British indie rock outfit Arctic Monkeys wrapped up the seventeenth BBK Live festival in Bilbao with a performance that fused precision with raw energy. Led by Alex Turner, the band commanded the stage and kept the crowd hooked from the first note to the final bow.
Fans packed in front of the main stage, greeted by loud cheers and a clear appetite for top-tier music. On the festival’s closing day, the venue hit capacity with around 40,000 music lovers eager to witness the night’s headline and the celebrations that followed.
The show exceeded the high expectations set since Arctic Monkeys were announced as headliners. It opened with a bold choice and presented a tight set that wove tracks from their latest album, The Car, into a bigger, more expansive live narrative.
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The opener erupted with Brianstorm, electrifying the crowd, inviting singalongs and carefree revelry as favorites like Snap Out of It and Don’t Sit Down surged through the arena with heavy, distorted guitars driving the tempo.
The energy carried over to Mount Kobetas where Turner delivered a commanding vocal performance, punctuated by intense renditions of Crying Lightning and The Afternoon Look. The guitars cut through Four-Fifths and Cornerstone, pushing the momentum further still.
The refined soundscape let fans savor the band’s entire catalog; no one missed the chance to hear Why Did You Only Call Me When You’re High again. Arabella, I’m Not Where I Thought I Was, Beautiful People, and Fluorescent Adolescent resonated loudly with the audience.
Do I Want to Know? closed the main set on a high note, followed by Mardy Bum, and the tranquil You Only Have to Look in the Mirror Ball served as a brief encore moment before turning toward new material.
As lights dimmed, two projectors lit a disco ball while 505, a signature track, filled the arena and Body Paint saw Turner and his crew step aside briefly for a quick changeover.
Encores extended the night, with I Want to Be Yours keeping the tempo high, and I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor along with RU Mine? delivering a climactic finish that left the audience buzzing with energy.
On the same closing day, Love of Lesbian returned to Bilbao BBK Live, reuniting with fans after their 2016 visit. This year they performed on the second stage, delivering a vibrant set that connected with a loyal crowd.
Epic Journey to Nothingness, the title track from their eighth and latest album, set the tone for a memorable performance led by Santi Balmes. The band’s dancers and vocal energy drew cheers as they navigated crowd favorites and newer material with equal joy.
Fans clearly knew the songs by heart, singing along to Nobody’s in the Streets, Bajo el volcán, IMT (Temporary Moral Incompetence), John Boy’s Fan Club, When You Don’t See Me, and There’s Where We Used to Scream, creating a shared moment of celebration across the venue.
The Last Dinner Party, a British underground act fronted by women, closed the night by debuting Nothing Matter and wrapping up on Cala Vento’s smaller setup, leaving listeners energized for what came next.
Bilbao BBK Live thus closed its seventeenth edition, delivering three days of music with more than 100 performances. The festival celebrated standout acts such as Florence + The Machine, Pavement, Arctic Monkeys, Phoenix, The Chemical Brothers, and Duki, among others, satisfying a broad spectrum of musical tastes.