Lorraine Williamson
It was supposed to be one of the highlights of Marbella’s summer season. Instead, Manuel Carrasco’s long-awaited concert left many fans frustrated by gridlock, poor access and restricted views.
Around 30,000 people attended the show, but the scale of the event overwhelmed the venue, creating long queues and logistical problems that sparked criticism online.
Carrasco, however, has responded with unusual candour. In a heartfelt message on social media, the singer from Isla Cristina thanked his “Pueblo Salvaje” for their energy but admitted the night had left a “bittersweet taste” for some. “We want to apologise if it wasn’t as comfortable as it should have been,” he wrote, promising greater attention to detail at future shows.
Fans applaud his humility
Rather than denting his reputation, Carrasco’s honesty only strengthened it. Messages of support flooded in, with fans calling him “a great” and praising his ability to take responsibility for problems that were not of his making. “Your humility defines you,” wrote one follower, while others suggested he should move to bigger stadiums, with Málaga’s La Rosaleda floated as a future stage.
One fan summed it up in a post on X: “Your message honours you and shows that you care about your audience, who treat you with such loyalty and sincere affection. From these experiences, one learns to keep improving always.”
The incident underscores the rising demand for large-scale music venues on the Costa del Sol, where summer festivals and headline tours often struggle with infrastructure not designed for tens of thousands of attendees.
Isla Cristina prepares for crowds
Meanwhile, Carrasco’s home town of Isla Cristina is bracing for its own logistical challenge. The singer will perform two concerts on 22 and 23 August, coinciding with the Fiestas de Nuestra Señora del Mar. Police expect a surge of visitors, with parking and traffic likely to test the town’s capacity.
Authorities have issued maps of temporary car parks and urged concert-goers to arrive early. The main car parks are on the outskirts, around a 20-25-minute walk to the El Carmen fairground where the concerts will be held. Local residents are being advised to limit car use to reduce congestion, particularly near beaches and the Avenida del Carnaval, which will be closed to traffic.
Police have also appealed for patience and empathy among visitors, reminding them that the weekend is about more than the concerts. Alongside the music, Isla Cristina will be celebrating its traditional fiestas, with religious events, local gastronomy and the town’s celebrated hospitality on display.
Beyond the stage
For Carrasco, the contrasting scenes of Marbella and Isla Cristina reveal the double-edged sword of success. His growing popularity means bigger crowds and bigger expectations — and with them, greater scrutiny of organisation and infrastructure.
Yet his willingness to meet criticism head-on and his deep connection with Andalucian audiences continue to set him apart. Whether on the Costa del Sol or in his Huelva hometown, Carrasco’s music remains a unifying force, even if the logistics sometimes struggle to keep pace.
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