at the Picasso Museum, located in Buenavista Palace, filled with paintings and sculptures from his classic works. La Malagueta is a popular beach, enjoyed by both tourists and locals, neighboured by the Port of Malaga, which is surrounded by shops and restaurants and also hosts boat tours throughout the week. Tourists can carry out their shopping activities on the main street of Calle Marques de Larios, featuring well loved Spanish brands such as Mango, Bershka, Bimba Y Lola, plus many more.

It is truly possible that Andalucia Big could be the exact festival to put Malaga and the region of Andalucia on the map when it comes to music festivals and the music industry as a whole. We know that the south of Spain lacks an identity in the music scene and the region’s lack of funding, with money often being directed to other big Spanish cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, means there is little room for this industry to properly blossom. Now that big international names have headlined here the region has the opportunity to fill this gap in the market with repeat editions of Andalucia Big and Andalucia Music Forum.