Sonorama
Image:OKGo.jpg|thumb|300px|Ok Go, the New York City band, performed at the Sonorama Festival in 2006.
The Sonorama Festival is an annual music festival which takes place in the city of Aranda de Duero, in Castile and León, since 1998. It is organized by the cultural association and non-profit Art de Troya, in mid-August each year. The lineup mainly consists of indie pop, indie rock, and electronic music.
With a progressive growth, it has become one of the biggest summer festivals in Spain, and it is broadcast live on Spanish National Radio: Radio 3. In 2010, it was voted the third-best Spanish festival by the readers of the magazine Rockdelux, and as fourth-best Spanish festival by magazine Mondosonoro. Also, it has been nominated for the Independent Music Awards, organized by the Unión Fonográfica Independiente, in the category of Best Music Festival in Spain in 2010 and in 2012.
The festival is also composed of other activities:
- Sonorama Festival of Short Films, since 2000
- Music demo contest
- Visit and lunch in the old underground wineries of Aranda de Duero, with Ribera del Duero wine
- Wine tasting courses
- Tourist Route: Ruta del Vino
- Conferences
- Sonorama Kids, a show specially designed for children, since 2011
Sonorama's influence on the Spanish music scene
Image:Simon Fowler live.jpg|thumb|200px|Ocean Colour Scene, the Birmingham band, performed at the Sonorama Festival in 2005.Over the years the Festival Sonorama has become a launching point for Spanish indie pop groups. Although its stages have featured nearly all the big bands in the indie scene since it began, it has now opted for new names and emerging bands. In 2000 it already had names like Los Planetas and Digital 21. In 2001 and 2002 Deluxe and Ellos played, in 2003 Second, and in 2005 The Sunday Drivers.
In 2007 concerts began in the historic centre of the city during the morning and since then the Plaza del Trigo stage has become, year after year, an emblematic scenario and unexpected witness to the confirmation of a group as an "indie" national band. This also happened in 2008 with Vetusta Morla, and most recently in 2010 with Supersubmarina.
The festival is not only important as a driver for new talent, it is also known as a farewell venue for national groups. In 2005, the Catalan band Mercromina said goodbye at the festival. On that occasion each national band that performed at the festival paid tribute to the band by playing at least one of their songs.
The festival caters not only to indie rock and pop. Sometimes accompanied by controversy, Sonorama has diversified into other styles and musical environments, from the singer-songwriter Bebe to the hip hop of La Mala Rodriguez to the electropop/hard rock of Dover. Even in 2007 Nacha Pop launched their comeback with a performance at Sonorama.
Bands who have played the festival
During its 20 years, several famous bands have performed at Sonorama, including Mogwai, !!!, Ocean Colour Scene, OK Go, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Rentals, Asian Dub Foundation, Ash, Gogol Bordello, Nada Surf, Amy Macdonald, James, The Sounds, The Ettes, Brett Anderson, Molotov, Ecologist, Rinôçérôse, The Hidden Cameras, Los Campesinos!, Shout Out Louds, Teenage Fanclub, The Raveonettes, The Dandy Warhols, Kakkmaddafakka, The Primitives, Travis, Belle and Sebastian, Cut Copy, Mando Diao and The Hives.Lineups
2008 Festival
'''Headliners'''2009 Festival
'''Headliners'''2010 Festival
'''Headliners'''2011 Festival
During the 2011 edition, more than 100 bands performed and 40,000 people attended the 4-day festival. A new activity just for children, Sonorama Kids, was set up.'''Headliners'''
2012 Festival
Dates: 9, 10, 11, August 12.'''Headliners'''
Sonorama 2013
Dates: 14, 15, 16, August 17.'''Headliners'''
Sonorama 2014
Dates: August 13, 14, 15 & 16'''Headliners'''
Sonorama 2015
Dates: mid-August'''Headliners'''
Sonorama 2016
Dates: August 10–14'''Headliners'''
Sonorama 2019
Dates: August 7–11'''Headliners'''