an all day punk party

Written and Photographed by Rhyan Paul

Every winter season since 2006, Gazpatxo Music Festival has gathered the best punk bands in Spain for a day of community, moshing, and partying until 3am. This year, the festival featured acts such as XPresidentx, Lendakaris Muertos, and La Fúmiga. Reckless Correspondent Rhyan Paul was there to capture the fun.

Valencia, Spain

Every February a quiet little town called Ayora, is taken over by the Gazpatxo Rock Festival - a festival of epic punk proportions!

February is cold and damp for us here in Valencia (yeah, yeah - the mid 60´s is cold for us!) and It takes a lot for me to leave the house. When I saw that some of my favourite bands were playing at a punk festival just over an hours drive away - It was time to remove my ass from the sofa and head out.

I arrived early and the streets around the site were already buzzing with anticipation. I love small, day festivals they are intense from start to finish and Gazpatxo did not disappoint!

Amazing performances from all the bands (Benito Kamelas, Fumiga, Kaos Urbano, Koma, Lendakaris Muertos, Porretas, Sons of Aguirre, The Locos and PresidentX) and a DJ performance by Plan B ensured the partying was non-stop from midday till 3am.

Punk festivals in Spain are different than the United Kingdom- it’s still as raw and often political, but it is also family friendly and there is an element of humor in many of the bands performances.

It would be hard to choose a favorite band from the festival, but if I had to choose it would be a close call between XPresidentX and Lendakaris Muertos. (Haven’t heard of them - you should really check them out!)

The event was fantastically organized, running like a well oiled machine from start to finish. The crowd gave it there all until 3am - and then the after party started!

3am is way past my bedtime and the sofa was missing me….