Starmus La Palma announces first round of artists lineup and program structure

STARMUS is thrilled to announce the first round of artists and the program structure for the highly anticipated STARMUS La Palma festival, set to take place from April 25 to 29, 2025. This year's lineup features an extraordinary array of luminaries, including renowned ethologist Jane Goodall -founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace-, legendary musician and STARMUS co-founder Brian May, eight Nobel Laureates, celebrated astronauts, and an incredible cast of world-class renowned scientists and experts in AI and cybersecurity. The festival will also host a multidisciplinary scientific program focused on the protection of the sky, addressing critical issues such as pollution and space debris.

Under the title “The Island of The Stars” STARMUS La Palma will sharpen its focus on the major challenges we face in protecting the skies from pollution and space debris. Thus, within the framework of the ‘Starlight Declaration or La Palma Declaration’ in Defense of the Night Sky and the Right to Starlight—promoted by the IAC and drafted and signed by international institutions such as UNESCO, UNWTO, and IAU among others, with the Starlight Foundation as the responsible body—this edition will be a key platform to generate greater visibility and awareness on this issue.

Thus, with this great representation of this remarkable edition, which marks the "return home" to the place that inspired the creation of what is now recognized as the world's most inspiring festival of science, space, and music, STARMUS announced the first confirmed artists of the musical lineup and the final program structure of this very special edition.

‘SONIC UNIVERSE’ CONCERT

Puerto de Tazacorte, April 26

The first confirmed headliners include:

• The incredible STARMUS All Stars, STARMUS's very own rock ensemble which is set to gather some genuine rock legends, featuring the incredible Glenn Hughes as a ‘Special Guest’, promising an unforgettable rock experience:
  • Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal: Acclaimed guitarist, songwriter, and producer, known for his tenure as a lead guitarist in Guns N' Roses from 2006 to 2014. He has also been a member of supergroups like Sons of Apollo and has had an impressive trajectory as a solo guitarist and composer
  • Derek Sherinian: Considered a 'virtuoso' keyboardist, Derek is renowned for his work as the keyboardist for bands such as Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, and Kiss. He has also performed with icons like Billy Idol and Joe Bonamassa. Celebrated for his versatile and aggressive "guitaristic" keyboard style, he has released several solo albums featuring prominent guest musicians
  • Vinny Appice: Renowned rock and metal drummer best known for his work with Dio, Black Sabbath, and Heaven & Hell. Notably, Appice played in John Lennon's last tour, marking a significant moment in his early career
  • Tony Franklin: Known as "The Fretless Monster," Tony is best known as the bassist for the supergroup The Firm, alongside Jimmy Page, Paul Rodgers, and Chris Slade. Franklin is celebrated for his distinctive fretless bass playing and has also collaborated with renowned artists such as Roy Harper, David Gilmour, Kate Bush, and Whitesnake
  • Dino Jelusick: Singer, musician, and songwriter. He gained early fame by winning the inaugural Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2003. Jelusick is the founder and former lead singer of the hard rock band Animal Drive and has been a touring member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra since 2016. In 2021, he joined Whitesnake, further solidifying his place in the rock music scene.
  • Glenn Hughes as ‘Special Guest’: Esteemed musician best known for his work as the bassist and vocalist for Deep Purple and Trapeze. He has also fronted Black Sabbath and the supergroup Black Country Communion. In 2016, Hughes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Deep Purple 
• The acclaimed Uruguayan musician, composer, and singer Jorge Drexler has a 30-year career, having released 14 studio albums and performed worldwide. Originally a doctor, he moved to Spain in 1995 to focus on music. Drexler has won numerous awards, including an Oscar, 15 Latin Grammys, a Goya, and a Biznaga de Plata. His latest album, 'Tinta y Tiempo,' earned him five Latin Grammys in 2022, and his recent tour received a Premio Ondas for best show in 2023. Known for his poetic and scientific inspirations, Drexler's work bridges cultures and expresses deep human emotions.
• The prominent Spanish pop-rock band Efecto Pasillo known for their fusion of pop, rock, and Latin rhythms. With over a decade of success, they have achieved multiple platinum and gold records, and their music has garnered over 450 million streams and 400 million YouTube views. Their hits like "Pan y Mantequilla" and "No importa que llueva" have earned them national and international fame.

They have collaborated with numerous prestigious artists and their latest album continues to showcase their constantly evolving musical style. This spectacular lineup of artists will be preceded by unprecedented opening acts that embody the essence of STARMUS La Palma with space-inspired and distinctly Canarian rhythms:

• FLANGR, a Chilean Astro-Pop band led by Joaquín Macaya, known for integrating sounds from space, using recordings from the ALMA Observatory, into their music. This innovative blend of astronomy and pop creates a unique auditory experience, bringing the wonders of space closer to the public.
• K-Narias is a reggaeton-pop duo from Tenerife, Canary Islands, formed by twin sisters Gara and Loida Hernández Rubio. They gained fame with hits like "No Te Vistas Que No Vas" and have toured internationally, collaborating with artists like Don Omar and José Feliciano.
• Chris Boshuizen, also known as ‘Dr. Chrispy’, is a former astronaut, award-winning aeronautical engineer, and music producer. After working for NASA, he co-founded Planet Labs and flew to space on Blue Origin’s NS-18 mission, while also producing music inspired by his travels and experiences.

The initial warm-up performances, which will start energizing the Puerto de Tazacorte from the early evening, will feature a group of bands acclaimed at festivals across Spain. These bands will offer a fantastic fusion of pop, indie, and rock that will delight all attendees:

• Shidow. With over a decade of experience and several albums, this band blends American folk with their unique style, creating beautiful, melancholic soundscapes with mid-tempo rhythms and rich harmonies.
• Nevada, known for their meaningful Spanish lyrics, powerful rhythms, distinctive guitar riffs, and solid harmonies, with three self-produced EPs and extensive musical experience.
• Terco, Spanish rock trio known for their energetic guitar-driven sound and confident vocals. They draw inspiration from rock artists spanning the 60s to the 90s, supported by powerful old-school guitar sounds.
• Lepanto, Spanish pop-rock band that draws inspiration from a wide range of sounds, including 60s British pop, bossa nova, 80s new wave, and pasodoble.
• Lücky Dückes, a highly acclaimed emerging band in Spanish festivals, known for their electrifying performances and extensive touring since 2012.

‘CLASSICAL NIGHT SERIES’ CONCERTS

Santa Cruz de La Palma, April 25 and April 27

STARMUS La Palma is excited to present the 'Classical Night Series' concerts, taking place in Santa Cruz de La Palma on April 25 and April 27. The lineup features an array of distinguished artists, including:

• Distinguished Spanish soprano Montserrat Martí, daughter of renowned opera singers Montserrat Caballé and Bernabé Martí. She has performed on prestigious stages worldwide, including the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Teatro Real, and the Royal Albert Hall, showcasing her versatile and emotive vocal talent across a wide range of operatic roles.
• Simona Todaro Pavarotti, an accomplished Italian soprano and great-niece of Luciano Pavarotti, has won numerous international prizes, including the "Giuseppe Verdi di Parma" and "A. Belli" contests. She has performed in renowned venues worldwide, showcasing her exceptional vocal talent and continuing her family's illustrious musical legacy.
• Luis Santana: one of the most respected Spanish baritones specializing in Rossini and Spanish chamber songs. He has performed in top venues across Spain and Europe and co-founded OperaConcert, collaborating with renowned figures like Ainhoa Arteta and Montserrat Martí Caballé.
• Víctor Carbajo: Composer and pianist, known for accompanying Montserrat Martí Caballé and Ainhoa Arteta. He has performed in prestigious venues like the National Auditorium of Music in Madrid and the Olympia Theatre in Paris. His compositions are performed internationally, and he is also a teacher at the Katarina Gurska Higher School of Music.
• The STARMUS Orchestra, a unique ensemble formed for the STARMUS Festival, brings together some of the most talented musicians from the Canaries and around the world. Directed by the esteemed José María Vicente, Director of the Conservatorio de Tenerife, the orchestra features highlighted members such as:
  • Carmen Acosta, a versatile Canarian soprano known for her captivating voice and dynamic performances on stages across Spain and internationally.
  • Javier Laso, a Spanish pianist known for his captivating performances in prestigious venues and his teaching at the Conservatory of Music of the Canary Islands.
• The Art Intelligence Institute from Poland representing Copernicus Lullaby, a series of outdoor acoustic concerts featuring a hand-picked selection of the finest and most evocative pieces, inspired by the starry skies of Copernicus’s homeland.

STARMUS CAMPS

Santa Cruz de La Palma & Los Llanos de Aridane, April 25,26,27,28

For the first time, STARMUS La Palma will feature two STARMUS Camps: one in Santa Cruz and another in Los Llanos de Aridane. Both camps will offer a full 4-day program of activities in the Expo Zones and Stage Zones.

• Expo Zone: This area will host a variety of exhibitors presenting an exciting exhibitor program with stimulating activities at each stand from 10 am to 8 pm.
• Stage Zone: The stage area will offer morning programs of amazing lectures and presentations, incredible screenings at lunchtime, and a vibrant music program every evening.

Both STARMUS Camps will gather an impressive lineup of exhibitors, including the Starlight Foundation; the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC); the Jane Goodall Institute with its program “Roots & Shoots,”; ITER, the pioneering international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject or CTAO -Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory- the future largest and most powerful gamma-ray observatory in the world.

The lineup of speakers ranges from keynote lecturers to popular science communicators like Mar Gómez (eltiempo.es), renowned Astrobiologist Carlos Briones, Space Trainer and Olympic Athlete Guillermo Rojo, CERN talks led by Isabel Béjar, as well as presentations from some of the most anticipated speakers in the keynote lectures.

The daily evening music program will feature local DJs and indie-pop bands as the opening acts for the ‘Sonic Universe’ concert - Shidow, Nevada, Levanto, Terco - and other local groups like Macaca Radiata, among others.

Additionally, the camps will feature two very special days meant to inspire the youngest generations with the "INTERSCHOLAR by STARMUS" project. This initiative will be carried out across schools for students in 5th and 6th grade of primary school and secondary school, who will have the opportunity to learn from and meet inspiring ambassadors such as Javier Santaolalla, Efecto Pasillo, Jorge Drexler, and the Jane Goodall Institute through their Roots & Shoots program.

These special days will take place in the mornings of April 25 and April 28.

• CAMP Santa Cruz: Plaza España and Calle Real
• CAMP Los Llanos: Plaza de España

KEYNOTE LECTURES

Puerto Naos, April 25, 26, 28

The keynote lectures will take place in Puerto Naos on the following dates and times (tentative):

• April 25: 2 PM - 6:30 PM
• April 26: 2 PM - 6:30 PM
• April 28: 2 PM - 6:30 PM

Attendees can look forward to a series of thought-provoking and inspiring talks with the protection of the skies as the main topic but spanning a wide range of disciplines and topics with world eminences from all over the globe. Highlighted speakers include:

• Nobel Laureates: Esteemed scientists who have been recognised with the highest honours in their fields like John Mather, Michel Mayor, Kip Thorne, Steven Chu, and Donna Strickland.
• Legendary Astronauts: Chris Hadfield, Kathryn Thornton, Terry Virts, and Spanish ESA astronaut Pablo Álvarez and ESA Astronaut in Reserve Sara García.
• World-Class AI and Cybersecurity Experts: Bernhard Scholkopf and Chema Alonso.
• Technology Leaders: iPod creator and iPhone co-inventor Tony Fadell.
• The most renowned Spanish Scientists: Neuroscientist Rafael Yuste, Paleontologist Juan Luis Arsuaga, and Astrobiologist Carlos Briones.

In addition to the many events during the festival, STARMUS La Palma will also feature an educational initiative in the preceding months which will end up bringing students from all over the Canaries to the festival: Interscholar by STARMUS is an educational initiative designed to inspire Canarian primary and secondary school students to explore science and space. Over five weeks, students will engage in exciting activities and workshops led by renowned ambassadors such as physicist Javier Santaolalla, the band Efecto Pasillo, musician Jorge Drexler, and the Jane Goodall Institute Spain. This project aims to spark curiosity and deepen students' understanding of scientific concepts through a blend of music, cinema, and hands-on learning experiences.

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