The night at the natural amphitheater of Pirineos Sur had a name of its own: Michael Kiwanuka. The British artist, one of the highlights of the XXXII edition of the festival, delivered a memorable concert that is already shaping up to be one of the high points of this year. His blend of introspective soul, funk, and rock sensitivity captivated an audience that was engaged from the very first chord.
Backed by an impeccable band, Kiwanuka opened with the delicacy of “Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)” and built an enveloping, emotional atmosphere that erupted with “One More Night”, under a sky illuminated by mobile phones. Straddling the spiritual and the earthly, the British musician revisited emblematic tracks from “Love & Hate” and “Kiwanuka”, with peak moments like “You Ain’t the Problem”, “Black Man in a White World”, and the moving “Floating Parade”, from his latest work, “Small Changes”.
The final stretch was a collective ceremony: “Cold Little Heart” and “Love & Hate” heightened the emotional temperature of the amphitheater and sealed a performance that was sober, elegant, and deeply moving. No frills, just honest music. Kiwanuka bid farewell with the same class with which he filled the stage.
But the night had begun with another explosion, this time of raw rock and unfiltered attitude: La Perra Blanco. The artist from Cádiz not only warmed things up: she ignited them. With her full band—drums, double bass, saxophone, and keyboards—she delivered a breathtaking show of pure rockabilly and vintage energy. Songs like “What is Wrong with You” and “It’s Fun But It’s Wrong” served as an introduction to an artist who has made the stage her natural habitat. With guitar in hand and unafraid to dive into the audience, she proved why she is one of the great voices of modern rock.
The festival continues this Saturday with a turn towards the rhythms and colors of Latin America. The legendary Toquinho will return to Lanuza with his immortal bossa nova, accompanied by Camila Faustino, to revisit a career spanning more than six decades. Also returning is the Mexican artist Natalia Lafourcade, who captivated the audience in 2013 and will share the Premio Pirineos Sur a la Diversidad Cultural 2025 with Julieta Venegas in this edition. A concert that is anticipated to be one of the most emotional of the festival.
