Beat opened the 2026 Barts Festival at Poble Espanyol’s Plaza Mayor in Barcelona, drawing 3,600 attendees. The festival ran from 28 June to 25 July and adopted a festival format for the first time, with Beat among its principal acts. The project brings together former King Crimson members Adrian Belew and Tony Levin, guitarist Steve Vai, and Tool drummer Danny Carey. Formed in 2023, Beat revisits King Crimson’s 1980s repertoire without founder Robert Fripp. Belew and Levin played in the band during that period, while Vai and Carey bring new interpretations to the material. The audience was predominantly male and older, reflecting King Crimson’s traditional fanbase.
The concert promised a blend of tribute and innovation. The first half opened with energetic renditions of “Neurotica” and “Neal and Jack and Me,” capturing the intricate guitar work and restless energy of King Crimson’s 1980s era. Adrian Belew’s vocals on “Heartbeat” evoked Talking Heads, whose frontman David Byrne had been his bandmate. The setlist then turned to rarely performed material, including “Model Man” and “Dig Me”; “Man with an Open Heart” was another selection. These dense, experimental pieces, paired with notably low sound levels that prompted complaints from veteran fans, left the audience hesitant and searching for the familiar intensity of past performances.
The atmosphere changed after the intermission. The sound improved, and a focus on Discipline brought renewed energy. “Waiting Man” drew enthusiastic applause, followed by “The Sheltering Sky” and a standout turn by Levin on the Chapman Stick. Steve Vai, initially restrained, came forward during “Frame by Frame,” balancing technical prowess with subtlety. Danny Carey added dynamic rhythms, while Belew’s guitar work shone on “Elephant Talk,” mimicking elephant calls as it drove the tempo forward. The band also encouraged the audience to clap along during “Sleepless,” an unusual gesture for a King Crimson-related show.
The concert closed with “Red,” a track outside the three-album catalogue central to Beat’s project, followed by “Thela Hun Ginjeet,” which brought a tribal spirit to the finale. Beat focuses on King Crimson’s 1981 to 1984 albums, beginning with Discipline and ending with Three of a Perfect Pair; Beat falls between them. The project channelled that era’s sound while reworking the records, offering nostalgia alongside reinterpretation. The audience’s changing response echoed what happened at other major Barcelona concerts, including Alejandro Sanz’s recent performance, as detailed in this report on Alejandro Sanz's RCDE Stadium show.
Formed in 1968, King Crimson became a foundational progressive-rock band, known for its changing lineups and experimental sound. The 2026 Barts Festival placed Beat within a wider programme featuring international performers alongside established Spanish-language acts. Charlie Puth appeared on the bill, as did Joan Dausà and M-Clan. The festival’s move to a festival format brought the Barcelona performance to a larger outdoor setting, while Beat’s lineup carried King Crimson’s 1980s repertoire into a new concert context.
