Andalucia Big 2022 - Day 1 - Thursday

Kelly Jones lead singer Stereophonics © Michelle Chaplow

Big Andalucia stage at Andalucia Big Festival ©Michelle Chaplow

Javypablo from Malaga opening on the Alhambra stage ©Michelle Chaplow

Festival go-ers at Andalucia Big ©Michelle Chaplow

Wolf Alice on the Alhambra stage ©Michelle Chaplow

Bret Anderson, Suede

Three Festival Goers at Andalucia Big ©Michelle Chaplow

A fan´s message to Stereophonics!

Franz Ferdinand Andalucia Big Music Festival © Michelle Chaplow

Andalucia Big 2022 - Day 1 - Thursday

by Alex Cutts

Thursday - Andalucia Big festival Day One began promptly at 16,30. Festival fans had already formed a long queue waiting for the gates to open. In the full heat of the Malaga sun, the astroturf was glowing green in the sun. Thursday’s line up welcomed up-and-coming artists Viva Belgrado, from Cordoba, American singer songwriter Lucy Dacus, and British indie band Life.

The Up and Coming

Thursday’s line up welcomed up and coming artists Viva Belgrado, from Cordoba, American singer songwriter Lucy Dacus, and British indie band Life. The three bring a combination of post-punk screamo from Viva Belgrado, and indie tunes from Lucy Dacus and Life. Dacus is noted as one to watch after she was nominated for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist at the 2022 GLAAD Music Awards. The singer songwriter has also performed beside award winning singer Phoebe Bridgers, in their indie band Supergroup Boygenius, alongside Julien Baker. Dacus sang as the sun began to set with a set list full of original music and covers from big names such as Bruce Springstein.

The festival opened with Wasabi Cru, the Malaga soul and funk band formed in 2018, fronted by a strong female lead singer. As the crowds began to pour in and find their way around the site, the group kicked off on Stage Three. Followed by Life, quartet from Hull. The lead introduced the band, "Hello we are Life from Hull. It's nice to be back in Spain." The poetic lyrics from the punk rockers blasted out of the speakers into the early evening. Ghouljaboy added to the line up of Andalucian acts, being from Jerez, he played a set of alternative indie pop. Over on the main Andalucia stage, Las Dianas played, five female musicians from Granada - Paulina, Laura, Ana, Isa, and Maria. Five young girls on the huge main stage early on in the festival belted out lots of volume and paved the way for the rest of the weekend. Coincidently or not Las Dianas is a Pasacalle music, a form of traditional live rhythm Spanish origin dating back to 17C by travelling musicians. JavyPablo opened up the Cervezas Alambra stage, two bothers from Malaga, in the afternoon in the beating down sunshine. They played a set of folk rock surf, with Javi on the keyboard and percussion and Pablo on guitar, both electric and acoustic.

The Headliners

C. Tangana, Franz Ferdinand, and Suede replaced Rage Against The Machine as Thursday night’s headlining acts. C. Tangana is a Spanish rapper from Madrid, known for being a member of the rap group Agorazein. Forbes named C. Tangana one of the most influential people and creative artists in Spain in 2020. He is no stranger to heading festivals after he played at Sonar Festival in Barcelona earlier this year. Thursday’s second headline act came from Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand. Their top hit Take Me Out was sure to get the crowd chanting along. In the past they have won two Brit awards, one for the Best British Group along with the NME award in 2005. The final headline show for Thursday night will come from 90s Britpop group Suede. In 1994, Suede were considered to be members of the Britpop “big four’ alongside Oasis, Blur, and Pulp. Their biggest hit is their 1996 anthem Beautiful Ones, entering the UK Top 10 charts and peaking at number 8 after its release. Suede are known to have headlined Reading Festival in 1997 and V Festival in 1999.

The evening wrapped up with three headline shows, kicked off by Franz Ferdinand on the main Andalucia Stage. Their set started off tame, with fans anticipating a headline show from Rage Against the Machine, however the Scottish quintet had the crowd jumping around and chanting along to Take Me Out and This Fire towards the end of their set. Lead singer Alex Kapranos was joined by female drummer Audrey Tait who partnered together to engage the crowd. The show closed with a “drum-off” from the group, led by Tait, as the crowd clapped along to the beats they bashed out.

Suede followed on over at the Alhambra stage. Lead vocalist Brett Anderson poured his heart and soul out on stage, belting their 90s lyrics at the top of his lungs. Their show was filled with passion and pride as the night came to a draw. Anderson’s attempts to engage the crowd didn't go amiss as he yelled: “I can’t hear ya, I can’t f***ing hear ya!” A sea of “La la las” came from the crowd in unison as the band closed with Beautiful Ones for their final song, before an encore song with New Generation.

The final show of the night came from Spanish rapper C. Tangana who put on a performance like no other. His fusion of traditional flamenco and hip hop had members of the crowd sawing their hips and dancing along. A lot of thought and effort had gone into the madrileño’s show, featuring a drop down cinema style screen hanging from the top of the stage, a brass band, and a variety of special guests to sing along with him. The whole show felt like a movie as you watched Tangana move around the stage which was set up to look like a fine dining restaurant, complete with candlelit clothed tables, suited waiters, and bottles of alcohol. Coupled with his dramatic beats akin to a movie soundtrack, thanks to the brass band tucked away in the corner. The show was the perfect way to close night one.

Chart Toppers

Thursday’s chart topping line up included performances from Stereophonics, Wolf Alice, and Biffy Clyro.
Stereophonics are a rock band from Wales who formed in the early 90s. They are recognised for their many live performances, including headline shows with some of the UK’s major festivals, including Leeds & Reading 2000, Glastonbury 2002, and TRNSMT 2018, to name a few. The indie group gathered a large crowd and got them chanting along to their radio hits - Dakota, and Maybe Tomorrow.
Wolf Alice, alternative rock band from London, formed back in 2010. Since, they have won the 2018 Mercury Prize for their second studio album Visions of a Life, which debuted at number two on the UK’s Album Chart in 2017. The group also won the Brit Award for British Group in 2022. The group played a combination of their new music and old classics as the crowds grew.
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band, who formed in 1995. The band have spent a total of 165 weeks in the top 75 of the UK Album Charts. Their most recognised songs are ‘Mountains’, ‘That Golden Rule, and ‘Many of Horror’, and have all featured in the UK top ten charts. The Scots pulled one of the largest crowds of the night so far. Their rocking tunes and heavy riffs had heads banging and fans roaring along to their lyrics.