On September 16 and 17, Visor Fest takes over La Fica in Murcia for a fresh edition of the rock celebration that spotlights British bands from the 80s and 90s. Previously held in Benidorm under a Valencian organizational banner, the festival now stages its event in Murcia. The lineup has endured a bumpy road through cancellations and delays: there was only a single edition in 2018, and the 2019 edition faced disruption when a powerful storm battered the Alicante coast, suspending performances. The subsequent 2020 and 2021 editions were interrupted by the global pandemic and the safety measures that followed for the cultural sector.
The Visor Fest 2022 poster mirrors the 2019 design, originally conceived for a 2020 release before the delays. The weekend opens with Lizard Nick, then Mudhoney, The Waterboys, and New Model Army, with veteran Valencian mixer Fran Lenaers closing the final session. Saturday builds from Australian Blonde to a punk-tinged lineup featuring The Lightning Seeds, Teenage Fanclub, James, and DJ David Kano to crown the event.
Visor Fest is not pitched as a traditional summer festival. When a group of Valencia-based promoters began shaping the event in 2017, the aim wasn’t to chase the loudest, flashiest spectacle. The organizers prioritized a curated, specialty program that highlighted distinctive musical acts and the appeal of attracting international performers. The emphasis was on presenting a unique experience rather than merely staging a large-scale spectacle.
As Jorge Llabrés, one of the festival’s organizers, explained, the vast majority of bands on the bill—roughly nine out of ten—are British, with storied careers and ongoing activity. These acts typically perform in standalone concerts, not confined by the usual festival time constraints. “We build the festival we want to attend,” Llabrés says, underscoring the festival’s guiding philosophy.
Yet choosing the ideal location posed a challenge. To accommodate the desired audience, the organizers decided to relocate the event to Murcia, a move justified by several factors. Llabrés notes that the decision was not a reflection of public funding or administrative support, which does not appear to be the decisive driver in this case. The shift aimed to position Visor Fest closer to its core audience while maintaining accessibility for international visitors.
Initial considerations favored Murcia as the festival site, but Alicante eventually became the chosen base because of the larger presence of British tourists who might respond to a poster rooted in a speaker-friendly market. The plan was clear: engage the country of origin more directly, not just the local festival scene in Benidorm. This approach meant expanding promotion beyond the coast and into the British market to attract a broader crowd willing to travel for the curated experience Visor Fest offers. The undertaking carried notable economic costs, yet it was weighed against the potential to attract a willing, diverse audience from across the UK and beyond. Llabrés also observes that Benidorm’s summertime energy is undeniable, but its demographic mix does not align with the festival’s signature, often indie-leaning taste in music. Benidorm thrives on a different kind of festival energy and audience, rather than the specific lineup Visor Fest prioritizes.