Festival Cruïlla 2024: Music, comedy and social commitment

The Summer festival season continues in Catalonia.

On Wednesday, Festival Cruïlla kicked off at Barcelona’s Parc del Fòrum with an edition aimed at a younger audience, featuring big Catalan names such as Figa Flawas, who took to the main stage Estrella Damm on the first day, and The Tyets, who will play on Saturday.

They will be joined by international heavyweights such as pop-punk queen Avril Lavigne, who will perform on Friday, July 12th, and the legendary Pet Shop Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, and Norwegian indie singer/songwriter Aurora, who will ensure that on Saturday, July 13th, festivalgoers can choose whether to headbang, do the robot, cry or do it all at once.

With its diverse program, the festival’s director, Jordi Herreula, hopes that the festival can become a meeting place “where everyone can be themselves.”

Music and politics

On the second day of the festival, Catalan kitsch dance duo, Ladilla Rusa, once again returned to the stage, dressed up as superheroes to fire up the crowd, while also sending a clear message “against hate speech” and  lamenting “the ongoing genocide” that seems not to ”matter to anyone.”

Cruïlla is no stranger to social activism, and each year the festival collaborates with various NGOs and social programs from Catalonia and abroad.

For the 2024 edition, Cruïlla has partnered with international NGO Oxfam Intermón to provide immediate and long-term solutions to water scarcity problems.

According to the NGO, water and hygiene products have reached 120,000 people in the Gaza Strip.

Specifically this year, donations from ticket sales and the festival’s cashless wristbands will be used to install solar-powered water desalination systems.  

Comedy and silent disco 

The Barcelona-based festival is not just about music, it is an experience for all tastes. 

For the second year in a row, the festival has invited 37 comedians to perform in Catalan, Spanish, or English on the Vallformosa stage as part of the Catalan comedy festival Comèdia repeating the success of last year’s inaugural season.

In addition, and for the very first time, silent disco will also be part of Cruïlla during all festival days. Through wireless headphones, festivalgoers can enjoy music played by local and international DJs inside a light installation powered by renewable sources and called 'Loophole' by Calidos. 

Click here for more more information about the festival, tickets, and set times. Day passes start at €84, while a weekend pass costs €135.