Alicante emerges as a lively crossroads of city culture this weekend, where local creativity meets urban energy in a single, vibrant gathering. The weekend showcases an intentional blend of music, street art, and community spirit, with Las Cigarreras serving as the hub where this cultural tapestry unfolds. A legendary American band brings a bold concert to the venue, while a street art celebration expands across the Secadero and Trasera areas of the cultural center, featuring a dozen artists who share a passion for urban expression.
Atlanta Black Gang from the United States headlines this event, a duo celebrated for Grammy recognition and status as pioneers in social hip-hop since their 1988 inception. They were slated to perform in Alicante last year, a plan delayed by the global pandemic. This Friday at 9 PM, Arrested Development will demonstrate why they remain a reflective mirror for the scene. Thirty years in, and with their fifteenth album, For the Love of FKN, the show will feature invited guests from Alicante, including Jaloner, Dabe, and Talym Kolorbes, along with MC Pom Gee.
The presence of American sponsors in Alicante anchors a jam the next day, organized by the artists’ collective Urban Tactics and produced by the Valencia Community Museums Consortium. The jam promises a full day dedicated to urban music and street art, set to run from mid-morning through the evening, with all events free of charge.
Beatbox and freestyle workshops will run on Wednesday, followed by a talk on Friday at 19:00. Expect battles, breakdancing sets, gatherings, and bass-heavy drum showcases. This event marks a significant expansion of hip-hop culture from Alicante to the broader Spanish scene, with guests such as Tom Rock and Picolo contributing alongside others.
Ivan Lopez Navarro, coordinator of La Jam de Urban Tactics, underscores the importance of Alicante in the history of Spanish hip-hop. He notes that the city has a lineage dating back to the 1980s, when a local dancer from Alicante achieved recognition in America Toccata; artists like Tom Rock or Crazy 13 were among the earliest graffiti writers and sparked a movement when rap peaked in Spain at a 1993 Va Bene nightclub gathering. That legacy remains alive in today’s freestyle circles, with Arkano, Jaloner, Zasko, and others contributing to the ongoing evolution of Alicante’s hip-hop culture.
While the highlight is the music, the morning brings sneaker customization workshops and graffiti sessions near Las Cigarreras. Alicante Colors will collaborate with the community to develop a second group, while freestyle, beatbox, breakdance, and BMX demonstrations fill the schedule. There will also be a rap performance and a Valencian-language book promotion by Pom Gee. A graffiti exhibition series titled Graffiti Around the World 2, curated by El Rincon de las Boquillas, will showcase urban art routes echoed on walls across the globe.
The concerts will commence at 17:30, led by photographer Ruben Cuevas Garcia, better known as R for Rumba, a Spanish DJ and producer who belongs to the verse-rap collective. The program will be followed by performances from Beat Box Da Monky Fonky, Ymmy, Kiamya, Cooking Skills, Erick Hervé & Dj Rosvill, and Picolo, delivering a dynamic close to the weekend’s programming.