Bad Gyal rocks the Forum at the Share Festival

“How are you, Barcelona?” asked Alba Farelo, all gold and glitter on stage, and the audience roared as they had done a dozen times before on the first day of the Share Festival, which, with seven editions, has claimed its status as Barcelona’s biggest urban music festival.

The hot Friday afternoon didn't deter the young audience gathered around the festival's two stages, who entered through separate lines for adults and minors until the 25,000 tickets on sale were filled. Plenty of water, vapes instead of cigarettes, and light clothing identified the festivalgoers (their parents were just as identifiable, albeit for different reasons). Unlike other festivals held at the same venue, the festival started at noon and ended at 11 p.m., allowing attendees to return home safely via public transport. They left happy after attending Gyal's performance, as provocative as the video for "Da me," which confirms her fondness for Caribbean rhythms and explicit statements, both in the lyrics (interpreted in sign language, by the way) and in the movements.

Dressed in a shiny skirt and top, her face uncovered, energetic and more open in keeping with the music she was offering, Bad Gyal kicked off with Bota niña , accompanied by nine male and female dancers to showcase the best of her only album to date, La joia . Sexesexy stood out, with Mushkaa as a surprise on a night of Latin overtones that included the bachata Duro de verdad, Kármika (with Karol G) and Comernos, with Omar Courtz, as well as Perdió ese culo, Zorra and Chulo, a dembow with lots of perreo (she already did it at Guay) to say goodbye remembering that Fiebre that opened the way for her years ago.

The Catalan scene played a prominent role with Figa Flawas, Julieta and The Tyets, as well as Bad Gyal

At 28 years old, Alba Farelo could be considered the oldest artist on the bill, where she was preceded by Omar Courtz (27) and Saiko (23), three artists who together are barely older than Bruce Springsteen is 75. Joshua Omar Medina Cortés based his performance on reggaeton, offering Luces de colores or Qué vas a hacer hoy?, in collaboration with the also Puerto Rican De la Rose, another of those present yesterday in Barcelona. And it seems that Courtz has collaborated with everyone, also with Bad Bunny in the recent Debí tira más fotoscon Veldá.

He also collaborated with Saiko, his predecessor at the festival, on Lokenecesitas, one of the tracks on the Granada-born artist's second album, released this Friday under the title Natsukashii yoru. Bad Gyal was in charge of opening a trap and reggaeton performance on a stage transformed into a beach bar. Xclusivo, Reina and Eskeleto provided the more trap part, after which a salsa orchestra made an appearance that starred in the second part, with songs like Arena y sal. The reggaeton Tuenti opened a third block where Buenas, a collaboration with Quevedo, as well as Polaris and Cosas que no te dije, the songs that catapulted the Granada-born artist, were played.

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Friday afternoon had a distinctly Catalan accent with the reunion of three leading names on the local scene. While shade was being traded at the price of bitcoin, The Tyets, from Mataró, presented Cafè pels més cafeteros, their new album that proved its effectiveness live, beating the heat with unstoppable rhythm thanks to the luminous A fora plouo Un petonet. There was also the bachata of Bailoteo and the asardanada Coti x Coti, which got hearts racing before Julieta took the stage. The Barcelona native presented her album 23 with an electro-pop journey through the states of love that lowered the audience's heart rate. This was achieved with Avions volant and Els contes, which she performed while standing on the tree that adorned the stage, accompanied by acoustic guitar. The opposite was true of No m'estima and Vaya liada, both with Mushkaa on stage.

Figa Flawas' Marina was in charge of keeping the rhythm. The Valls duo brought their gala equipment with Pep Velasco occupying the stage as if it were his dining room, while Xavi Cartanyà fired up the bases accompanied by percussion, bass and guitar. Xtraterrestres set the pace for a varied party that included 4 kissos, reggaeton from Diabla, La salsa, literal and the corrido Aurora, without forgetting, of course, La Marina sta morena to continue this calçots party that yesterday became an urban music party.