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Diario Euskadi

Merina Gris makes history on KEXP, first band to record in Basque

The Donostia group achieves international recognition with a session recorded in Bilbao's Encarnación church, as part of the BIME festival.

Generic image of a microphone on a stage with blurred musical instruments in the background, inside a church.
IA

Generic image of a microphone on a stage with blurred musical instruments in the background, inside a church.

The Donostia band Merina Gris has made international music history by participating in the renowned “Live on KEXP” session of the American radio station KEXP, becoming the first group to perform in Basque.

The recording took place on October 31, 2025, at the Encarnación church in Bilbao, within the framework of the BIME festival, and has now been fully released. The global prestige of KEXP radio offers significant visibility to participating artists, especially within the alternative scene.
Merina Gris performed five songs during the session, including Ardi Latxen Herrian, Hiru Damatxo, Lilili, Irteera, and Antes no era más feliz. In the video interview, the band introduced themselves and championed the music scene of Euskal Herria, highlighting the growing presence of hyperpop-like groups.
KEXP, a Seattle-based radio station, has been promoting alternative music worldwide for years and has recently expanded to international recording sessions. This Bilbao recording is part of the ‘Live on KEXP in Bilbao’ initiative, developed in collaboration with BIME and supported by various entities such as Basque. Music., Sounds from Spain, ICEX, and AIE.
In the same context, through the Basque. Music. platform, Basque artists such as Marte Lasarte, Maloa Brothers, and Txopet presented showcases to international professionals. The Basque. Music. project is part of the internationalization strategy of the Etxepare Basque Institute and Musika Bulegoa, which, together with the Basque Government, promote the presence of Basque music at global fairs and professional gatherings.

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