Loveless Festival 2026 – 24 October 2026 (Sala Upload – Barcelona)

To understand how the Loveless Festival came about, we need to go back to the passion of four friends for ethereal guitars and effects pedals. Rather than confining themselves to the nostalgic labels associated with 1990s shoegaze — a genre popularised by British bands like My Bloody Valentine — David Undersounds, Dani Boixadera, Lluís Costa and David Lancharro saw it as a visceral attitude where dream pop, psych, grunge, post-punk and electronic music converge.

Dharmacide,Loveless Festival 2026, Sala Upload Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell for Indieofilo^©

On Saturday 24 October, Sala Upload at Poble Espanyol was at the heart of Barcelona’s underground music scene. It was a festival driven by grassroots enthusiasm and a genuine love of music, far removed from corporate offices and large multinationals. What’s more, the time change gave us an extra hour, so the performances were enjoyed at a more relaxed pace, which was much appreciated.

Pale Bleu Eyes,Loveless Festival 2026, Sala Upload Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell forIndieofilo^©

The live set opened with Bum Motion Club. Originally from Aranjuez, they performed their carefully crafted blend of dream pop and post-punk, delivering a deeply moving set for some in the audience as it marked the end of their ten-year career. Next up were Barcelona-based Salvana, who showed what it means to play on home turf. Their blend of shoegaze and 90s-style post-rock, packed with walls of guitar and layers of effects, instantly connected with the enthusiastic local crowd.

Salvana,Loveless Festival 2026, Sala Upload Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell for Indieofilo^©

The energy continued with Madrid-based Dharmacide, whose live performance just keeps getting better and better, confirming their status as one of the strongest acts on the Spanish music scene. Thanks to their ongoing collaboration with René Sharrocks, the band’s vocalist and guitarist, we were treated to the talents of Erin Memento on the six strings (Bunbury’s niece, for those who don’t know her). There were great songs and a brilliant stage presence, and in the front rows there was a vibrant atmosphere with mosh pits and the drummer from Hostia Pedagógica surfing spontaneously on the crowd’s heads.

Dharmacide,Loveless Festival 2026, Sala Upload Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell for Indieofilo^©

After this electric set, the small venue — renamed the ‘Nowhere Room‘ — provided a welcome break with Revendless, the solo project of Adrián Camañez, guitarist with the Valencian band Gazella. His ambient textures created a hypnotic atmosphere. Back in the main venue, the Belgian band Slow Crush ramped up the intensity with their blend of dark, heavy shoegaze and low tunings, creating a wall of sound that reverberated in the chest.

Slow Crush,Loveless Festival 2026, Sala Upload Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell for Indieofilo^©

Once again, Golden Bug — the project of Frenchman Antoine Harispuru — transformed the small venue into a nightclub, thanks to his blend of organic electronica and krautrock. As the event drew to a close, the British band Pale Blue Eyes provided a dazzling finale on the main stage, filling the entire venue with their magnetic energy and euphoric indie and dream pop.

Pale Blue Eyes,Loveless Festival 2026, Sala Upload Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell for Indieofilo^©

Some nights transcend mere reporting to become a testament to something far deeper. In Barcelona, for example, there is an underground pulse – fierce and magnetic – that beats with enviable vigour, far removed from big venues and large-scale productions. This experience encapsulates the golden age that the city’s underground scene is currently enjoying perfectly. It is an invisible yet indestructible network in which bold initiatives such as the Loveless – by opting for a small-scale format –, the tireless work of promoters such as @littlejoybcn, @damn_bcn and @barcelonapsychfest, to name a few, has made room for new sounds in the circuit’s venues. The overwhelming force of DIY collectives, such as the colleagues at ECM Can Batlló, sustains the scene from the ground up.

Revendless,Loveless Festival 2026, Sala Upload Barcelona 2026 – Photo taken by Meritxell Rosell for Indieofilo^©

The festival proved that it has outgrown the label of a one-off event. Above all, it provided tangible proof that Barcelona’s music community is fuelled by a shared passion. Those of us who opted for the intimate atmosphere of the Upload venue experienced an unforgettable night. Four bold individuals dared to make their dream a reality, treating us to an unforgettable evening. A second edition isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity. Those of us who were there will undoubtedly be back.