Pirineos Sur transforms the access to the festival into a safe greenway, prioritizing transport on foot, by bicycle or via three public bus lines
SonNa Huesca programs emerging artists from Europe, Africa and America
Pirineos Sur has always been an event characterized by the coexistence of cultures and respect for nature in one of the most beautiful places in Aragon. This year, the organizers have gone a step further to effectively reinforce their commitment to sustainability, prioritizing the protection of the Tena Valley environment. To reduce CO2 emissions and minimize environmental impact, on concert days, from 7 pm to 19 am, access to the Lanuza venue will only be permitted via official group buses entering via the dam; or on foot or by bicycle, with designated parking areas at the entrance. This will make the festival area a safe space for pedestrians and the general public, who will not have to share the Sallent-Lanuza route with any vehicles.
The Lanuza reservoir, upon which the Pirineos Sur festival stage floats, has a total capacity of 16,86 hm³. It collects the waters of the Gállego River, a tributary of the Ebro, as well as those of other small streams and torrents descending from the high peaks and glaciers that surround it, including the impressive Peña Foratata. All of this is bathed in a diverse landscape of beech and Scots pine forests, along with a beautiful meadow teeming with native flora and fauna, including marmots, chamois, donkeys, cows, golden eagles, griffon vultures, and even bearded vultures. This breathtaking panorama is the backdrop for a festival that has always protected the environment as a fundamental part of its essence, making this landscape the true star attraction of each edition.
Greenway accessible on foot, by bike or by public transport
For this reason, aware of their responsibility and commitment to the environment, this year the organizers have implemented a series of measures to minimize emissions and transform the route to the festival into a 'greenway'. In addition to encouraging people to walk or cycle to the venue, access by private vehicles will not be permitted during concert hours to avoid heavy traffic and ensure the safety of pedestrians. As an alternative, three bus lines will depart from 11:00 AM from a large park-and-ride facility in Formigal (Sextas), which will also have a designated area for motorhomes and campervans.
Tickets for the shuttle buses are now available online, reserving a specific time slot that is not mandatory but will give priority for boarding. Tickets can also be purchased on the shuttle itself, and each ticket allows for two outbound stops: Sallent and Lanuza, meaning the same ticket can be used at different times.
They will operate from 11 a.m. to 5 a.m. between Formigal, Sallent and Lanuza, with frequencies ranging between 15 and 20 minutes.
An environment to be enjoyed and protected
For those wishing to enjoy the majestic natural surroundings of Lanuza, the access road will be open without restrictions on days when there is no concert, but parking will remain prohibited in areas not designated for that purpose. Likewise, residents of Lanuza and guests of hotels, rural accommodations, and tourist apartments will be identified and accredited to allow them to move freely.
On days with musical performances in Lanuza, vehicles parked in areas designated for use by hospitality businesses must leave the area before the road closes at 6:00 PM. If they fail to do so, they will not be able to retrieve their vehicles until the road reopens at 7:00 AM the following day. This procedure has been agreed upon and approved by the festival organizers and the Sallent Town Council.
In addition to these mobility-related measures, the containerization and recycling plan has been in place since previous years and is functioning effectively. Efforts will continue to reduce waste, emphasizing the importance of separating waste by type and following the instructions for each container.
The international program of the Sounds in Nature Festival, SoNna Huesca , organized by the Provincial Council of Huesca , showcases emerging and established artists in its fifth edition, all united by folk music. They hail from Argentina, Mali, Colombia, Brazil, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, and France.
Almost a third of the artists programmed for the 5th SoNna Huesca festival come from beyond our political, though not necessarily cultural, borders. From the Mediterranean come Daniela Pess (Italy), Ana Lua Caiano (Portugal), Aïta mon amour (Morocco), and the Matthieu Saglio Quartet (France). From across the Atlantic, Soema Montenegro (Argentina), Caribefunk (Colombia), and Anna Trea (Brazil). And from the African Sahel, Trio da Kali (Mali). These are exquisite acts, little known in our country, with a few exceptions. The soundscapes their music evokes will mentally transport us to those lands because their music emanates directly from their landscapes, which come together at SoNna Huesca to meet our own.
Following the opening weekend of June 29th and 30th, with a distinctly Galician flavor (Mercedes Peón, Uxía…), the first Saturday of July will see the village of Cardiel (Fraga) , a former Spaghetti Western filming location , welcome Argentinian poet Soema Montenegro, who will find in the Bajo Cinca region a piece of her Patagonia . From Buenos Aires, Soema blends the sounds and images of the jungle, the desert, and the mountains with her original poetry. A researcher of the Latin American voice, Soema Montenegro recovers and teaches the ancestral, indigenous voice; the resonant, native, and urban song that emanates from the landscape. She is often referred to as a poet-shaman.
