Gijón hops and bobs to the beats of techno, swing, pop, rock, blues, popular mainstream – just name it. Music lovers flock to the city to attend the stream of festivals and concerts. Gijón MotoWeekend officially kicks off festival season in June and Rockin’ Gijón has the honours of bringing it to a close in October. In between, the city offers a variety of festival programmes that are increasingly betting on sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. Put on your dancing shoes and head to Gijón!
Metrópoli Gijón: The most popular festival
This 10-day festival offers two daily concerts. Family-friendly and eco-friendly, these festivals offer a variety of different foods for all tastes. You can even bring your pet! Rolling into its 5th edition this year, head to the Luis Adaro exhibition centre to experience the Gijón Metrópoli Festival!
Metrópoli is the biggest and most popular festival in Asturias. Featuring a roster of artists, including national and international sensations, such as Andrés Calamaro, Mando Diao and Juanes, there is a tune for everyone! It also has a vast selection of attractions, ranging from exhibits, a Comic Con, tattoo stands and even a play park for the youngest of festival-goers.
Take in the entire festival with a 10-day pass or pick and choose the days you’d like to attend. If you are a music lover and in Asturias around this time, don’t miss out on this unique opportunity! The festival has gained so much traction that its organisers started a winter edition – Metrópoli Winter. It was held for the first time last year on New Year’s Eve and was such a big hit that plans are underway for this year’s edition.
Concerts in Gijón: Gijón Life and Semana Grande
Gijón is such a musical city, it’s easy to find bars playing live music on a night out. When summer rolls around, the live music hits the streets and delivers memorable experiences under the stars.
Gijón Life
Heading into its third edition, Gijón Life provides non-stop music for all tastes. From national and international headliners, belting out everything from popular mainstream to indie rock, you’ll revel in their tunes. Swing by the food trucks in between sets to replenish your energy.
If you’re planning to be in Gijón at the end of July, check out the yearly line up – you’re sure to spot some of your favourite artists.
Semana Grande
Looking to experience music and traditional Gijón celebrations? The Semana Grande is where you need to be. Held during the second week of August, it showcases national talent on the stages set up in Plaza Mayor and Poniente Beach.
Tsunami Xixon: The Alternative Music Festival
Gijón is renowned for being a bedrock of the alternative music scene and it delivers one not-to-be-missed festival.
Tsunami Gijón is a mind-blowing festival, spanning two days. Punk, indie and rock take over the multitude of stages set up across the city centre. This is the ideal festival to hit with your friends: two days of non-stop concerts, copious amounts of cider and a campground to pitch a tent and get some shut-eye (maybe).
In only its second year, its line up keeps on getting more exciting and has pulled in some serious headliners, such as The Offspring, NOFX and Kaiser Chiefs.
Music festivals and cultural events
Have you ever thought of going to an authentic shindig or a vintage scooter rally? What about checking out the live performance of a Memphis-based group? Or attending a talk on noir fiction? In Gijón, everything is possible. Gijón’s slew of festivals is sure to grab your attention.
Arcu Atlántico.
Concerts, exhibits, talks, theatre, dance, food… The Arcu Atlántico Festival is an ode to culture in all its facets.
The idea behind the festival was born from the notion that Atlantic nations have more in common in than one would think. This festival pays tribute to the shared geographical and cultural heritage, each edition with its own theme. It brings together tradition and modernity in events held throughout the city, suitable for all audiences.
The Noir Fiction Week of Gijón.
The Noir Fiction Week was inaugurated in 1988 and has since been held during the first week of July. Noir fiction is a genre that was born in the 1920s where the plot revolves around a crime. The city pays tribute to this type of literary genre with a series of talks, book presentations, colloquiums, debates and exhibits. There are also flea markets, food stands and open-air dances, making this week one of the most interesting and visited events of the year.
Euroyeyé
An authentic tribute to Mod culture and the 60s, Euroyeyé has been offering a musical journey back in time for the last 23 years. Félix Domínguez, one of the festival’s organisers, wanted to give lovers of the 60s a festival perfectly crafted to their tastes.
The festival feels like a scene from Quadrophenia: party at an authentic shindig, or attend an underground film series, or even a vintage scooter rally. Euroyeyé provides a unique cultural experience.
Rockin’ Gijón Weekender
October sees the arrival of one of the most anticipated festivals of the year – the Rockin’ Gijón Weekender Festival at the Deva campsite. Music lovers are spoilt with the very best swing, rock n’ roll, blues and rockabilly music there is.
