El Javea Town Hall, through the Department of Culture, and the Xablues association have presented a new edition of the Arenal Blues Festival, which will be held from 23 al 26 April in the Arenal Beach Xàbia.
This musical event has established itself as one of the most prominent events in the municipality and marks the start of the festival season in the town, offering a full weekend of The music and good atmosphere.
The councillor for culture is promoting the festival
La Councilor for Culture, Mavi PérezDuring the presentation, Pérez highlighted that the festival "marks the arrival of good weather and a fantastic weekend full of music and a great atmosphere." He emphasized the effort of Department of Culture The councilwoman expressed her satisfaction with the festival's progress, noting that it "has grown and improved year after year, becoming a fixture in Xàbia's music program." She added that the festival began a year before she took over her department and has since achieved remarkable success.
Lineup of national artists with international potential
The festival, organized by the Xablues association, presents a program entirely composed of national bandsMany of them have a prominent international presence on the European blues and rock circuit. José Ramón Hernández and Guillermo Cardona, members of the organizing committee, have detailed a lineup that includes highly acclaimed artists.
Among the main names is Mingo Balaguer, considered "the most renowned Spanish musician in Europe within the blues music scene." He will also participate Martin BurguezA musician who lives in Paris and whose band is from Barcelona, currently "touring all over the world right now, and one of the concerts is in Xàbia." The event will also feature... Coco Jean, former singer of the band The Simons, recognized at a European level in soul.
The selection is rounded out with a diverse list of bands from different parts of the country. From Granada, Madrid and the Basque Country, to Valencian groups such as The Ubangi Stomp from Ibi, Epi and Blues from Riba-roja (winners of a band competition) and The Pickin' Boppers from Valencia, which is the band of musicians from La Perra Blanco. New this year is a country band, Ernau de Honketon Luers, which we went "to see at a festival this year and we loved them".
New: a musical talk and discussion with a music journalist
This edition will include a new parallel activity of an educational nature: a musical talk and discussion. It will be held on Friday at 12:30h in the House of Culture and will feature the participation of the music journalist JSL León, from Onda Cero and creator of the magazine 66 Route and the web portal Rock and Roll AnimalHe will be accompanied by other artists on the bill, such as Mingo Balaguer and Beistegui, who "will both be with us all weekend." The activity is primarily aimed at students of the Institutes Antoni Llidó and María de las Monjas, with a assistance estimated between 60 and 70 students, although it will also be open to the interested public.
Musical variety and stages
The musical program will take place from the Thursday afternoon to Sunday at noon, with a total of 12 concertsThe performances are spread across different time slots (morning, afternoon, and evening) to make it easy for everyone to attend, including families. The music encompasses not only traditional blues, but also rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and country, aiming to appeal to a wide audience.
The festival will have two scenariosA smaller one for morning and afternoon performances, located in the parking lot "between Octopus and La Pepa," and a main one in the larger parking lot, formerly known as "Las Olas parking lot." In addition, the venue will have a bar service and food offerings, with a local hospitality stand.
Collaboration and fourth edition
El Town Hall Xàbia collaborates mainly in the organization of the festival, which celebrates its fourth editionThe evolution of Arenal Blues has been remarkable, as the first edition was "somewhat spontaneous, planned and executed, with a very low budget." In subsequent editions, thanks to the involvement of the City Council, the event has grown significantly.
In addition to municipal funding, the festival has the financial support of several private collaborators and the Diputación de Alicantewhich provides a grant. They also receive support from the Association of Artists, Performers and Interpreters (AIE). Admission to all concerts is freeThis is a philosophy the organization seeks to maintain. Guillermo Cardona explained that the idea is not to reach the size of other international festivals that charge admission, since "that's not really the idea because it already requires a lot of infrastructure."
Selection of bands and live experience
The Xàblues association selects the bands based on their experience attending other festivals and by looking for groups that fit their vision for the event. They prioritize "party bands with a cool vibe" and who perform well live.
The 2026 edition will arrive with Four days of programming, 12 concerts, two stages and a commitment to maintaining a close-knit format, accessible and designed for diverse audiences, without giving up the growth it has experienced since its beginnings.
