The Day Granada Became the Capital of Music

Granadans say that Federico García Lorca found his voice in other arts such as music before discovering it in literature. In Granada, the poet matured his way of communicating with the world, intoxicated by flamenco and its rhythms, by gypsy dances, by the lyrics and Sefardic art, and by the influence left by the Arabs, which remains evident in countless corners of the Alhambra city. According to local testimonies, all this converges in Sacromonte, a strategic point for understanding the heritage and idiosyncrasy of the Nasrid people.

There, on June 21, the poet reappeared under the Granadian summer sun to express in person what this magical spot means, still resonating with his lyrical footprint. “This mountain is sacred and also stained with pain, from the suffering endured by the bronze race here for many years,” recited the actor portraying him, dressed in a blazer and white shirt, red bow tie, plaid trousers, and brown derby shoes, before inviting the crowd to take a stroll: “This neighborhood is enchanted, and I will guide you so you don’t get lost in its enchantment.”

Transformed into an exceptional guide, this re-embodied Lorca was the first surprise of the Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia event, which turned Granada into the capital of music for a day. This was the second edition of an exclusive festival previously held in cities like A Coruña, Madrid, Barcelona, London, and soon Berlin, with a clear idea: to bring music back to venues and neighborhoods while supporting a blend of established and emerging musical talent. However, the experience was not limited to music; Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia offers a way to experience it by designing a complete experience that merges culture, gastronomy, and beer.

The initiative began with this route through Sacromonte, aiming to uncover snippets of the history and cultural heritage of both the neighborhood and the Nasrid city. The day culminated in a music festival at Lemon Rock, located at Montalbán Street, 6, in the heart of Granada.

The venue where Granada vibrated

After the magical visit to Sacromonte, the Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia group headed to Lemon Rock, a four-story venue built in the center of Granada on the site of a former 17th-century noble house. This year marks Lemon Rock’s tenth anniversary, which is why it was chosen by Estrella Galicia to host its festival. “We are a family business, and our relationship with Estrella Galicia has been the same,” says Vicente de Luna, the owner. “We couldn’t have been luckier to be chosen, as they pay great attention to the quality of the musicians that come. I’m a bit mystical, and because of the good vibes I feel today, I am very happy.”

The festival welcomed national artists such as TulsayMujeres, but also international ones: from Ireland, the rockers Ash; from Thailand, KhanaBierbood; from Argentina, Los B.E.S.O.S.; and from the United Kingdom, Prima Queen and Tim Burgess. Granada’s own music was also featured, with artists like Antonio Arias, Juan Mutante, Dark Libra, and Paulina del Carmen. The very young singer, who blends R&B and pop rhythms with influences from her homeland, ended her performance feeling emotional: “Granada, apart from being my home, means hope; it’s a city where many cultures converge, and you can feel it in the music.”

Chosen as emerging talent from Granada by the festival organizers, which made her “very excited, considering the amount of talent in the city,” she remembered her origins and her connection to the venue. “My father was an amateur musician and also performed here. For me, it’s always a dream to come back,” she recounts, adding: “Here in Granada, everything is possible.”

Like her, the focus on emerging musicians at the festival responds to a demand from the organizers, as evidenced by Víctor Mantiñán, director of Activation Iberia at Hijos de Rivera, the business group to which Estrella Galicia belongs. “The goal is to have people return to venues to discover music. There’s a proliferation of major festivals, and it feels like music venues have been somewhat neglected, but all groups that have arrived at something started in venues,” he explains. This thesis is reinforced by some of the groups that participated in the Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia, like Mujeres. “We are those who have always gone to see concerts in small venues, both as a band and as an audience. They’re the place where projects grow.”

During the breaks between concerts, which ran from 2:30 PM to 11:30 PM, the music was paired with a gastronomic menu featuring local products and a workshop titled What does your beer sound like?, where a master brewer and a guitarist delved into the analogies between different styles of making beer and creating music while attendees enjoyed a tasting. This experience was designed to combine different forms of cultural heritage and converge in a single space. “Venues are part of the fabric of a neighborhood that generates identity,” explains Mantiñán. “A neighborhood without music venues becomes an urbanization; that’s why our idea was to restore their importance with this event.”

For the owner of Lemon Rock, participating in Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia is the culmination of “many years of hard work,” acknowledges this architect by training and amateur musician. During tough times, Luna considered giving up, but his passion for emerging artists urged him to give it another shot. “Today, I am extremely excited, especially because one of my favorite bands is coming: Ash. For me, it’s a dream, but as they say: here in Granada, everything is possible.”

The living memory of Sacromonte

As part of the exclusive proposal that merges culture, art, and music, the Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia route included space to explore a magical spot in Sacromonte: a cave transformed into the home – a common practice in the neighborhood since the early 20th century – of Curro Albaicín, a dancer, poet, and living memory of Sacromonte. “I was a very rebellious child who fought for democracy,” he says from the end of the room, whose walls are filled with photos of some of the 12,000 gypsy families who lived in the neighborhood before the expropriation they suffered during Franco’s regime.

Alongside the artist were the renowned singer Irene Molina, guitarist Marcos Palometas, and artist Eloy Heredia with his flute. The three formed the group Clavel Flamenco, which performed a flamenco version of the well-known Hallelujah by Canadian Leonard Cohen as a culmination of the tour. Clavel Flamenco rounded off their performance by musicalizing another of his writings, Death of Antoñito Camborio, which Curro Albaicín recited:

“And when the four cousins
arrive at Benamejí,
voices of death ceased
near the Guadalquivir”

Next stop: Barcelona, October 25

Barcelona will be the next stop for Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia. A city with a vibrant music scene, but also marked by the progressive loss of venues. There, Estrella Galicia’s initiative takes on even more meaning: to rescue those spaces where culture is born. Don’t miss the chance, and get your ticket at (link pending).