Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia celebrates the role of venues in the development of talent: “It’s a different festival”

The latest edition of Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia was held this April in Bilbao, an initiative that transforms neighborhoods into stages and returns live music to everyday spaces. “The aim is to highlight the fundamental role of venues in the development of talent,” Estrella Galicia’s activation director, Víctor Mantiñán, told Europa Press.

After passing through cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, ​​London, A Coruña and Granada, the Bilbao edition “has been one of the best since the launch of the project”, in the words of Mantiñán, who emphasizes that “Soundhood is aimed at all those who love music and beer and are looking for a different experience, in which they can discover new sounds and talent, both local and international.”

As Mantiñán tells Europa Press, “the groups that today fill festivals and stadiums have started in venues and, probably, without them they would not have been able to develop their potential. Furthermore, venues are cultural engines of the neighborhoods. With this premise, Soundhood is developed in venues and other musical spaces close to each other, which host a program of musical and beer activities designed so that the public has an unforgettable and comfortable experience.”

In this way, a proposal is offered that “invites you to move between different spaces, discover new talents in diverse formats and culminate in large concerts where different audiences coexist with international bands.” “It may have certain similarities with an urban festival, but we believe that both its musical proposal and its experiential component make it a very different event, designed for those of us who love music,” he defends.

Precisely, this year’s edition began with DJ sessions on the terrace of El Perro Chico, which handed over the baton to performances by La 126 and Aeronave Adolescente at the Flores para Venus florist, while in the Bilborock rehearsal venues it was possible to enjoy Trendkill, Staff, Suger Taldea and Valenska.

In addition to music, the Maura Luthier string musical instrument repair and maintenance space held the workshop ‘What does your beer sound like?’, a sensory experience where attendees were able to explore the parallels between musical creation and brewing.

At night, Bilborock – the old renovated church near the Old Town of the city – was the stage chosen for the performances of Toldos Verdes, with its melodic universe full of emotion; British duo Big Special, who channel rage into powerful anthems; and Sprints, one of the most prominent bands of current garage punk, who put the finishing touch to the day.

“On this occasion, the selection of groups and the program of activities have brought together a very heterogeneous audience in a unique space like Bilborock. The showcases have allowed us to enjoy unique musical experiences in different spaces and we have been able to share our passion for beer. In addition, it was the first time that we have opened the doors of rehearsal rooms so that the public could live a unique experience: see the artists in their most intimate space. Without a doubt, we will repeat,” Mantiñán advances.

CULTURAL DRIVERS OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND CITIES

The activation director emphasizes the fact that “Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia is always structured around one or several rooms that share the approach, philosophy and attitude” with the company.

“We are lucky to have a network of differential spaces that are authentic cultural engines in the neighborhoods and cities in which they are located. Thanks to this, we have been able to develop Soundhood as a traveling event that has already passed through different cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, ​​London, Granada, A Coruña and now Bilbao, all of them with an amazing musical culture and history,” he highlights.

Regarding the selection of artists, he indicates that they prioritize “local talent with the potential to reach a broader audience.” “These projects coexist on the poster with international bands with a solid track record outside of Spain, although still less known in the country, such as Big Special or Sprints. The poster is heterogeneous enough to bring together very different audiences,” he adds.

Looking ahead to future editions, Mantiñán points out that they do not want to “advance too much” because they are still “working on it.” But we can say that Soundhood will maintain the hallmarks with which it was born as a beer musical project. The Bilbao edition has especially inspired us and we have many new ideas that we want to implement in future editions,” he predicts.