After a highly successful inaugural edition, the Oñatiko Blues Festibala is set to return on May 15th and 16th, offering another dose of quality music. The festival's clear objective is to consolidate its position, featuring an attractive lineup designed to maintain the high standards set by its debut.
“"Last year's response was tremendous, and this second edition was precisely about that: not lowering the bar. We have managed to bring together powerful groups."
The gazteleku will once again be the hub of musical activity, hosting four concerts – two per day – starting at 9:30 PM. On Friday evening, May 15th, the festival will kick off with Emilio Arsuaga & The Mad Reeds. The Madrid-based harmonica player, a renowned figure in the national scene, will deliver a traditional blues performance with Southern influences, ranging from Louisiana sounds to swamp blues, with rock touches. Following this, The Allnighters will take the stage. This veteran band from Gasteiz will showcase their rhythm&blues repertoire with soul accents. Their vocalist, Iñaki García 'Igu', also has a personal connection to Oñati, having resided there for several years.
Saturday, May 16th, will feature Wax&Boogie alongside Madrid guitarist Pablo Sanpa. The project, led by singer Ster Wax and pianist David Giorcelli, has successfully captured the essence of piano blues, boogie, and classic R&B in their recordings. The festival will conclude with Noa&The Hell Drinkers, the quintet from Donostia formed in 2016, which has gained significant recognition in the scene and won the European Blues Challenge in 2023, often dubbed the Eurovision of blues. Their participation holds special significance, as their leader, Noa Eguiguren, is a native of Oñati. Furthermore, after presenting their new album on April 25th in Errenteria, their first concert will be held at the Oñati gazteleku.
Tickets are now available on the municipal website and via the QR code on the festival poster. Prices are ten euros per day, with a two-day pass costing 18 euros. Official merchandise, including t-shirts and sweatshirts, is also on sale. The program extends beyond concerts to engage the streets and young audiences. On Saturday, at 1:00 PM, the Broken Brothers Brass Band will enliven the streets with their “addictive music,” in the style of traditional brass bands from New Orleans. In the afternoon, at 5:30 PM, the gazteleku will host an educational blues workshop for young people, led by Noa Eguiguren and Ster Wax.
“"Oñati has sufficient reasons to host a festival of these characteristics. It is not limited to concerts but includes educational activities and brings music to the streets."
The Councillor for Culture, Iñaki Olalde, highlighted the proposal's appeal and praised the program's inclusive nature. The City Council has allocated 12,000 euros to the event through an agreement between both parties. The festival's origins trace back four years, when a group from Oñati, encouraged by friends from Madrid, attended the Bilbao Blues Festival. That experience ignited the spark. Two years later, the idea materialized with the creation of Oñatiko Blues Elkartea, soon followed by the launch of the first festival. Today, 140 members, including 40 from Carabanchel, Madrid, form the association. Blues, with its rich diversity, has found a new home in Oñati.
