The Cruïlla already experienced last year what it was like to return to a festival. It was one of the few that was organized during the pandemic, with masks and antigen tests as protective measures. After that still pandemic edition, the festival returns this Wednesday, finally leaving COVID behind and with the forecast of reaching a record figure of 80,000 attendees, pending last-minute ticket purchases. This will surpass the attendance achieved in 2019, when there were 77,000. From Wednesday to Saturday, more than 50 concerts will fill Barcelona's Parc del Fòrum with music.
In its desire for the festival to be a meeting point, a varied program and multiple profiles will be offered, with international presence, but also a strong local accent and with the intention of making all attendees dance. "This edition is for dancing. We have not stopped during the pandemic, we have given concerts with masks and distance, but seated or without being able to dance. In this edition, almost all the artists on the lineup are called to be able to dance," explains in an interview with The New Barcelona Post the festival director, Jordi Herreruela.
"We want to be a festival that truly reflects the city, a city that, however cosmopolitan it may be, also has its own culture. This festival is a meeting place, a crossroads. A place of diversity and creativity, what makes people visit Barcelona is its creative character," Herreruela points out.
This Wednesday, things will start to heat up with performances by Toteking and Trueno. Also present will be Judeline, 31 Fam, Free Sis Mafia, Ill Pekeño & Ergo Pro, Rels B and Leïti Sene.
Thursday will bring some of this year's main attractions, such as Residente, Molotov and the Barcelona natives Stay Homas. On the second day, you can also enjoy the proposal of Balkan Paradise Orchestra, as well as that of Pupil·les, Marcel i Júlia, Miss Bolivia, Arumbo and Ninhodelosrecaos.
Concerts will continue on Friday with the arrival of international acts of the caliber of Duran Duran, Jack White, Editors and Sleaford Mods. For those looking for a show, they will have those of Rigoberta Bandini and Zahara. In the more local sphere, Joe Crepúsculo and the return to the stage of Delafé y las Flores Azules on their twentieth anniversary will stand out. Hot Chip, Meute, Dancetería, Elefantes, Vintage Trouble, The Bloody Beetroots, Niña Polaca, Ocata, Dan Peralbo y el Comboi and Travis Birds will complete the lineup.
Finally, on Saturday, the Latin rhythm will take the stages with Juan Luis Guerra and Rubén Blades, completing the party started with Residente on Thursday. There will be a great local prominence, with Queralt Lahoz, Joan Dausà, Els Catarres, Buhos and Ginestà, completed with Tanxugueiras, Rozalén, Depedro and Colectivo Da Silva. Also present will be Seeed, Fat Freddy's Drop, Sofi Tukker, Cimafunk, The Tyets and Habla de mí en presente.
The return to absolute normality will also translate into the return to the five stages of Cruïlla. The main one will be Estrella Damm, where some of the most prominent artists of this edition such as Rubén Blades, Juan Luis Guerra, Duran Duran, Jack White or Residente will parade. The Cruïlla Enamora stage, complementary to Estrella Damm, will host performances by Rigoberta Bandini, Trueno, Molotov or Editors. In the amphitheater will be the Vueling stage and the Four Roses stage will be recovered, where Joe Crepúsculo, Niña Polaca and Colectivo Da Silva will play. The fifth will be the Vallformosa stage.
For those who want more this weekend, they can extend their experience at Cruïlla with the last concert of the reduced version of the festival, Cruïlla XXS, conceived in the summer of 2020 to adapt to the pandemic. With more than 20 concerts held since the end of May, Love of Lesbian will be the group in charge of closing Cruïlla XXS ---and Cruïlla---. They will do so on July 22 at Poble Espanyol.