It seems that 2017 will have a unique place in this festival’s history as MTV have now taken over the organisation of Gibraltar’s loved GMF. This caused a mixture of both excitement and disappointment for our festival lovers. An interesting line up to say the least, enough to please the youngsters, and the older-sters (if that word even existed before now). However, there was a huge drop of attendees, almost 50%. Thankfully, this wasn’t noticeable when you were amongst the crowds and didn’t lessen the vibes. 

Owning the main stage is a plethora of international acts, the likes of Ricky Martin, Craig David, Years & Years, Charli XCX, Bastille, Hinds, Clean Bandit, Jonas Blue, Kaiser Chiefs, Rewire & Varski, The Amazons, The Vaccines, Steve Aoki and finally, Fatboy Slim.

On the classic stage we enjoy music from Village People, Bananarama, Black Box, C+C Music Factory, Glen Matlock and Band, Rozalla, Go West and Midge Ure.

The times with the local acts, and the international acts clashed, both starting at the same time and perhaps finishing within 15 minutes of each other. People have a tendency to follow the music that they know and will get engulfed in the vibe given from the international acts. However, despite this slight inconvenience for the local performers, their audience still only continued to grow, leaving little space for us reporters to merge through the crowds. (this is a very good sign!)

Our local acts this year were: After Hours, Angelwings, Jetstream, The Layla Rose Band, Reach, Come in Leon and The Undesirables 141. The quality of the performance and the music given from our local acts was equal to the international ones, that kept us entertained throughout. Well done, Gibraltar!

The ‘not so unusually’ tropical sunshine certainly brings out the fun side of a festival, despite every moment being followed by different levels of perspiration, sweaty handshakes and avoiding human contact in general. Free sun cream given and sprinklers watering our festival people and grounds made it that little bit more bearable.

When we weren’t pushing through the bombastic crowds, we were making an edible purchase. Very impressing to see the amount of different food and drink stalls keeping us hydrated, with workers working very hard to keep the festival clean and organised. Including the toilets, that never run out of paper, or anti disinfecting spray/handwash! Enough to keep the queues down, too. Plenty of stalls, offering a variety of glitter make overs, clothes, and souvenirs.

Musically, this is the year that rings the changes. “Very different. Barely no rock,” says the bloke on the Zip Line. It isn’t entirely true (there’s still the likes of Kaiser Cheifs and The Vaccines, not to mention our local acts), but a more eclectic bill and greater emphasis on pop, rap and grime reflects changing times and the younger demographic.

These genres happily co-exist with guitar bands on the main stage, and rappers – the likes of megastar Tinie Tempah – who’s energetic set results in a procession of screaming and almost fainting girls.

Sundays earlier arrivals are rewarded with a set by The Vaccines delivering a honed display of Rock whom seal their warm reception stating “Hello Gibraltar, it’s great to be here in Spain. Just kidding”. Fortunately for us reporters and photographers in the press pit, we were close enough to hear the ‘just kidding’, the same cant be said for those standing a little further away. The moment was soon forgotten, however, as the band went on.

At the other end of the day, there’s a stampede to see Craig David, who brings insouciant star quality, his latest and a classic songbook.

Kaiser Cheifs appearances here are traditionally marked by flying objects on the stage. Spookily, the band’s arrival does bring the weekend’s drop-in temperature and stronger winds but the real storm is in the show which will forever mark the cerebral cortex of 2017 MTV Gibraltar Calling Festival Goers. With harder rocking, proggier prog, and more interaction than anyone else on the bill, they reach peak preposterousness during “I predict a riot” when the bass triggers the people on the festival grounds to leap as if jumping on a pogo stick.

Although there’s certainly a glut of generic pop and indie – Bastille’s magnolia anthems and Clean Bandits bombastic stage presence prove mystifyingly popular, met by swaying hands.

Saturday headliners Years & Years and Ricky Martin take over the crowds with their swag and energy. Years & Years look so delighted with their rapturous reception of this electronica trio it’s a wonder that they ever left the stage.

After criticism and an identity crisis, the festival gets it right this year by offering something for everybody, even for families who bring their children with the KIDZONE: The Childrens Playground, Adventure Area, Giant Art Wall, Kids Crafting, Story Telling Stage, Street Theatre, Childrens Band and beyond.

And again, we are left waiting for what next year has in store.

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For the after movie dedicated to the local musicians, please click here.

For the after movie covering all please click here.

For the photos, please click here.

*This photo does not belong to GMG*