Florence and The Machine opened the festival with a splash on day one, delivering a performance that energized thousands and set a jubilant tone for the night. Florence Welch moved with unbridled energy, and her presence on the main stage filled the crowd with a shared sense of joy that lingered long after the last chord faded.
In addition to Florence Welch, the festival spotlight shone on a strong female presence on the main stage. Emma Grankvist, a young Danish singer-songwriter known as “eee gee,” had the honor of kicking off the performances for that stage, setting a bright tone for the afternoon.
The day’s star moment belonged to Florence Welch, who returned to Bilbao BBK Live with a show that resonated with audiences as powerfully as the 2018 performance had. Her voice captivated the crowd from the first note, with the band delivering a set that bristled with energy from start to finish. The set list featured tracks from their latest album, Dance Fever, including the high-energy opener Dance Fever, as well as crowd favorites like Heaven is Here, King, and Free. A surprise appearance of Dream Girl Evil and Queen of Peace kept the audience engaged and singing along. The show then segued into Prayer Factory, performed in perfect unison with the audience, while the band closed out a roaring section with Big God. The intensity continued with Hunger, You Got the Love, and the riotous Kiss with a Fist. The iconic Dog Days Are Over and Cosmic Love drew the crowd to light up the venue with phone lights, creating a sea of illuminated faces. The night culminated with a triumphant Shine moment for Florence Welch and The Machine as they closed with Shake It Out and Raise It Up, leaving fans exhilarated and already eager for the next encore.
Earlier in the afternoon, M83, the project led by French musician Anthony Gonzalez, returned to the festival with new material from their ninth studio album Fantasy. The band drew a large audience who enjoyed songs like Oceans Niagara and We Own the Sky, undeterred by a heavy downpour that could not dampen the energy of the performance or the resolve of BBK Live attendees.
Danish act eeee—pronounced with a rolling cadence—continued the momentum on the main stage with selections such as Dreams Forever, Favorite Lover, and To Kill. The intimate set, performed before a growing crowd that spilled toward the campsite, offered a closer, more personal concert experience.
Amaia returned to the festival’s main stage after a surprise appearance last year in Rigoberta Bandini’s energetic collaboration. The Navarra-born artist carried the evening with a full ensemble of four musicians, delivering a powerful performance of fan favorites along with new material. Thousands sang along to songs like Así bailaba and The Song I Don’t Want to Sing to You, creating a shared moment of connection between artist and audience.
As the day progressed, attendees dispersed along the festival grounds to catch a blend of acts and styles, enjoying the mood-carrying mix of post-punk, indie pop, and rock influences. The lineup offered both established names and rising talents, each contributing to the festival’s distinctive atmosphere where a diverse crowd finds something to celebrate.
On the second day, the festival’s program highlighted a prominent American act that has long been a staple of alternative and indie rock from the 1990s, alongside appearances by a celebrated French pop group and other notable artists such as Phoenix and Irish singer Roisin Murphy. The schedule promised a day of dynamic performances and varied genres, continuing Bilbao BBK Live’s tradition of presenting a wide-ranging, audience-driven experience.
Notes from attendees described the event as a memorable blend of powerful live music, weather that tested the crowd but never dampened the spirits, and a city-wide sense of celebration that only festival season can bring. The festival’s early days set a high bar for performances, crowd energy, and the kind of shared joy that makes live music feel like a communal celebration.
[Citations: Bilbao BBK Live coverage, artist interviews and official festival program notes.]