Six days of eclectic concerts, over 80 unmissable bands and artists, 14 emblematic urban stages, 150 hours of live music, and a marked female presence define this latest edition of the 32^ndFestival Noroeste Estrella Galicia, which will turn A Coruña into a melting pot of unique musical proposals from 7 to 12 August. This year, the Festival Noroeste Estrella Galicia will continue with its commitment to quality, diversity and modernity for all, in an open and friendly city that will rock to the sound of the best music. The Pretenders, Viva Suecia and Temples will be the top names on the Riazor beach stage, along with Belle and Sebastian. The line up at this 32^ndedition of the festival, presented at a press conference by the mayor of A Coruña, Xulio Ferreiro; the councillor of Culture, Sport and Knowledge, José Manuel Sande; and the corporate director of Corporación Hijos de Rivera, Antonio Viejo, highlights recently confirmed acts such as Maika Makovski, Mad Martin Trío, Esteban y Manuel, FAB, Los Nastys, Les Filles de Illighadad, Mursego and Andhrea & The Black Cats.

The festival, organized by the Council of A Coruña with the special collaboration of our brand Estrella Galicia, opens up to the most varied sounds and styles- -pop, rock, swing, folk, psychodelia, sixties, funk, hip hop, urban sounds, experimental flamenco, fado, jazz, electronic, minimalist avant-garde, singer-songwriters, country, progressive rock, garage, rockabilly, indie and even the wildest hardcore – at a total of 14 venues: Bulevar del Papagayo, Campo da Leña, Casa Museo Casares Quiroga, San Antón castle, Fundación Luis Seoane, Parque del Paseo de los Puentes, Riazor beach, Plaza de las Bárbaras, Plaza José Sellier Loup, Plaza de San Nicolás, Calle Torreiro, Calle Capitán Troncoso, Rosalía Castro Theatre and the Colón Theatre. The Noroeste Estrella Galicia will also offer different events, from morning to night, for the most diverse public to enjoy.

A full showcase of acts from the independent Galician and Spanish scene fills the squares and streets of the city before lunch, to accompany the aperitif.

Unique live shows for discerning palates that also want to enjoy the Noroeste from their seats.

High voltage acts to enjoy a unique Atlantic experience with views of the Coruña bay.

The festival will once again bid farewell with the presence of our social commitment initiative, Mercado de la Cosecha, at the Paseo de los Puentes Park. On Saturday and Sunday, attendees will be able to enjoy the best music and many more activities for the whole family, through which they can discover the most innovative countryside in the very heart of the city. As well as coming to life with live shows, the public will be able to discover how to cultivate an urban garden, and take part in tastings, games and many other soon to be revealed surprises.

As highlighted by the councillor for Culture, Sport and Knowledge, José Manuel Sande, “eclecticism, the quality of the live shows, the commitment to discovery, and a map of sounds with something for everyone make Noroeste Estrella Galicia a unique event, established as a festival that has become part of the musical heritage of Spain.” Sande wanted to thank the hard work carried out by the bands, artists, promoters and collaborating associations that make the Noroeste possible for yet another year, and added a “special mention to “Cuac FM and its traditional Bands and Solos Contest, that brings new names from the Galician scene to the stage of Riazor beach; the non-profit organization Desconcierto Cultural, who is in charge of designing the programme for our “Matinales” sessions which were the great revelation of 2017 and that, this year, are even more impressive if possible; and Radio 3, which has been following what we do for three years, awarding the Noroeste a prominent spot among the summer music dates.”

For the mayor of A Coruña, Xulio Ferreiro, “the fact that the stages are located in different emblematic parts of the city means that the city and festival can merge in a more natural and organic manner. As opposed to that of a closed venue, this proposal is an open and integrating one: the Atlantic city as synonym of culture and unique experiences.”He also highlighted the singularity and responsibility of the Noroeste formula as“a project that combines public and private financing, that is committed to female creativity, and to quality as its maximum value, and that follows the sector’s code of good practice when hiring acts.” The line-up for this 32^ndedition presents a great variety of singular and prestigious artists, so that all those who enjoy it, be they from the city or not, can do so in an experimental, close and sustainable manner. In the words of  Ferreiro,“at the Noroeste Estrella Galicia you can go to a concert that you’ve put in your diary, or take a walk along the streets of A Coruña and come across an artist that perhaps you didn’t know, but that is undoubtedly worth discovering, and who is playing in an enchanting setting.”

A Coruña shows itself as an open city where music fills squares and streets, the most emblematic buildings, and even the sea front, returning to the citizens free, daily entertainment, turning the festival into an unmissable summer date in Spain. The Noroeste is also proof of the A Coruña Council’s support of the cultural and association fabric not only of the city but also of the entire region. The Noroeste Estrella Galicia, the event with the largest musical offer in Galicia, once again becomes the spearhead of the local government’s cultural policies.

International stars that are taking part include The Pretenders, the legendary new wave band fronted by Chrissy Hynde, as well as Belle and Sebastian, the enchanting Glaswegian band that has written some of the most emotive songs in British pop in the last two decades. Another great name is Neneh Cherry, one of the leading figures in 90s trip hop, with a never-ending and constant career always looking for new genres.

James Holden also features in the line up: electronic music DJ that will delight his followers in the Rosalía Castro Theatre. The ex Stereolab member, Laetitia Sadier, with her Source Ensemble, will share her particular vision of dreamy folk-pop. Roy Ellis, is a Jamaican music legend that is in top form at 72. Los Angeles based but with Latino roots,  Dorian Wood, is a force to be reckoned with on the stage, oozing personality through pop and avant-garde sounds. The British band, Temples, bring the latest 60s psychedelic pop to the beach.

If the presence of foreign artists is eye catching, the Spanish presence is no less surprising. Maria Arnal i Marcel Bagés is one of the most brilliant acts in Spanish music with its mix of tradition and modernity.

And what can be said about Maria del Mar Bonet: classic representative of Mediterranean music. More interesting female voices: the innovative Bflecha, Rocío Márquez and her heterodox and hypnotizing flamenco, the seductive reality of Maika Makovski, Nathy Peluso –fascinating performer that uses urban sounds to reach everyone-, the pop depth of Christina Rosenvinge, the wonderful songs of the very young Marem Ladson, the privileged voice of Morgan, the fado of Dona Rosa, and the rule-breaking and interesting proposal of Ana Curra. There will also be soul from The Limboos and Aurora & The Betrayers, the elated youth of La Plata and Viva Suecia, the heterodox singer songwriter Ángel Stanich and the unclassifiable and hypnotic ZA! We mustn’t forget other Spanish and foreign names such as Filles de Illighadad, Tulsa, Los Estanques, Melenas, FAB, Nastasia Zürcher, Nzumbe, Mursego and Andhrea & The Black Cats.

Another of the features that make the Noroeste special is its relationship with local and regional talent, acting as a showcase for what is happening on the Galician music scene. This year we will have names that are making their mark and are eager to share their talent with the world like: Mordem, Wondermind, Bea a de Estrella, Carla Green & The Demons, Oh!Mega, Las Antonias, Mad Martin Trío, The Big Lis Gumbo Band, Glitchgirl, The Lákazans, Hexany, Nortones, Escuchando Elefantes…

One of the biggest bands fronted by a woman in a man’s world, The Pretenders has had a forty-year music career thanks to the tenacity and courage of Chrissie Hynde. She arrived in London in the early 70s from Akron (Ohio) attracted by what was the world music capital. After a number of jobs- including music journalist at NME- and trying to create a rock group in France, Hynde returned to London just in time for the punk explosion. The band was formed in 1978 with Peter Farndon (bass), who would recruit James Honeyman-Scott (guitar), welcoming Mike Chambers as drummer a year later. Their first album, Pretenders, was edited in 1980 and managed to capture both critics and the public, in the UK as well as the USA, with an international tour that very same year. The effects of what some media (Rolling Stone, VH1 and Melody Maker) have classified as one of the essential albums in the history of rock didn’t take long to appear. In 1981 Pretenders II appeared, as did the first problems for the band which would end with the drugs related deaths of two of its members: Peter Farndon and James Honeyman-Scott. From that moment on, Hynde decides to regroup the band and begin a new era that will have different members and include hits like Don’t Get Me Wrong and I’ll Stand By You. Their latest record, Alone, published in 2016 (their first in six years) has been received by the British press (The Guardian, The Mirror, QMagazine…) as a return to the band’s great sound.

After becoming well known on the music scene of their city, Kettering (UK), James Bagshaw, singer and guitarist, and Thomas Walmsley, bass player, create Temples in 2012. Later on, they are joined by the keyboard player and guitarist, Adam Smith, and the drummer Samuel Toms. The four begin a successful career with their first album, Sun Structures (2014), which reached the top ten in the UK, and was named Record of the Year by the prestigious label, Rough Trade. Independent rock and psychedelic sparks in melodies that seem to flow freely from the band. After taking part in some of the most famous festivals around, like Glastonbury and Lollapalooza, and be able to boast Noel Gallagher among their fans, the four started to work on their second album, Volcano, totally self-produced and launched in March 2017. In it, there are elements that captivated the audience with their debut work,  lysergic songs blended with dream pop, although on this occasion, with more synths.

In just five years, and with two albums and one EP, the band from Murcia, Viva Suecia, have become part of the Spanish pop rock scene on their own merits. Nominated for Best Spanish Band at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2017, the writers of such well-known songs as “Bien por ti” and “A dónde ir” have reflected their intention of making their career a long term one, attracting new followers with every step they take. Used to giving their best on the stage and at festivals, their two albums,  “La fuerza mayor” (2016) and “Otros principios fundamentals” (2017), will be their presentation when they offer an unforgettable night on Riazor beach.

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