“Something is igniting in the subsoil of Bilbao.” With this warning, the collective LaKobra was introduced just a month ago through social networks. By then, the rumor about a new self-managed cultural space on the street had already spread, and with people's curiosity, they didn't wait too long to expand information. They announced their first initiative by 30 April: LaKobra Fest, a music festival with city groups and a presentation of the project. Before giving way to the concerts organized in the Bizinahi space of the Ribera district, an assembly was held in which the project was explained to the attendees, inviting everyone who might be interested to join it. Since then, they have not brought so many riots back that night, but the underground march has not stopped.

On the project we are told a little more by the colleague who presented himself with the nickname Maurizia. He explains that the project they have been thinking about for five or six years is the one that has recently begun to emerge. The musicians are the ones behind LaCopper, and in their travels through concerts have fascinated some of the self-managed cultural projects they have known (Mogambo de Trintxerpe, Nuntxaku de Bermeo Nights, Arrebato de Zaragoza and Liceo Mutante de Pontevedra, among others, giving way to the creation of Zeozer in Bilbao. A few months ago, the decision was made to start putting the idea into practice, and four people give the first impulse to the project, despite having a support team of several people. “We seem to be getting more and more,” says Maurizia with optimism.

Music is not the only common feature of LaKoba members. “Almost all of us who are driving the project are people who have been in the gaztetxe.” Hence, self-management is the focus of the project. They say that in the face of a cultural model based on commercial logic, which promotes competition and which increasingly bets on the macro-festival format, they want to promote and reinforce another model. “We believe in music and culture as an engine of personal and community development, and not as a business.” Thus, what is being implemented is a project centered on self-management and anti-commercial logic, which aims to create a cultural “paradise island” in a city permeated by neoliberal logic.

“For us everything is political, how we relate to each other and how we manage spaces. LaKobra will be anti-fascist, feminist, ecologist or sustainable, popular… The goal is to offer Bilbao a free and open alternative for all,” explains Maurizia.

Crowdfunding underway

Despite the desire and the illusion, they also have rivalry along the way. One of the main ones is to get a space for the project. “The occupation in Bilbao is difficult today, on the one hand, and we would like it to be a sustainable space,” explains Maurizia. In this sense, they have no choice but to rent, and in addition to the difficulties they are having in finding a place, they also foresee difficulties in meeting the expenses they will find: bail, rent, soundproofing, music equipment...

Collective financing itsulapikoa.eus has been implemented through the crowdfunding platform to overcome the economic cost barrier. Whoever wishes and is able to financially support the project may make its contribution until 26 June, in exchange for a remuneration commensurate with the amount allocated. Among the rewards are the tickets for the first five concerts of the LaKobra Hall. A sign that they hope to be without a delay with their own space and organizing initiatives.