With titles as explicit as Control de masas (“Mass Control”) or Colapso social (“Social Collapse”), Soziedad Alkoholika has more reasons than ever to dedicate an album to the system’s failures.

The international tour 40 Urteko Memoria Bizia (“40 Years of Living Memory”) by Fermín Muguruza will stop at On Fire to reunite with a legendary Canarian band that has decided to come together again for the occasion: Enac Ska, a group that perfectly dissected the social problems faced by the Canary Islands in the 1990s —issues that are still relevant today.

The young local punk rock band Distortion completes the lineup for Arrecife en Vivo’s most activist day. Influenced by bands such as Adhesive, Satanic Surfers and Turnstile, the Lanzarote-based group diagnoses a world that is “upside down.”

Freedom of expression, the collateral damage of turbo-capitalism, and the dehumanization of migrants are themes driving these four bands, who will perform on September 27 at the festival’s only paid session.

The Arrecife en Vivo festival collaborates with UNRWA Spain, Adislan, El Cribo, Mararía, Caritas and the Inclusion Department of the Lanzarote Island Council.

Collaboration with social organizations

The festival will shine a light on the Lanzarote Association of People with Disabilities (Adislan) —whose members have been working with the festival since 2023—, the mental health association El Cribo, Caritas Lanzarote, and the women’s association Mararía. Through the Island Council’s Department of Welfare and Inclusion, an activity will also be organized with young migrants who have recently arrived on the island.

In addition, a percentage of proceeds will go to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), one of the main humanitarian actors in Gaza.

“We are not an NGO, but music also raises awareness and builds. This is just our small contribution,” say Semi Gil and Tirso Blancas, co-directors of Arrecife en Vivo.

Safe space

In its 13th edition, Arrecife en Vivo will implement for the first time a protocol for the prevention of sexual abuse and all forms of violence, “to prevent any violent, homophobic, sexist or racist behavior.”

The festival will open on Saturday, September 6, with the AEV Channel gala, bringing together Lanzarote artists at Islote de Fermina, and will continue with its four traditional free concert routes with parades on Friday, September 19 and 26, and October 3 and 10.

In addition, Arrecife en Vivo will dedicate a special day to supporting grassroots culture: Saturday, October 4, in the session called Apoyamos la Cantera (“We Support the Talent Pool”).

The full program of Arrecife en Vivo 2025 —which includes more than 40 Canarian, national, and international artists— is already available on its website.