Concert for Freedom facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Concert for Freedom Concert per la Llibertat
Mosaic at the Concert for Freedom
Genre	Concert in support of Self-determination Catalan independence
Date(s)	29 June 2013 (2013-06-29) (20:00h)
Venue	Camp Nou
Location(s)	Barcelona
Next event	2014: Nosaltres decidim Freedom Catalonia 2014
Participants	Òmnium Cultural and Assemblea Nacional Catalana
Attendance	90,000 people

The Concert for Freedom was a big music event. It took place at the Camp Nou football stadium in Barcelona, Spain. The concert happened on June 29, 2013.

Its main goal was to use music to ask for the right of Catalonia to decide its own future. This idea is called self-determination. It means a group of people can choose how they want to be governed. For Catalonia, this often means becoming an independent country.

About 90,000 people came to the concert. It was organized by groups like Òmnium Cultural and the Assemblea Nacional Catalana. More than 400 artists performed. Famous singers like Lluís Llach and Peret were there. The stage was designed to look like steps. These steps symbolized the journey towards freedom.

Important people from the Catalan government also attended. Leaders from political parties who supported Catalonia's right to decide were present. Muriel Casals, who led Òmnium Cultural, gave a speech. She said that Catalonia's desire for independence was not against anyone. She also asked politicians to move forward with a vote on independence.

Getting Ready for the Concert

Tickets for the Concert for Freedom went on sale on June 3. Almost all 60,000 tickets sold out on the first day. People had to wait online for over six hours to buy them. Because of this, the organizers first stopped selling tickets. Later, they released 30,000 more tickets. These new seats were behind the stage.

Some singers faced different reactions for joining the concert. When Dyango said he would perform, some people in Spain were upset. They disagreed with his support for Catalonia's right to decide its future. Dyango said he wanted Catalonia to have a vote and possibly become separate from Spain. Peret also mentioned that he received pressure and threats for taking part.

However, not all artists stayed. Pedro Guerra, a singer-songwriter, decided not to perform. He said the event became too focused on independence. He felt it was "not his fight." He also stated that no one forced him to withdraw. Another singer, Mayte Martín, also pulled out at the last minute for similar reasons.

What Happened at the Concert

Partial view of Camp Nou during the concert.

Before the music started, there was an information fair outside Camp Nou. The local Food Bank also set up collection points. They gathered food for people in need. In total, 25 tons of food were collected.

The concert itself had two main parts. In the first part, artists sang songs about freedom. They also performed popular Catalan tunes. For example, Peret sang "L'emigrant." María del Mar Bonet and Companyia Elèctrica Dharma performed "Què volen aquesta gent?" Sopa de Cabra sang "Camins."

The second part of the concert honored Lluís Llach. Many artists, including Llach himself, sang his songs. This part remembered Llach's concert at Camp Nou in 1985. That concert was a protest for the rights of the Catalan people.

During the break between the two halves, something special happened. The Castellers de Vilafranca built a human tower. It was a very tall tower, nine levels high. This is called a 3 de 9 amb folre. While they built it, the Catalan national anthem, "Els segadors," played. The audience also formed a giant mosaic. It spelled out "Freedom Catalonia 2014."

Between the songs in the first half, actors read out important texts. These readings were by famous writers. They included words from Bertolt Brecht and Jacint Verdaguer. The readings added a powerful message to the music.

See also

In Spanish: Concierto por la Libertad para niños