Music festivals in Benidorm; a little bit of history

Thinking in today´s music festivals in Benidorm undoubtedly leads you to the Low Festival. Since 2008, year after year, the summer festival of indie, pop, rock and electronic music becomes a benchmark for the Spanish music scene.

Known as the best national pop-rock festival, Iberia Festival is undoubtedly one of the most attractive for lovers of Spanish pop-rock music. Since 2013, in only two editions, has managed to become one of the most anticipated events of the national rock calendar.

In the first edition of the Benidorm song festival, which took place in 1959, 1335 songs competed, what surpassed the organizer's expectations. 1335 tittles fought for the Little Mermaid (prize of the festival), which finally won the song "El Telegrama". 

Benidorm, as a "good" Levantine city, is a place in which music has become ingrained in its history.

When we think about music in Benidorm, the Benidorm International Song Festival always comes to our mind. From the second half of the 20th century, the most important Spanish artists and performers made their début in this contest.

Beginning of the Benidorm International Song Festival

Such was the success of the first edition that, for the second one, in 1960 the Festival was another character in the film "Festival de Benidorm" with Manolo Bur and Conchita Velasco.

Throughout its twenty-five editions, important artists like Julio Iglesias (winner in 1968 with "La vida sigue igual"), "el Dúo Dinámico" or Raphael became well-known; Karina or Manolo Otero made also their début in the early years of the contest. .
In the early 70s began to decline, partly because of the lack of quality of the songs presented, partly because of the lack of appeal to younger audiences.
It was not held between 1979 and 1984 and after attempt in 1985 to rescue the Festival, it was not until 1993 that it was held again. In this last period, until 2006, the interest of both public and media was declining until its total disappearance; still, great singers participated in the Festival such as Passion Vega or Rosana Arbelo

 Music in Benidorm, another tourist attraction
After many years, the Festival of the Song of Benidorm was losing his drive as a catalyst for musical activity in Benidorm, leaving his inheritance.

In the last 20 years Benidorm has been and almost obligatory stop for many touring artists and national and international groups; Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Marc Anthony are just some of the examples of international stars who have been in Benidorm.

The Benidorm Palace, "core" of music in Benidorm
The Benidorm Palace is one of the vital centers when it comes to music in Benidorm.
With nearly 40 years of history, what began as a village hall has been changing its course to become the stage where shows as "The Color of Music" and performances by national and international artists like Fangoria, Ara Malikian, David Bisbal and Alejandro Sanz were presented

Music festivals today in Benidorm
Currently in Benidorm holds two main musical events at national level such as the Iberia Festival and the Low Festival. The first one aimed at an audience around 40 years of a more serious and quiet nature.
The second one aimed at a younger audience, seeking nightlife, cheap accommodation in hotels or campsites in Benidorm, which practically lives at night and sleeps during the day.

Iberia 2.0

In its second edition, in October 2015, with Rosendo, La Union and Los Toreros Muertos headlining, the stage of the Auditorium Julio Iglesias welcomed rockers from the 80s until today: Ariel Rot, Jaime Urrutia or the Rebels , among others, to the delight of nostalgic and "new rockers" for two days.

For the 2016 edition artists have not been released yet.
More information on the festival website: http://iberiafestival.com/

Low Festival

The stage, mounted in Guillemo Amor -Benidorm’ s sport city-, has been visited in the last seven years by international artists like Portishead and The Kooks and national artists like Fangoria or Los Planetas. . For the 2016 edition - to be held between the 29th and 31st of July -. Headliners as Vetusta Morla (in their only concert in Levante) Belle and Sebastian have already been confirmed.

All information (accommodation, directions, location, etc.) and passes for the festival on sale at the festival website: http://lowfestival.es/




Camping Villasol
Camping Benidorm
http://www.camping-villasol.com

Tourism in Benidorm, over a hundred years of history

Since tourism leisure spread, the coast has always been a powerful attraction for tourists. The east coast and, by extension, Benidorm has a long history of over one hundred years of relationship with tourism, which is why today has a large infrastructure ready for the many visitors who continually receives. Campings in Benidorm, apartment complexes, hotel, the wide range of daytime and evening entertainment ... an entire infrastructure to serve the tourist.

The custom of "taking baths" perhaps copied from the wealthy and renowned families of Europe that used to travel to Baden Baden or Biarritz, is one of the first manifestations of tourism of which there is evidence in Benidorm.

The first known tourist brochure dating from 1893 in Benidorm is about the Baths of Virgin of Suffrage. At this time visitors came to the coast to take advantage of the medicinal and healing properties of sea water baths, which were so popular in Europe.

And that is how the tourist history of Benidorm begins...

Infrastructures, key in the history of tourism in Benidorm
As in many other attractive areas for visitors, tourism development in Benidorm is accompanied by the construction of infrastructure, especially roads. During the early years of the twentieth century the Silla-Alicante road opens, which improves communication with Benidorm, and, above all, the arrival of the railroad to Alicante occurs.

In 1914 the narrow gauge railroad, the Trenet of the Marina, links Alicante with Altea, Benidorm, and Villajoyosa and, shortly after, Denia. The arrival of the train makes the first collective movements of tourists appear; the so-called "train jug", which transports tourists from Alcoy, Alicante or even from Madrid. The curious name "train of the botijo" starts by the custom of these first tourists of carrying earthenware pitchers with fresh water to bear better the long journey in those slow and uncomfortable trains.

Another infrastructure that contributes to the arrival of mass tourism to Benidorm is the city itself. In 1956 the City Council approved urban planning that directed the city in a definitive way towards tourism. Wide avenues, respect the natural orientation of the beaches, accessibility and vertical growth of the city (hotels, apartments) foster tourism growth that occurs in Benidorm from this decade.

Today Benidorm is "the Manhattan of the Mediterranean", the town with more skyscrapers per capita in the world, behind only the US city in number of skyscrapers per square meter.

Foreign tourism, the key to growth in Benidorm
With the arrival of foreign tourists...bikinis came too. But, for Franco's Spain this bath wear was far too provocative. A fine of 40,000 pesetas made the visionary mayor, Pedro Zaragoza, who saw the future of tourism in Benidorm, climb on his Vespa and drive the 400 kilometres to Franco’s residence to ask him to legalize bikinis. The "mayor of the Vespa" got his prize and Benidorm was the first city in Spain in which people could wear bikinis while in the rest of Spain was banned.

The 60's were the years of the boom of tourism, especially foreign tourism, in Benidorm.

A fully vertical city, specially prepared to welcome visitors, sun, beach and great weather make Benidorm an international tourist centre. During that time the population living in Benidorm multiplied itself, from around 3.000 at the late 50s to over 12.000 in 1970. This increase in the population consists mainly of the large number of tourists coming to the city not only in summer; Benidorm has become a resort town throughout the year.

The Festival of Benidorm, a tourist attraction in itself
Perhaps the most widespread song from the Benidorm Festival is the one of Julio Iglesias in 1968 when he won the competition with the song "La vida sigue igual", since Iglesias becomes the image of the Festival for the following years. The Spanish Song Festival started in 1959 based on the Festival of San Remo in Italy, its main target was to present Spanish artists. Its stage has hosted stars like Julio Iglesias, the Duo Dinámico or Raphael in those 60s when the Festival had a deserved international reputation.

Nowadays Benidorm is the tourist town par excellence of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Its mild climate throughout the year, its infrastructure and good communication both by air and land makes it a desired destination by both domestic and foreign tourists looking to enjoy their holidays in Benidorm.

But surely there are some moments in the history of Benidorm that are not popularly known, which one would you highlight in the history of Benidorm?

Camping Villasol
Camping in Benidorm
http://www.camping-villasol.com

Not Long for the Low Festival in Benidorm

The Low Festival comes back to Benidorm for another year on the 25th, 26th and 27th of July. With more than 100 confirmed artists in between all the stages, this festival becomes on this weekend in the indie music epicenter in Spain.

Stay in a camping site, the cheapest way to stay during the Low Festival
The accommodation  in Benidorm offer during the whole year, and especially during the summer time, is varied and affordable for all budgets, although, the cheapest way for all those who want to enjoy the Low Festival is to stay in a camping site in Benidorm. Either in a tent or a caravan, all the campers that want to enjoy the festival activities and save some Euros will find the right place for their tastes in Benidorm.


Seven stages and more than a hundred artists for 68€
Although the time table for all the shows is still pending, we do know the names of all the groups and Djs that will play in the seven stages that will be set up in the Low Festival. The Festival organisation has placed the stages in a way that all the people taking part in the Festival could attend the shows of their favorite bands, trying not to overlap the timetables.

The entire top of the bill acts will be at the Budweiser stage: Vetusta Morla, Iván Ferreiro, Love of Lesbian or Massive Attack will play on the central stage of the festival during the weekend.

On the rest of the stages you will find renowned groups as Sidonie, Second or Milky Way Express (on the Ron Matusalem stage) or new Valencian talents with a bright future like The Soda Club or Daze of Dawn (in the Sounds of Valencia stage).

A stage to stand out is the VIP POOL; it is a floating stage that will delight all the festival participants. Well-known names of the Electro music will play in this stage.

The prices for the three days start on 68€ for the normal ticket, 100€ for the VIP ticket and 135€ for the VIP POOL ticket. The cheapest tickets for one day are already sold out, but you can still buy tickets on the festival's web site (http://lowfestival.es/abonos/) for 42€ Friday, 45€ Saturday and 40€ Sunday.

Rest areas, room and no queues, the best of the Low Festival
The Low Festival wants to be characterised by being different to the other musical festivals you can go in Spain during the summer time. That is why you can find resting areas for all the festival attendants where they will be able to relax in between shows all around the sports complex Guillermo Amor.

Apart from that, the organizers boast about the fact that in the Low Festival there will be no agglomerations or long queues like in other similar events, due to the area capacity for 40.000 people and the prevision of 20.000 attendants, so everybody will be able to enjoy a stress-free weekend. On top of that, the different bar areas and the intelligent wristbands to stop queuing will better the festival experience to all of those who will come to Benidorm on this weekend.

All the information about the Low Festival is available in its web site: http://lowfestival.es/festival-indie/que-es-el-low-festival/.

Not long for the Electroweekend 2014

On April the 18th and 19th, Benidorm will be the meeting point for the electro music lovers all around the world. Having a confirmed programme of the performers, it is time to organize the journey to enjoy a problem-free weekend and get the most out of good music.

What will happen in the Electroweekend?
The list of artists for the Electroweekend has been confirmed since mid February. The top of the bill are Marco Carola and Dubfire, but plenty of groups and Djs will meet here during the weekend. Techno, dubstep, minimal... no matter what stile you like, you will probably find it in any of the stages that will be set up for the Electroweekend.




Where buy tickets for the Electroweekend?
There are two possible ways to buy the Benidorm Electroweekend tickets: through internet on these two
web pages, Entradas a tu alcance and Ticketea, and in different points of sale along the Comunidad Valenciana and Murcia.

No matter what option you take, you will find different prices, discount brochures and options to combine the entrance ticket and the accommodation. Until the 31st of March the pass for the two days will cost 40€, afterwards it will be 50€.

More information about the points of sale in: electroweekend.es/entradas.

Save money and time in your stay: Book a camping during the Electroweekend
Benidorm can offer a great variety of accommodation for the Electroweekend adaptable to any budget and likes. The cheapest accommodation option for these days will be to use any of the camping in Benidorm, either bringing your own tent or renting a mobile home with your friends.

Look for your comfort to enjoy the festival with no last minute problems.

Official bus, an easy way to Benidorm
The Electro Music Festival offers you the possibility to book this bus to Benidorm from thirty different cities in Spain. You can have a return ticket at affordable prices that will change within the proximity of the festival. See you festival web site : electroweekend.es

Everything is ready for you, so you can easily organize an economical journey to the Electroweekend in Benidorm. If you like electro music, you will not want to be anywhere else this Easter.

Camping Villasol

Camping in Benidorm

http://www.camping-villasol.com/

Electro Weekend, from the 29th to the 30th of March in Benidorm

The 29th and 30th of March coming you will be able to enjoy a new festival for the electro music lovers with some of their favorite singers like Zombie Kids or Dubfire, Paul Ritch, Oscar Mulero or Dj Nano in between some others.

Easter week for the youngsters in Benidorm
During the Easter week, on the 29th and 30th of March, any person on holiday in Benidorm can enjoy a great music show with the Electro Weekend 2013.

The Electro Weekend 2013 will take place in four well delimited areas related to the musical preferences in between the different participating makes in the festival like Matinee, Reset, Replay, Privee Group or Revival.

Every area will be located in one of the well known discotheques in Benidorm; the festival will be celebrated as follows:

• The Manssion discotheque will have the techno and tech-house artists show.
• In Penélope discotheque you will enjoy from the Dubstep to the most powerful House music.
• The KM discotheque will be the place for the sound of the Eastern coast of Spain with Revival on Friday and Privee on Saturday.
• You will be able to enjoy the hottest Latino music in Privilege X.

This festival is thought for you to be able to have fun nearly the whole day long. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon you can listen to good music in Penélope Beach and Km Beach in the Levante Beach. All discotheques will open their doors at midnight and the show will continue until 8 o'clock in the morning. You can buy the tickets already. The access pass will allow you to get into any of the participating discotheques during the two days that the festival will last and you will get a free entrance to all the places in the Benidorm Disco Area on Thursday.

Participating artists
The festival organization team is trying hard to convert it in one of the model shows as the prelude for the summer time.

That is why you will be able to enjoy artists as Zombie Kids, Dubfire, Paul Ritch, Oscar Mulero, Reeko, Taito Tikaro, Dj Nano, Nuria Ghia, Anni Frost, Fatima Hajji or Nuke, in between some others during the two days.

Benidorm, the perfect place for the festival
The Benidorm touristic infrastructure makes this city the perfect place to celebrate a wide range of shows. You will be able to find a wide offer of transport, accommodation, restaurants and leisure. And a wide offer of camping in Benidorm and camping bungalows, apartments and hotels of any category.

The leisure options are large as well. You can find a place for every age in Benidorm, for the youngsters too, of course. The well known discotheques area, pubs, beach bars, the old town bars and pubs...

In conclusion, you will get two days to enjoy good music, the beach and the nice Benidorm atmosphere.

Camping Villasol
Camping in Benidorm
http://www.camping-villasol.com