John Holt's Black Andorra Returns with Gea-Headlined Techno Showcase in La Massana

John Holt, a prominent figure in Andorra's electronic music scene, is staging the second edition of his techno showcase tonight in La Massana, headlined by leading artist Gea.

Black Andorra began in 2018 with club performances in nearby venues before scaling up to bring top-tier techno acts to the Principality. Holt described the new format as a step beyond traditional club nights, aiming to create a mini-festival experience unmatched by most local events outside major gatherings like elrow or Hibernation. "The goal is to offer a larger spectacle and establish our own space in a scene lacking consolidated programming," he said.

The inaugural event last year featured Amygdala and drew over 600 attendees, marking a strong close to the season. Tonight's show builds on that success, with Holt emphasizing a unique production for Gea—one of the scene's top talents—and the audience. The Massana commune provided the venue, while Reaktor Grup handles organization, though Holt noted limited broader support for techno culture. "We're focused on creating good vibes and alternative leisure," he added. "If anyone should bet on a project, it's oneself."

Holt also confirmed Black Andorra's participation in Hibernation's Igloo Stage on March 20, where the team plans a production centered on techno culture.

The rising popularity of techno reflects shifting tastes, Holt observed. Once drawing niche crowds, events now attract broader audiences, including younger people rediscovering the genre. He attributed this to electronic elements infiltrating mainstream music via modular synthesizers and a backlash against reggaeton's excesses. "Everything has a beginning and an end," he said, cautioning that superficial trends could infiltrate techno too.

A third edition is planned post-winter season, targeted at Andorran audiences.