Music at festivals has long since taken a back seat, with the “global experience” taking center stage. The SuaveFest, the music event promoted by Spanish influencer María Pombo, is a clear example of this. Originally planned to be held at the Palacio del Infante Don Luis de Boadilla del Monte, the festival has faced several obstacles and, less than a month before its celebration, has been relocated to the municipality’s fairgrounds due to lack of proper permits and concerns about the impact on a building of great historical value.
The Palace of Infante Don Luis, the previous assigned site
The palace, a work of the architect Ventura Rodríguez from 1765 and with the protection of Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC), was initially chosen as the venue for the SuaveFest. This decision, however, generated strong opposition. Ecologists in Action, along with other groups such as the municipal group More Madrid and the Association of Friends of the Palace, have raised their voices against this choice on the grounds that an event of such magnitude could damage both the structure of the building and its natural surroundings, which adjoins the Boadilla mountain.
Mariángeles Nieto, spokesperson for Ecologists in Action, expressed: “We do not believe that this is the most appropriate place to hold these multitudinous events”, pointing out the importance of preserving not only the palace, but also its gardens and surroundings.
A change of plans: moving to the fairgrounds
Faced with this pressure and the absence of the necessary permits, the City Council of Boadilla del Monte has decided to move the festival to the fairground of the municipality, where local festivals are usually held. This decision has been taken after an unfavorable report from the Historical Heritage area of the City Council, which advised against the use of the palace for the event. The promoter of the festival, Waisting Time, claimed that they were not officially informed of this report, but accepted the change of location “to avoid further controversy” and ensure the smooth running of the event.
The decision to change SuaveFest to the fairgrounds seeks to avoid any potential damage to the historic palace and calm the waters after the controversy. Meanwhile, María Pombo has been optimistic and shared on her social networks that she is “putting out fires”, but ready to move forward with SuaveFest.
The festival promises to be “a colorful and joyful event, with a ‘Circus of Wonders’ theme that will offer the best of Latin and Spanish music in an atmosphere full of surprises.” Despite the challenges, the organizers hope that the change of location will allow the event to be held successfully and without further complications.
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