The EHZ festival grows year after year. This year’s edition will have its 27th edition and is already perfectly stabilized in the town of Irisarri. The area of Plaza and Pentzea, this year separated into both scenes, has already become a very common and comfortable place for visitors. Although the dates are also common, for many it has become an essential annual date. Iñigo Satrustegi pointed out in last year’s chronicle that the LER was an oasis in the midst of the pandemic, in 2021, and that he had such good memories that he spent twelve months waiting again to reach the LER – if you see him from there this year, ask if his motivation has been growing.

The annual tonic is that whoever goes to the LER does not have the feeling that he has approached any cheaper macro-festival. But tonic comes with a little more gas, at least among the people who move at festivals: The year 2022 is the height of global macro-festivals, to the point of overflowing, to be reduced. Savage consumption has become even more savage and unbearable. One study reveals that those who come to the BBK Live eat musical anxieties and do not enjoy enough and enough, because they are abused. The research compares the BBK Live in Bilbao with the San Sebastian Musical Quincena, and the second, which lasts throughout the month, is more sustainable for visitors.

The challenge of the RSI must therefore escape from these massive formulas and continue to attach importance to the artistic value of music and art, rather than putting it into practice as a commercial product. That is why the LER has so far been characterized, because it has shown that, even if it is done in a small town, it is possible to take care of that town and make the festival sustainable, not only in the model of consumerism, but also in the emotions of the fans. It is also a clear example: The RSI, following last year’s assessment, granted EUR 15,000 to Lurzaindia, a soil defender.

Weekend

The folk music group Habia will open this year’s festival in Irisarri Square at 18:00. Muare follows him behind, also in the square; the first to inaugurate the central scene of Pender will be the Donostiarra group Liher, at 20:15 hours, followed by the members of J Martina. And two prominent groups that have been on the front line of the scene for years: Willis Drummond and Belako.

Saturday, the longest day, will be a day full of activities and varied. Among the musical groups, the biggest will be Gatibu and Zeta, the Nize bilbaíno group will put the post-punk melody to the day and Mice the bucolic atmosphere. To overcome the table, the batukada show will be organized by Zozon.

In the scene called Hospital, very serious issues will be discussed. Among other things, we have to think about what Asier Blas can say about the war in Ukraine, even chatting with a Greenpeace member about the energy crisis. In addition, to unite the Basque visions on both sides of the Bidasoa, they will meet around the table to reflect the members of different agents.

Sunday will be the great day of conferences and round tables. Evidence of police repression will be gathered, among others, and the evolution of social struggles in the French State in recent years will be noted, and Antton Luku will be spectacular. Two good musical quotes to move the belts, one before eating and one after eating, Cumbian Bero and Goxua'n Salsa.