The Cruïlla festival beyond music

The Cruïlla has decided to dedicate the press conference for the presentation of the 2023 edition to talk about everything it programs beyond the artists and music groups. With the definitive lineup announced a month ago, the festival has highlighted all the activities that complement the concerts. Some of them have even stolen the spotlight, such as the monologues of Cruïlla Comedy, with some people interested in only buying tickets to listen to the comedians.

"We have always said that Cruïlla is a unique festival," defended its director, Jordi Herreruela. It was when it presented a diverse lineup in its first edition, 14 years ago, and it wants to continue to be so in different, also plural, areas, from comedy, urban art, and technological innovation to sustainability and gastronomy. "We are a festival that reflects the city of Barcelona," he remarked. To whet the appetite, he announced that this year you will be able to try the Cruïlla pizza, conceived by Can Pizza from El Prat.

One of the most powerful pillars of the non-musical program is Cruïlla Comedy, with five editions already under its belt. It has evolved so well that it will become independent and expand its activity beyond the four days of the festival, in addition to changing its name to Cruïlla Comèdia. A separate event will be created on other dates and a stable program will be designed in Barcelona's venues. However, all this without losing the monologues during Cruïlla, this year concentrated on the Vallformosa stage.

Urban art will also present new initiatives this year, with a battle between illustrators, including a wrestling ring, and the creation of a large-format work, in collaboration with Gargar Festival, held in Penelles (Lleida). There will even be an emotional consultation where attendees can share their experiences and see them reflected in a cartoon.

One more Cruïlla, the Mobile World Capital Barcelona (MWCapital) will be present again. This time, bringing attendees initiatives that were presented at the last Mobile World Congress (MWC). Specifically, it will be possible to delve into the relationships between technology and senses, either by tasting chocolates from the Roca brothers while virtual reality glasses accompany the explosion of flavors with one of colors, or by discovering the smells of the city with Puig. In addition, to integrate into the environment, it will be possible to experience how virtual reality can serve to feel a concert as if one were the very singer of Izal, without leaving out the smell of beer from any concert at Sant Jordi.

A sustainable festival

Measures to reduce the environmental impact of an event as massive as a music festival will also be explored. This 2023, Cruïlla will begin to collaborate with Endesa to see how to reduce its energy dependence on fossil fuels, the main engine of the generators that concerts need. The Sustainable Challenge will also be repeated, an open call to startups to propose new methods for better managing the waste generated. Another novelty will be a sustainable merchandising proposal, with an in situ stamping system so that the public can bring clothes from home and have them decorated without having to use new pieces of clothing. The typical collectible festival cups will also be said goodbye, replacing them with ones without graphic identity that can be used at other events and will be made of polypropylene.

Without wanting to forget the lineup, the press conference featured the participation of one of its artists, Judit Neddermann, who reviewed some of the performances she is most eager to see, such as those of Omara Portuondo, Bomba Estéreo, Tash Sultana, and Rubén Blades. "This diversity makes space for music like mine," defended the Catalan singer-songwriter. From July 5 to 8, other names that will star in the lineup will be Antònia Font, Viva Suecia, Placebo, Sigur Rós, Franz Ferdinand, Leiva, Carolina Durante, Sidonie, Amaia, Cala Vento, Suu, Triquell, and Stay Homas.