One of the most notable concerts of the year took place in Madrid: the Basque group ETS (En Tol Sarmiento) gathered 15,000 spectators at the Movistar Arena, celebrating its 20th anniversary. The event was not only a musical highlight, but also a rare example of how a group singing mostly in Basque attracted such a large audience in the capital.
The anniversary evening featured a rich program. Dozens of guest artists joined ETS on stage, with Luz Casal standing out—she performed “Abuela maitea,” as well as the track “Eutsi eskutik,” dedicated to the frontman’s brother. Guests included artists from other regions: Guillem Solé of Búhos took part in the performance of “Sumendiak,” while Alaitz eta Maider, Maren, and Josu Zabala (Hertzainak) added familiar Basque scene sounds to the concert.
Stage and atmosphere
The organizers opted for variety: the stage featured not only ETS hits but also Basque music classics and contemporary arrangements. The audience actively supported the performers, with some acts accompanied by traditional dances and txaranga performances. Special attention was drawn to the performance of “Lau teilatu” featuring Tziar Aizpuru, during which the group’s frontman admitted he was only just learning to play the piano.
The evening ended with a festive verbena featuring Sorotan Bele and a set by DJ Bull, with the total number of guests on stage exceeding thirty. Tickets for the concert sold out just three hours after sales began, setting a record for a group singing mainly in Basque.
Context and comparisons
Such sold-out shows by Basque groups are rare in Madrid. Previously, only a few performers, like Fermín Muguruza, managed to gather comparable audiences in this same venue. In 2019, Berri Txarrak attracted more than 7,000 people, which at the time was considered a significant achievement for the Basque-language music scene.
During the concert, ETS announced a new large-scale “house party” — a show at Buesa Arena scheduled for March 20 next year. This format of major anniversary concerts is becoming an increasingly noticeable trend among regional bands, as confirmed by the experience of other artists, which was recently highlighted by a young musician from Ibiza, who shared his impressions after Benidorm Fest.
