The festival finished its 2023 edition in the early hours of Sunday, after three full days of live music and a wide array of offerings. The event emerged as the heavyweight of the weekend, honoring Barricada’s 40th anniversary with a farewell performance and featuring Desakato as a special closing act. About 40,000 people attended the municipal sports center across the three days, with roughly 13,000 on Thursday, 12,000 on Friday, and 15,000 on Saturday. Visitors from all over gathered to enjoy a lineup of 55 bands and artists who moved through three stages, drawing strong support from the organization and locals alike.
Twelve hours before the finale, the crowd in Alcoy was treated to a lively start led by Flood, whose modern folk-infused set raised the energy level and united diverse musical styles. Mr Kilombo kept the momentum with a performance that blended fusion and cross-cultural sounds.
The festival began steering toward a punchier, rock-influenced mood as brutal funk took the stage. O’Funk’Illo headlined with Masta Quba, Niuss, Colomet, Pure Negga, En Tol Sarmiento, Funkiwis, and Pedrá, delivering rhythmic energy on the Caparrilla Stage. The intimate showcases by Ciudad Jara and Pablo Sánchez continued to attract attention and momentum for the event.
The audience was invited to the venue on Saturday with a spirit of celebration. Villena residents and visitors enjoyed a robust program with local flavor and wide appeal. The night’s highlights included a remarkable set by Enrique Villarreal, a cornerstone of the festival who helped celebrate Barricada’s 40th anniversary with songs that resonated across generations and boundaries. The evening then welcomed Zoo, whose daring mix of rap and electronic music offered a Mediterranean and Latin-infused sound, rooted in national traditions and designed to unite listeners in a shared moment of energy. The performances took place at the Villena sports center, a venue well suited to handle the scale and variety of the festival.
without rest
After the Valencia showcase, the event delivered a second powerful wave with the Asturian powerhouse Desakato delivering a final, high-energy set that closed the city’s stage with a torrent of emotion and force. The closing act featured two international guests: Dubioza Kolektiv from Bosnia and Herzegovina, a dynamic blend of hip-hop, ska, and rock with Bosnian folklore, and The Real McKenzies, a Canadian punk band known for its Celtic and Scottish influences, delivering a high-spirited, home‑grown vibe that left audiences exhilarated.
From the organizers’ side, there was strong appreciation for the cooperation of security and emergency services, as well as the political and technical managers and city staff of Villena. Representatives of the festival thanked the artists, technicians, press, and all festival workers, and especially the wonderful audience, whose understanding and support provided the energy to move forward. The message reflected a shared sense of accomplishment and anticipation for future events. Source: Festival organizers.