Bilbao BBK Live is a rock and pop music festival that takes place annually in the city of Bilbao, Spain. Since its beginnings, the festival is held in its entirety on a special complex built specifically for the event on the slopes of Mount Cobetas, located southwest of the city.
The first edition was organized by Basque musical promoter Last Tour International and sponsored by the Bilbao City Council in the year 2006 under the name Bilbao Live Festival. Since the following year, the festival has been sponsored by local savings bank Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa, who gave it its current name. The festival is the first of its kind and size to happen in the region. In the 2011 edition, the festival exceeded 100,000 visitors for the first time, doubling the 2006 attendance. The 2012 event was reported to left an economical impact estimated in over 17.5 million euros in the city.
The festival was nominated for "Best Foreign Festival" at the UK Festival Awards in 2010 and 2011, and for "Best Medium-Sized European Festival" at the European Festivals Awards three consecutive times in 2009–2011.
History
Organization and first edition After an unsuccessful attempt to establish a street circuit in the city for the Formula Renault 3.5 in July 2005, the city Government decided to fill in the summer events calendar with an open-air music festival. In early 2006, it approached local musical promoter Last Tour International, responsible for the organization of the Azkena Rock Festival, celebrated in nearby Vitoria-Gasteiz since 2002. The newborn festival received the name of Bilbao Live Festival, and had a budget of 4.2 million euros. The newly developed area in mount Cobetas was chosen as the location, which included two main stages for the rock acts, two electronic music tents, one pop music tent, and several bars and shops. Over 40 national and international bands participated in the first edition, celebrated during three days between 13 and 15 July 2006. The headliners included American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, British bands Placebo and Pretenders, and Argentinians Andrés Calamaro and Ariel Roth, former members of rock band Los Rodríguez.
Over 51,000 people attended this first edition, and was considered a "success". LTI representative, Alfonso Santiago praised the organization and the music acts, and defined the festival as a "good starting point". The festival was well received by critics, the authorities, and the general public, and a second edition for the next year was confirmed on 28 July 2006, with the possibility of making it a "permanent musical event" of the city's cultural offer.
BBK sponsorship and consolidation
In early 2007, local savings bank Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa decided to become an official sponsor for the festival, as part of the actions for its 100th anniversary celebration campaign. As a result, the festival's name was changed to Bilbao BBK Live. Unlike other sponsorship renamings, where the sponsor's name is usually dropped in an informal context, this festival is commonly referred to as "the BBK Live" or simply "the BBK". The second edition enjoyed a "significant budget rise", and the area designated for the stages and camping was also increased from 70,000 to 110,000 m2. The 2007 edition was also the first (and currently only) to be celebrated in June, a decision took based on the "European summer festival calendar". An extra date was also added, spanning two weekends, 21-22 and 28–29 June. American bands Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Incubus, New York Dolls, My Chemical Romance, and British heavy metal band Iron Maiden were among the international headliners for this edition, meanwhile local rock band Fito & Fitipaldis stood out among Spanish acts, and received the largest audience of the event. Over 95,000 people attended the event, and produced an economical impact estimated in 13 million euros.
For the 2008 edition, the festival moved back to its original dates in the first weekend of July and a three-day programme. This edition was headlined by American acts R.E.M., Lenny Kravitz, ZZ Top, and British bands The Police, The Prodigy, and Madness. This year saw the introduction of a new festival in the city; Kobetasonik was focused in heavy metal music, was headlined by Kiss and Judas Priest, and was held two weeks before BBK Live in the same venue at mount Cobetas. Bilbao BBK Live 08 was attended by a little less than 80,000 people, well below the expected 95,000. Rain and difficult access to the site, available only through shuttle buses provided by a private party instead of the city's public buses as in past editions, were seen as factors for the decrease in attendance. However, the edition was still considered a success, and despite a project of moving the festival to a new location at an abandoned amusement park in mount Artxanda, the organization decided to stick to Cobetas, and promised improvements in the area and services for 2009.
The fourth edition, held between 9–11 July 2009 suffered greatly from the financial crisis that struck Spain in that period. As a result, the line-up was considerately "less commercial", as defined by the organization. Headliners included Depeche Mode, Jane's Addiction, Kaiser Chiefs, Editors, and second-timers Placebo, among others. The festival received over 52,600 visitors, a "foreseen decrease", and although considered a "step back", the continuity of the festival was confirmed. This edition saw an increase of foreign visitors, a 5-point increase from the past edition, totaling 14,6%. Foreign attendees came principally from France and the United Kingdom. This was mainly due to a special offer aimed to anyone with a postal address outside of Spain, with a three-day ticket for £40, one third of the standard price.
Lineups by year 2006 Number of visitors: 51.000 Stages13 July14 July15 JulyBen Harper and the Innocent Criminals The Cult The Cardigans Ladytron Ojos de Brujo Lori Meyers GatibuGuns N' Roses Deftones Blue Öyster Cult Fun Lovin' Criminals Mando Diao Heavy Trash HashPlacebo Andrés Calamaro y Ariel Rot Tricky The Pretenders Los Planetas Rinôçérôse El Inquilino Comunista El Columpio Asesino Zodiacs
Stages13 July14 July15 JulySmoking Deluxx Capri Birdy Sindikaat Djs Carvalho Live FC Kahuna Alex Under & Paco OsunaIñigo Kriptonita The Mfa Live Matthew Dekay Alexander Kowalski feat Khan live Robbie Rivera Vitalic Cristian Varela Armin van Buuren John Lord Fonda live Markus Schulz Feliz Da HousecatDonnacha costello Silicone Soul Front 242 Oxia Todd Terry Rex The Dog Derrick Carter Der Dritte Raum Francesco Farfa Junkie XL
2007 Number of visitors: 94.712 Stages21 June22 June28 June29 JuneIron Maiden Within Temptation Mastodon Juliette & The Licks Stone Sour Bloodsimple Lauren Harris VhäldemarRed Hot Chili Peppers My Chemical Romance Fishbone Fermin Muguruza & afro-basque fire brigade Kula Shaker Billy Talent Berri Txarrak One Direction DriveFito & Fitipaldis New York Dolls Maceo Parker Los Ronaldos Muchachito Bombo Infierno I Love Ufo The Pinker Tones The Ellas NunMetallica Incubus The (International) Noise Conspiracy Bullet for My Valentine Nebula Zico Chain Idi Bihotz Biok Laia
2008 Number of visitors: 79.810 Stages4 July5 July6 JulyThe Police The Dandy Warhols The Charlatans Morcheeba The Raveonettes The Gift Fancy GariR.E.M. Lenny Kravitz The Prodigy The Fratellis The Sunday Drivers The Pigeon Detectives Krakovia DynamoMadness ZZ Top Tequila Riders on The Storm The Blues Brothers Band Quique González & La Aristocracia del Barrio
2009 Number of visitors: 52.663 Stages9 July10 July11 JulyDepeche Mode Basement Jaxx Editors The Ting Tings Vetusta Morla The Gaslight Anthem Motor LainJane's Addiction Kaiser Chiefs Echo and the Bunnymen Dave Matthews Band Chris Cornell Babyshambles Supergrass El Columpio AsesinoPlacebo Primal Scream Fischerspooner Asian Dub Foundation Baddies The Phenomenal Handclap Band Cycle Expatriate Ama Say
2010 Number of visitors: 76.579 Stages8 July9 July10 JulyRammstein Slayer Skunk Anansie Rise Against Bullet for My Valentine Anti-Flag Volbeat Rise to FallPearl Jam Alice in Chains Paul Weller Gogol Bordello Coheed and Cambria Biffy Clyro Dropkick Murphys Gómez Wild Beasts CápsulaFaith No More Manic Street Preachers Jeff Tweedy Jet Feeder Tsool Los Campesinos! The Maccabees Band of Skulls Zain
2011 Number of visitors: 103.083 Stages7 July8 July9 JulyColdplay Blondie Beady Eye The Twilight Singers Crystal Castles Russian Red Ken Zazpi Neon Trees Miss Caffeina Sweet Oblivion Mild Oink! Oink! DjsSuede Kasabian Kaiser Chiefs Vetusta Morla !!! The Mars Volta TV on the Radio Noisettes Zarama CatPeople Mamba Beat Radiofunkens The Zombie Kids Montxo & Javi GreenThe Black Crowes Jack Johnson The Chemical Brothers 30 Seconds to Mars M Clan Les Savy Fav Seasick Steve Japanese Voyeurs Enkore Estereotypo Smile Le Noise Independence Djs Optigan1 Dj
2012 Number of visitors: 110.000 Stages12 July13 July14 JulyThe Cure Snow Patrol Bloc Party James Murphy The Maccabees Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Pat Mahoney Band of Skulls Lori Meyers The Gift Ben Howard Tribes Young Guns Belako La Habitación Roja McEnroe Varry Brava Elbis Reber Ciudadano Kane Montxo & Javi GreenRadiohead The Kooks Mumford & Sons Vetusta Morla Four Tet Noah and the Whale Warpaint Zea Mays We Are Augustines Etienne de Crecy Here We Go Magic Zoé Bigott Triángulo de Amor Bizarro Amós y LoSantos Namek Planet Victoria's Secret DJs The Warriors DJsGarbage Keane Glasvegas Sum 41 The View Eli "Paperboy" Reed Corizonas Enter Shikari The Big Pink The Inspector Cluzo & FB's Horns PS I Love You Pure Love The Black Belle Rubick Supersubmarina Onda Vaga Lauroba Dani Less & Oskar Destroy (Independence Club) Nasty Mondays
2013 Number of visitors: 105.000 Stages11 July12 July13 JulyDepeche Mode Two Door Cinema Club Editors Biffy Clyro Alt-J Billy Talent Charles Bradley & his extraordinaires Delorean Toy Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Miss Caffeina L. A. Arcane Roots Little Boots Dj Amable Banda de Turistas Skasti y Javi Green & MontxoKings of Leon PiL The Vaccines Klaxons Mark Lanegan Band 2ManyDJs Benjamin Biolay with special guest Carl Barat Standstill presenta Cénit Gary Clark Jr. Johnny Borrell & Zazou Spector Birdy Nam Nam Fuel Fandango Los Zigarros Ciudadano Kane The Warriors DJs Herri Oihua Ainara LeGardon y The home phonemaGreen Day Vampire Weekend Fatboy Slim The Hives Fermin Muguruza Kontrakantxa White Denim We Are Standard Twin Shadow Delorentos Jamie N Commons Hacktivist The Bots Syberia Zuloak You don't know me Daniless DJ / Göo Elyella Djs Sr. Chinarro y Bel Bee Bee
2014 Number of visitors: 120.000 Stages10 July11 July12 JulyFranz Ferdinand Phoenix Vetusta Morla Crystal Fighters John Newman White Lies Hercules and Love Affair Parquet Courts The Last Internationale Allen Stone Dorian Future of the Left Kostrok Eskean Kristo The Suicide of Western Culture This not many djs Za! Los PilotosThe Prodigy Jack Johnson Bastille Foster the People Conor Oberst Frank Turner & The sleeping souls Palma Violets Dawes El Columpio Asesino Izal Chet Faker The 1975 Baio Sine3 Croissant djs Anímic Lasers Clip! Pional El Txef_AThe Black Keys MGMT The Lumineers Band of Horses Los Enemigos Skaters Belako John Talabot Kuroma La M.O.D.A Elliott Brood The Rebels Smoke Idols WLDV M a j e s t a d Fira Fem Kresy Headbirds Cardupuser
2015 Number of visitors: 120.000