The gates of the Big Sound festival opened at four in the afternoon, but it wasn't until around seven that the festival atmosphere truly became palpable. Crowds of people, loud music, full bars, and merchandise from various brands gradually took over Torrent's Parc Central as the sun began to set. The festival, which has relocated from València to Torrent, appears to have made a successful choice with this new venue.
Torrent's Parc Central has been transformed this weekend into the festival's main stage, featuring six additional stages and a dozen environments designed to offer alternatives to attendees. The decision to leave the historic site of the City of Arts and Sciences has been well-received, as the new location boasts several green areas with shade and a constant breeze thanks to its proximity to orange groves, helping to mitigate the over 30-degree Celsius temperatures.
Across the 40,000 square meters of the venue, in addition to the six stages that have hosted performances by artists like Marc Seguí, Despistaos, Dollar Selmouni, and Hens, the organization has created various spaces and ambiances. The park's design, with picnic areas, gardens, and a large promenade, facilitates the movement of the public arriving from the Torrent Avinguda station. The area dedicated to promotional brands, where attendees can win prizes or enjoy parallel activities, has become an additional point of attraction.
One of the major draws is 'La casita del perreo,' a recreation of Bad Bunny's space where a DJ constantly plays reggaeton, attracting about a hundred people. Furthermore, the agora area offers a corridor of food trucks and a smaller stage, while the two main stages, Imagen and Turia, are situated in full sun on an esplanade capable of accommodating the 23,000 people expected.
Mobility has been one of the primary challenges of the new location. Although attendance has been steady since four in the afternoon, a significant increase in the crowd was noticeable from seven onwards, leading to traffic jams at the Rotonda de la Concordia, the main access to Torrent. Local police managed traffic, diverting it towards Avenida Rey Juan Carlos. Reinforcements on Metrovalencia lines have been effective, despite the trains being full, and buses from València and the metropolitan area have been arranged, with further services planned for the return journey.
