Be Prog! My Friend, La Carpa Poble Espanyol, Barcelona, Spain, 26 & 27 September 2025

This year I went to Be Prog! My Friend simply as a prog fan, not as a DPRP writer, and that makes a difference: most of the time I was enjoying the music and the atmosphere and just live the moment rather than trying to cover the festival. But, as a DPRP reviewer, I did want to share my experience with our dear readers. Just some comments to help you understand what I experienced at Be Prog! My Friend.

Ignacio Bernaola

This is a festival with history. Be Prog! My Friend was born in Barcelona in 2014 as a very different kind of prog festival: one stage, no overlaps, and a bill that always combined legendary acts with modern and local discoveries. For five editions it became a reference point in Europe, until it stopped in 2018. In 2024, it came back, and this 2025 edition has confirmed that the comeback was for real.

The new location at La Carpa del Poble Espanyol works very well, and the atmosphere was superb: excellent organisation, great sound, and above all a sense of camaraderie between the audience and bands that you rarely find elsewhere. For me, this was my very first time at Be Prog. I had wanted to go for years, but for different reasons it had never been possible. This time I travelled from Pamplona with two friends, and the experience could not have been better. We all came back thrilled and already thinking about next year's edition!

DAY ONE

I barely managed to arrive on time for their set, but what I heard while entering the venue already sounded very solid. Opening a festival that early is never easy, yet they seemed to grab the attention of those already inside. Later on, many people were praising them, confirming that Lampr3a had been a very worthy opener.

Dry River are simply in another league. Probably the best live band we currently have in Spain, and once again they proved it. Their show was a succession of great songs, one after another, with total complicity with the audience. People knew the lyrics, sang along to the epic moments, and created an atmosphere that was unforgettable.

What makes them so special is the ease with which they move from technically complex passages to catchy melodies and sing-along choruses, always with the same natural flow. It all feels effortless, yet at the same time it is demanding music played at the highest level. That mixture of virtuosity and accessibility explains why they always connect so strongly with the audience, creating a feeling of shared celebration every time they play.

It is a pity that they didn't get more time or a higher slot, because their performance really deserved it. The news that they are already working on new material for their next album only adds to the excitement for what is to come.

The British Threshold once again showed what a high-class band they are, and at the same time how underrated they remain within the prog metal scene. I saw them in London in 2017, and my impression was exactly the same in Barcelona: power, precision and strong songs that become even better live.

Threshold

It is difficult to understand why they don't enjoy more recognition, because this was a flawless, convincing concert that stood proudly next to any bigger name in the genre.

Persefone joined the bill as a late replacement for The Dear Hunter, who had to cancel only a few days before the festival. I only knew them by name, but the Andorrans left me with a very strong impression.

They were definitely the most aggressive band of the weekend, delivering complex yet heavy prog metal with conviction. The night setting gave their show an extra intensity and the whole performance felt powerful and tight. A very good surprise and proof that prog can also be visceral without losing complexity.

Friday ended with TesseracT, and the difference was clear from the first minute: louder sound, bigger lights, the full headliner production.

TesseracT

It was my first time seeing them live, and I really enjoyed it. Daniel Tompkins was outstanding, his voice versatile and strong throughout, and the addition of two backing singers gave even more weight to the overall sound.

As one of the main references in the djent scene, they lived up to expectations and closed the first day with a show that impressed me a lot.

DAY TWO

Saturday opened with Moonloop, a Barcelona band with more than twenty years of history. It was a bit like with Lampr3a for me. I didn't catch the full show from the very beginning, but enough to see how serious their proposal is.

Their blend of prog metal with extreme touches sounded strong and effective, setting the tone for the second day. Experience and stage presence were evident, even at such an early slot.

What can I say? Cheeto's Magazine are from another world. They can easily steal the show and get all the attention, and not only because of their crazy outfits. Even starting with a sound issue, they managed to turn it around with humour, throwing bags of Cheetos into the crowd and instantly winning everyone over.

Their songs are roller-coasters: constant changes of rhythm and atmosphere, technical playing when needed, vocal games, fun, power, energy, everything at once. The audience loved them and the ovation was huge, also helped by the fact that they are from Barcelona.

My only remark would be that their set was too short and they couldn't play some of their long suites. Soon they will appear at Morsefest in the UK, and here is my warning to Neal Morse himself: beware, because Cheeto's Magazine are very much Cheeto's Magazine.

For me, Von Hertzen Brothers were one of the big surprises of the festival. Apart from their album Nine Lives, which I bought years ago, I didn't know them very well. They had some delay due to technical problems, but once they started, all of that was forgotten.

Von Hertzen Brothers

Their show was full of power and rhythm, with impressive vocal work from the three brothers. The drummer was outstanding, getting his own ovation, and the keyboard player also surprised the crowd by coming to the front several times to play solos on wind instruments.

The closing part, with band and audience singing together, was spectacular and left everyone smiling. I strongly recommend checking them out if they play near you – their live show is really worth it.

This was one of the most anticipated concerts of the weekend for me. Just two days before the COVID lockdown in 2020 I had seen one of the last Anathema shows. It was a huge blow for fans when they split later. That is why seeing Daniel Cavanagh now continuing with Weather Systems is so special. It feels like a new chapter, but still keeping those amazing songs alive.

Weather Systems

And that is the key: the songs. When they are that good, things cannot go wrong. The performance was deeply emotional, and Daniel's presence on stage is as strong as ever. Alongside him, Soraia Silva brought not only her superb voice but also a contagious joy that spread to the whole venue.

I cannot avoid mentioning Untouchables I & II: an incredible piece of music that touched everybody, even people outside the venue who stopped by the fence trying to understand what was happening inside. Truly one of those magical moments that stay with you.

The honour of closing the festival went to The Pineapple Thief, and they proved exactly why they were the headliners. It was a very professional set: excellent sound, great execution and a collection of strong songs.

Bruce Soord was very engaged with the audience, making the final goodbye feel like a proper celebration. And of course, there is Gavin Harrison. What can I add? Probably the best drummer in the world, or at least very close to it. His precision lifts every song to another level, and while the rest of the band were also excellent, Gavin's playing was simply astonishing.

It was my first time seeing them live, and I must say I enjoyed it more than the studio versions. Maybe it's just me, but I almost always prefer music live than through headphones, and in this case it made all the difference. Two hours that closed the festival in style and left me with the feeling of having seen something truly special.

Conclusion

Be Prog! My Friend 2025 has been, for me, an unforgettable experience. For years, I had wanted to attend, convinced that it is the best prog festival in Spain, but it was never possible. Finally, being there felt like a dream come true: a strong and varied line-up, flawless organisation, a friendly atmosphere, and concerts that kept me excited from beginning to end. I returned home with the feeling that I had lived something unique, together with two friends who enjoyed it just as much as I did. One of them who even had no previous interest in prog and now became a new fan. That says it all: a festival able to win over even the newcomers is a very special one. And honestly, once you experience Be Prog, it is impossible not to come back.