Festival Internacional de Benicàssim
Benicassim 2008 lineup
Leonard Cohen • Morrissey • My Bloody Valentine • Sigur Rós • Gnarls Barkley • Babyshambles
Benicassim 2008 lineup
The Benicassim 2008 lineup is remembered as a classic FIB year that mixed iconic legends, noisy indie, electronics and Spanish favourites. Over four nights from 17–20 July 2008, fans saw huge sets from Leonard Cohen, Morrissey, My Bloody Valentine, Sigur Rós, Babyshambles, Gnarls Barkley, The Raconteurs and many more on Spain’s Mediterranean coast.
Festival Internacional de Benicàssim – often shortened to FIB – takes place between Valencia and Barcelona on Spain’s east coast. Unlike a UK weekender, the music in 2008 started late in the evening and ran through the night, leaving days free for the beach, hotel pools and relaxing in the shade.
Benicassim 2008 at a glance
- Festival: Festival Internacional de Benicàssim (FIB Heineken)
- Year: 2008 – 14th edition
- Dates: Thursday 17 – Sunday 20 July 2008
- Location: Benicàssim, Costa del Azahar, Spain
- Key headliners: Leonard Cohen, Morrissey, My Bloody Valentine, Sigur Rós, Gnarls Barkley, Babyshambles
- Genres: Indie, rock, electronic, alternative, Spanish indie
Benicassim 2008 • FIB Heineken
17–20 July 2008 • Benicàssim, Spain
Benicassim 2008 lineup A–Z
Here’s a selection of key artists from the Benicassim 2008 lineup, shown A–Z so you can quickly spot your favourites.
This A–Z is a highlight reel – the full breakdown by day is just below.
Benicassim 2008 lineup by day
A breakdown of the main artists performing each day at FIB 2008. Stages, times and DJ zones made this one of the festival’s most eclectic late-2000s editions.
Thursday 17 July 2008 – Opening night with Sigur Rós
Key artists:
- Sigur Rós
- Nada Surf
- Battles
- Aldo Linares
- Black Lips
- Facto Delafé y las Flores Azules
- Krakovia
- Lightspeed Champion
- Single
- DJ Supermarkt
- These New Puritans
Thursday delivered an atmospheric opening, with Sigur Rós setting a dreamlike tone against the warm Mediterranean night.
Friday 18 July 2008 – My Bloody Valentine & Babyshambles
Main names:
- My Bloody Valentine
- Mika
- Babyshambles
- Róisín Murphy
- Spiritualized
- La Casa Azul
- Chromatics
- Danton Eeprom
- El Guincho
- Erol Alkan
- Fujiya & Miyagi
- Gentle Music Men
- Josh Wink
- Metronomy
- Robert Babicz
- The New Pornographers
- The Rumble Strips
- Tobi Neumann
- Vincent Vincent & The Villains
A night that swung between shoegaze intensity from My Bloody Valentine, indie frenzy with Babyshambles, and deep-electronic late sets from Erol Alkan, Josh Wink and others.
Saturday 19 July 2008 – Gnarls Barkley & The Raconteurs
Key artists:
- Gnarls Barkley
- The Raconteurs
- The Kills
- My Morning Jacket
- Booka Shade
- American Music Club
- Ascii.Disko
- Bracken
- The Brian Jonestown Massacre
- Dapuntobeat
- Eef Barzelay
- Heavy Trash
- Ivan Smagghe
- John Acquaviva
- José González
- Kiki
- Lori Meyers
- Manos de Topo
- The Marzipan Man
- Metope
- The Ting Tings
- Tiefschwarz
A diverse Saturday featuring soul-pop from Gnarls Barkley, guitar heroics from The Raconteurs, Spanish indie from Lori Meyers and festival anthems from The Ting Tings.
Sunday 20 July 2008 – Leonard Cohen, Morrissey & Justice
Main names:
- Leonard Cohen
- Morrissey
- Justice (live)
- Death Cab for Cutie
- Calvin Harris
- Morente Omega con Lagartija Nick
- Siouxsie
- The Futureheads
- David Duriez
- El Hijo
- Ewan Pearson
- Radio Slave
- Joakim
- Vive La Fête
Sunday combined three unforgettable moments: the emotional power of Leonard Cohen, the theatrics and tension of Morrissey, and a huge electro finale from Justice and Calvin Harris.
Morrissey and additional 2008 lineup acts
Smiths legend Morrissey was a major late addition to the Benicassim 2008 lineup. He had previously appeared at FIB in 2006, and Spanish fans still remember earlier performances dating back to The Smiths’ Madrid show in 1985. His 2008 return generated huge excitement.
Morrissey was a welcome addition to the bill and also performed at the Saturday Night Fiber – Benicàssim Day in Madrid event during the same festival week.
Other acts added to the Benicassim 2008 lineup included:
- Tricky
- Ascii.Disko
- Calvin Harris
- The Futureheads
- Heavy Trash
- Ivan Smagghe
- Kiki
- Lori Meyers
- Radio Slave
- Tobi Neumann
- Morrissey (as a special highlight)
What Benicassim 2008 felt like
Many fans describe 2008 as one of the most atmospheric years in FIB’s history. The combination of legendary songwriters, noisy indie, experimental electronic sets and iconic Spanish acts created a uniquely varied experience.
Long nights, sunrise finishes and lazy beach days defined the rhythm of the festival. Compared with later, more mainstream editions, Benicassim 2008 carried a distinctly alternative identity and still stands out when you look down the full Benicassim lineup history.
Benicassim 2008 – FAQs
When was Benicassim 2008 and who headlined?
The festival took place from 17–20 July 2008 and featured headliners such as Leonard Cohen, Morrissey, My Bloody Valentine, Sigur Rós, Gnarls Barkley and Babyshambles.
Where did Benicassim 2008 take place?
As always, FIB was held in Benicàssim on Spain’s Costa del Azahar – a beach resort town known for warm nights, palm trees and long festival evenings.
Can I see the full Benicassim 2008 lineup?
Yes — the day-by-day breakdown above covers the main acts. Archive listings are also available on eFestivals, Wikipedia and Last.fm if you want to dig into every stage and time.
What made the 2008 lineup special?
It struck a rare balance between legends (Cohen, Morrissey), cult indie (My Bloody Valentine, The Raconteurs), electro icons (Justice, Calvin Harris) and strong Spanish representation like Lori Meyers and La Casa Azul.
Further reading & archives
- eFestivals FIB 2008 lineup & news
- Festival Internacional de Benicàssim history
- Last.fm FIB Heineken 2008 listing
Exploring other years?
