The Hard Rock Café is a place known for its classic red and yellow colour scheme, which screams Rock n’ Roll. The Café at Avenida Del Marqués de Sotelo 6 in Valencia is no exception, with relics of rockers past covering the surfaces of every wall and booth. My personal favorite was a jacket that Stevie Nicks wore during Fleetwood Mac’s 1990 tour. But, whether you love the music and aesthetic of rock or not, Santero y Los Muchachos are sure to blow you away with their heartfelt lyrics, upbeat rhythms, and endless energy.

The concert on June 12^th was a kickoff event for the ‘Love to Rock’ festival, which will take place on October 10^th and 11^th at the Marina in Valencia. After receiving a wristband at the door, those in attendance were granted free drinks, full access to the two-story restaurant, and the appetizers, which waiters and waitresses brought around. The food was part of the section of the festival called “Love to Food”, where chefs from Michelin-star restaurants present their cuisine. Everyone mingled, enjoying the apps and drinks, until the show began.

‘Santero y Los Muchachos’ got onstage and started their set with “Algo Más”, an upbeat tune with a chorus that the crowd can’t help but sing along with. With the frontman, Miguel Ángel Escrivá, on bass along with the two others on guitars, the band was only getting started. As the lights flashed their neon colors, turning the band blue, yellow, green, or purple, the group continued with their setlist.

“Sheriff” was the next song, and it showed off the vocals of each of the members as they harmonized. I looked around at the crowd and noticed people singing along, dancing, and taking lots of pictures. Though the room where the concert took place was not large, I could tell that almost everyone there was a big fan of Santeros, and didn’t mind the close quarters.

The bass rattled in my chest as the band played on, surprising me a bit with some country sounds. One of the guys put on a harmonica and played it while strumming the guitar. The band rocked on, giving the audience a sampling of all of the genres they dabble in. For one of the songs, a woman joined them to take a high-voice solo, wowing the crowds with her impressive vocals as well. She also played the tambourine and maintained the crowd’s energy with her enthusiasm and stunning performance.

For the last song, Santero y Los Muchachos played “Estamos Bien”, another upbeat, guitar-heavy tune. The crowd continued dancing and singing right back at the band, who smiled as they sang.

Even as the band ended their setlist and began to pack up, the crowd continued to mingle, grabbing more drinks or food and singing the songs they had just heard. The next band, City of Fury, began setting up for their part of the night. As I mingled with the fans, I found myself standing right next to Miguel Ángel Escrivá. He was chatting with a friend or a fan, just as laid-back as he had seemed onstage. I got the sense that, when Santero y Los Muchachos went on stage, there were the same down-to-earth guys who could mingle with fans or rile up a whole crowd as if it were second nature.

I made my way to the door, passing Sting’s keyboard, Dolly Parton’s leopard-print dress, and Michael Jackson’s fedora. As an American, I had nearly felt right at home among so many pieces of rock history from the greats that I had grown up listening to; not to mention, all the descriptions for the pieces were in English.

With the ‘Love to Rock’ festival coming up and the first promotional tickets becoming available, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to see tons of bands, coupled with Michelin-star food. To learn all about the festival and get your tickets for the 10^th and 11^th of October at the Marina of Valencia, Carrer del Moll de la Duana, s/n, 46024, go to https://lovetorockfestival.es/.

Report by Fiona Pacious 

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’

Photo copyright Fiona Pacious/ ’24/7 Valencia’