With a career spanning 60 years, the German band Scorpions continues to captivate generations and remains beloved, as their song “Still Loving You” suggests, selling out the first day of the Marés Vivas festival in Gaia.
The Marés Vivas Festival site opened at 4:00 PM, and the first festival-goers rushed in to secure front-row spots, mainly to see the German rock band up close.
Gradually, thousands more entered and filled the venue throughout the day, which had reached full capacity.
Some attendees entered more leisurely, exploring the venue and collecting items like hats, pens, and sunglasses from various brands present at the event. Like their more hurried counterparts, their main objective was to see the Scorpions perform.
The German band was the main draw for Ricardo França, 46, and Armando Ferreira, 45, who traveled from Oliveira de Azeméis to Vila Nova de Gaia.
The two friends, attending Marés Vivas for the first time, purchased tickets for the opening day because it was dedicated to rock, a genre they both enjoy.
“There’s a spectacular rock vibe here, the atmosphere is something else,” they declared in unison.
While eagerly anticipating the headline act, set to begin at 11:00 PM, the Portuguese Linkin Park tribute band, Hybrid Theory, also caught their attention as the opening act on the main stage.
Nearby, Pedro Silva jokingly admitted he was brought along by his girlfriend. He was curious to see the tribute band, though he affirmed that the Scorpions were the main attraction, a sentiment echoed by his girlfriend, Catarina Costa from São João da Madeira, who praised the organization and the venue.
Attending this festival for the first time, Catarina Costa, wearing an orange hat, expressed excitement to see Xutos & Pontapés, one of the bands scheduled for the first day, particularly in a festival setting.
At the venue’s entrance, located in the former Madalena campsite, two new features stood out: a slide and a Ferris wheel, adding to the festival’s landscape.
Exploring the site reveals more than just these attractions, as the layout of the five stages, except the main one, has been rearranged.
This was noted by friends Carla Oliveira, Joana Silva, and Carolina Tavares, who attend annually and appreciated the updates. However, their musical preferences differ, with some eager to see Scorpions and others interested in Pedro Sampaio and Ozuna.
Clad in glitters and transparencies, Carolina Tavares mentioned having traveled from Luxembourg for vacation and the festival, combining “the useful with the pleasant.”
On the second day, Saturday, Thirty Seconds to Mars will headline the main stage with their sixth studio album “It’s The End Of The World But It’s A Beautiful Day,” alongside Portuguese acts Miguel Araújo and Os Quatro e Meia, Nena, Joana Almeirante, and Luis Trigacheiro & Buba Espinho.
On Sunday, the third and final day, Brazilian singer, songwriter, DJ, and music producer Pedro Sampaio will close the festival, which also features performances by Calema, Ozuna, and Nenny.
Across the other four stages, attendees can enjoy performances from Insert Coin, Milhanas, Jéssica Pina, Zarco, Jimmy P., Beatriz Rosário, Lhast, and Tiago Nacarato.
The venue, with a capacity of 40,000 people, opens daily at 4:00 PM and closes at 3:00 AM the following day.
