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RIVERLAND WARM UP 2026 OR HOW URBAN MUSIC CAN BECOME CULTURE

It was not on my bingo card for this 2026 to be discovering for the first time the Thyssen Museum in Madrid, blasting Bad Gyal’s latest album on my headphones. The vibe was unmatchable for a Saturday that was going to end in Fabrik. It was an experience to navigate through different corridors with hundreds of representations of creative ideas, I repeat, while listening to reggaeton. It is a different experience to enjoy the work of Richard Estes, Robert Rauschenberg or John Singer Sargent in this condition. Where I am going is that what I am going to review can become high culture if the viewer (reader in this case) wants to. Mix and match of social and political background can become the new IT thing in the industry, we should break limits for the next generation. There is no need to compare the effects on contemporary society that the work of Metrika or L0rna can bring rather than watching an exhibition of Vilhelm Hammershøi, both are cultural experiences that provide information and joy to the consumer (it is more important to critique how are we digesting all this inputs that to repulse some of them).

Anyways, it was six o’clock in the afternoon when I decided to arrive in Fuenlabrada to catch the direct bus that let me enter into the massive place that Riverland Warm Up was taking place in. For the people that don’t know, Fabrik is one of Spain’s largest and most well-known electronic music clubs, and the night of April 28th it was going to be a rave dedicated to urban tunes rather than techno. More than 12-hours where fans of rap, trap and latin songs enjoyed overstimulated sounds that were presented in two stages. In Sala Crystal we could listen to TK Mami or Biberon eclectic proposals, F1LTHY’s first gig in Spain or  Lupsi takes on reggaeton through femininity. All of this thanks to Rigels Studio that sponsored this space of community for hip-hop addicts. 

The Main Room was bubbling since the beginning of the night with artists from different backgrounds and countries that defined what the urban scene looks like right in this moment of time. First I want to highlight the curation of DJs between singers that in lots of cases were more hype than the voices in itself, creating momentum and incredible vibes just by curating songs. From rising proposals like Betty Bunny or Da Rossy that infused in their sets the charismatic sense that latin music did in the youth of today, to Sneaky WH or Skinyz that mixed their own productions with material that everyone knows (more electronic or less) creating bubbles of energies in the crowd. Elevating what it means to be a DJ nowadays, a multitasking job that fulfills creative opportunities via collaborations or creating a vision like a hot young clothing brand would.

Following-up, I want to shout out the women that ignite the night and the international talent that hit the stage. Kristina presented “KRISTINEANDO EDITION”, carrying the weight of being a woman in the music industry in Spain and highlighting how hard work pays off (ending with “LA SACAPUNTAS” was one of the best things of the whole night). Shout out to Raul Clyde for making an appearance in her showcase and in Gloosito’s. TAICHU and her “HOTCORE” was all about expressing attitude and enchanting the audience through electronic sounds that are infused with latin rhythms, creating a wonderful proposal and very on theme for Fabrik. 

Also from Argentina, Zell is a promising young artist that is making hits through the mix of hyperpop with trap and his latest EP, “zelly”, is a great example. I was also so excited to see what Easykid has to offer (I couldn’t stop looking to his lower belly part where a Gucci belt, from Demna’s tenure, shone off), it was a presentation that highlighted the best of “I’M PART”, his latest LP, but I was pumped by some “Sorry, Estoy en mi Darkera” songs. After the Chilean hot flavour, we have to talk about the biggest surprise of the night that was the showcase of JELEEL! where frenetic energy was exuded through showing lookmaxing and incredible moves, an exclamation point until that moment, a break from Spanish words to enjoy the English style that he is bringing to the industry from Rhode Island.

To liven up the time change, the festival located that spot for Rich Farmers, a collective formed by Gloosito, G La Sosita, Vampi, Jay Dime and Trap Maloy that mixes jersey club and fast electronic, directly influenced by international urban scenes. An amalgam of tunes that fitted perfectly from 1:40 to 3:10am, as two to three passed on the night we were in, trolling and funny at the same time. Afterwards, we were magnetized by the classic tunes of Soto Asa, that fits like a glove for Fabrik, a combination of electronic tunes with a mumbling voice that remind us that “Smartphone” and “Si Tu Kiere” hit like when we first listened to them back in 2020. 

All of this to finish the night (in my personal case), with the showcase of 8Belial and the set of DISOBEY Sounds. Indescriptable was the moment that Tic Tac (Hour Love) without the voice of Maureen was blasting in the speakers as the showcase of 8Belial was coming to an end. But, I love how strong his performances are and what it does on people, the crowd went crazy literally. YSL formed a pogo that took no one by surprise, but it really enhanced the performance of the artist along with yyy891 feature. It is nostalgic to see how profitable the brand DISOBEY has become, ensuring each of its members a stable musical future (some more fortunate than others). Difficult to see them as a separate thing, always graced by JOHNNYFUU productions where playfulness and cheekiness are mixed to create an innovative product for the people that did not live ten years ago. Masculinity aesthetic first, music taste second (not a diss, but the creative vision is much stronger than any of their music, I really applaud them for it).

To sum up, I just want it to say that you can go to a museum and to a festival on the same day and there is not less cultural value in any of those activities. Let’s enjoy culture while we can, because fascism is just looking above us trying to get us all controlled. But remember that this is just a sneak peak for the festival, be ready for more and better in August! Thanks for the invitation and see you in Arriondas, Asturias!

Words by @alraco43

Photos by @dela.puente