VI of the Rabolagartija Festival kicked off in Villena on Thursday, with plans for ongoing performances on the football field at the La Solana sports complex this Saturday. The event’s opening set the tone for a summer gathering that blends music, community, and outdoor festival culture in a single, vibrant package.
The lineup embraces a wide spectrum of sounds, spanning reggae, funk, hip-hop, rock, alternative rock, and rap. The festival unfolds across multiple indoor stages—the Camarón de la Isla and Rockberto—along with the Caparrilla Stage dedicated to Miguel Benitez, known as Private Migue, from the band Los Delinqüentes. A separate Manolita Stage sits at the campsite, creating a rhythm of performances that extend from daytime into the late evening and into the night, allowing fans to wander between musical styles without missing a beat.
In its latest edition, the festival nods to a longstanding summer tradition, reuniting a diverse slate of artists that includes Rozalén, Los Chicos del Maíz, and La Pegatina, while showcasing around 40 additional bands across the weekend. The event has become a summertime staple for fans seeking a dynamic mix of regional talent and national acts, all programmed to deliver an immersive, feel-good experience in the heart of the country.
Among the invited artists for this sixth edition, following a post-pandemic return to normalcy, are acts like SKA-P, SFDK, Desakato, Green Valley, Rayden, La Pegatina, and Boikot, alongside a broad roster that also features El Canijo de Jérez, Def con Dos, Eskorzo, Tropa do Carallo, Ciudad Jara, Trashtucada, Xavi Sarriá, El Niño de la Hipoteca, La Sr Tomasa, Sons of Aguirre & Scila, Arde Bogotá, Tu Otra Bonita, Suu, Nativa, Valira, Gomad & Monster, Alademoska, Puli.les, El Sombrero del Abuelo, Jamones con heels, La Watering Can, Null Exit, Cactus, Las Bajas Pasiones, Le Big Sur, La Ganga Calé, Pedrá, Awakate, Rokavieja, Skaffolding, and Leben. The breadth of names reflects the festival’s commitment to variety, regional pride, and the contagious energy that makes live music a shared, communal experience for attendees from nearby towns and travelers from farther afield (citation: event organizers, 2024).