THIS YEAR’S NEOPOP FESTIVAL: A CELEBRATION OF MUSIC, PEOPLE, AND PORTUGAL
words NATALIE-ANNE GAL
At Numéro Netherlands, our love for Portugal runs deep, with countless ties, stories, and memories rooted in the country. This year, we returned to experience one of our favourite festivals, Neopop, set in the magical town of Viana do Castelo. Here, I recount that unique experience and share an exclusive interview with the festival’s creative mind, Gustavo Pereira.
Fans of great music from over 50 countries gathered at Forte de Santiago da Barra to celebrate together. I use the word carefully, since I strongly believe every festival is a celebration. The purpose does not have to be specified or dignified, because at its core it is about humans: their stories, connections, words, singing, and dancing. A celebration of bodies and identities. Neopop Festival provided a safe and exciting environment to do just that.
By the harbour filled with the ships of Viana do Castelo, it was an absolute highlight to see the fishermen and their boats, the serene undisturbed water with a lighthouse on your left, and on your right the two stages and thousands of visitors dancing.
The two stages were a perfect touch, dividing up the crowd and the space. Their design brought the vibes of a forest, symbolising the nature of Viana, as this place is shrouded in forests. But the concept also featured galactic visuals: the idea of creating a “star gate” through which we stepped into another world. And no denying, we did. I talked about the two-stage concept with the creative mind behind the festival, Gustavo Pereira, who I managed to interview even within his busy schedule. You’ll find the full interview below.
When it comes to festival food, Neopop nailed it. You could grab comfort food such as cheeseburgers with loaded fries, pizza napolitana, poke bowls, and even Portuguese favourites like bacalhau. Festival prices are always debated, but it cannot be denied that this quality food was very reasonably priced. The pizza napolitana was truly a fan favourite! And there were rarely long, exhausting lines, you could always quickly grab your dish.
Another highlight was Tasquinha da Linda, located right at the entrance. It is one of the most talked-about restaurants in the country, serving fresh seafood straight from the dock, no more than 20 meters away.
When it comes to the line-up, the first day started strong with the world premiere of Joseph Capriati b2b Freddy K, followed by Charlotte de Witte, Goldie, and Biiia, who was accompanied by dancers, a very unique touch. On day two you could spot Vintage Culture and the icon Richie Hawtin among others such as Klangkuenstler, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Lewis Fautzi, and The Advent.
But the third day was truly the grand finale: Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz, Rødhåd, Sven Väth and Marrøn, alongside a collaborative live performance by Colin Benders, Lady Starlight, and Sterac. Neopop has this distinctive ability to bring spectacular people together, and by this I mean both the artists and the visitors.
Covering festivals is always tough. How do I describe an event in accurate detail to convey its energy?
I like to sit and watch people’s faces, and really spend my time observing and analysing. Do they feel happy? Excited? Safe? I’m glad to say I saw the biggest smiles at this year’s Neopop. Striking grins, loud laughter, soft smiles, and loving gazes, they were all here.
There is always love to be found in a crowd, wherever I am, I pause to search for it. How can I find it? Where does it reveal itself, in what forms, and how much of it lingers in the air? Friends laughing together, families hugging, couples holding hands. How different, yet how similar they all are. I was glad to see countless proclamations of love here.
It was that kind of crowd who bows so they don’t block your photo, who give up their place in line if you need it, who make sure you can see the stage if they’re taller than you. The kind of people who hype you up: “I love your skirt!” “I love your perfume!”
Everyone was relaxed, excited, and there was a shared sense that they had been waiting for this. You could feel it strongly. They knew the layout, they knew the lineup, they hadn’t just dropped in. They had waited for this.
I met people of all ages, some attending for years so that now it’s almost a tradition, some who travelled to Portugal just for this, from near and far. This is something people wait for all year round. Good news: dates for next year have already dropped, and early-bird pre-registration is now available.
NUMÉRO NETHERLANDS’ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH GUSTAVO PEREIRA
We also had the chance to do something not many journalists get to: interview the creative mind behind the entire festival, Gustavo Pereira. As closing, I would like to provide you with the full interview, in which we discuss the history of the festival, its origins, concepts, and the ideas that came together to create this memorable event, and all the ones before.
Let's start with the festival. It's been around for a while. What are the main changes you’ve noticed since the start?
Of course. First of all, globally, there was a big change during the pandemic. Everyone noticed, the music, the crowd, their behavior, their habits. Next year we’re going to celebrate 20 years of the festival. We’ve been through a lot. We started with one stage, then added another stage, the camping stage, and a theater in the middle.
We partnered with the Red Bull Music Academy, did some pop-ups in the city. The crowd changed a lot. The production improved as well. In the beginning, most clubs were open until 6, 7, 8am. People arrived here around 3 or 4am. So we opened the festival later, sometimes 10 or 11 at night, and went until noon or even 2pm. Now people come earlier and leave earlier, so we’ve been shifting the schedule to start and finish earlier.
I think that’s healthier for everyone. It’s a different approach, and I see this happening in other festivals too. I used to play late slots, but now I prefer earlier ones. People have more energy. Closings are still magical, but it’s different.
I also want to ask about the two stages. How would you describe the differences?
We started as Anti-Pop. After three years, there were changes in administration and direction. We changed the name and communication. Later, when we thought we needed another stage, I brought back the spirit of the first years, calling it the Anti-Stage. Even if we use LED, it’s only as lighting, not video screens, to keep the 90s feeling of just sound and lights.
The Main Stage is more technological. We’ve invested a lot in visuals since the beginning. The Anti-Stage stays more underground, with more special decoration and fewer headliners or ticket-sellers. I try to keep it as authentic as possible.
I feel like your position is a bit mysterious to people. What does the creative mind behind the festival actually do? What are your responsibilities and day-to-day tasks?
As for my role, being the creative mind behind the festival takes a lot of research. I’m also a DJ, so I stay connected with the crowd, which helps a lot, especially after the pandemic. Even if it’s music I don’t personally like, I have to understand the crowd likes it. Sometimes it’s not about my taste, it’s about 8,000–10,000 people per day.
I try to balance new names with old school legends, so people hear what they want but also discover something new. It’s a bit pedagogical, educating people at the same time.
I also want to talk about the location, because it’s so special. I was walking around today and locals told me it’s like a hidden little haven. Why did you choose this place?
I’m from Porto, and my partners were from this area. This region is a holiday destination, and we also thought about the proximity to Galicia, which has a strong techno tradition. We loved this area, spent a lot of time here, and we had contacts that allowed us to run a 24-hour festival without restrictions. The geography was perfect, close to Galicia, known for its strong connection to techno. Northern Portugal already had a thriving electronic music culture in the late 90s and early 2000s.
And of course, the scenery: the fort, the lighthouse, the harbour, the sea, the river, the mountain with the church on top. It’s already a huge, amazing setting. Good sound, good lights, good stage, good artists, and the scenery does the rest.
We’re lucky with that. And being in this corner of the city, even though we make some noise, it doesn’t disturb the city much. It’s a very good location.
VIANA DO CASTELO: THE HOME OF NEOPOP
I arrived in Viana do Castelo on a misty, foggy afternoon as the city and the grand church on top of the hill were shrouded in mystery. From the car I couldn’t help but adore the harbour, the fishing boats, the giddy fishermen finishing a successful day.
Viana is oceanic, slow, and ancient, without the rush and buzz that can overwhelm in big cities. Its history is vast, from medieval trade routes to the story of the Via Sacra. Get lost in the medieval centre, pick up a fresh newspaper at the local kiosk, sit down with a sangria. If you are here, I recommend falling into that small-town flow: worry less, hurry less, and take your time. Viana is filled with Portuguese traditions. If you want to taste the real country and smell it, this is the place. The scent and taste of the ocean, where the wind is always a little salty.
Leaving the festival at 4-5 am, you could spot something very special. As the glittered but tired festival-goers were heading to taxis, the fishermen were arriving to start their day at dawn. You could see them throwing ropes, packing ships, laughing. It was intimate, something you rarely see as a traveller, maybe only in documentaries.
Spending time in Viana gives you insight into an alternative existence that makes you question whether the buzz of the city is really for anyone. It is a place you leave with a heavy heart, as though leaving a childhood home.