Michael Schenker Group in Bilbao: Flying V magic and classic hard rock take over Santana 27
On 8 November, Sala Santana 27 in Bilbao welcomed several generations of classic hard rock fans. Michael Schenker Group brought their Don’t Sell Your Soul Tour 2026 to the Basque Country, with all eyes firmly on the legendary guitarist and his unmistakable black-and-white Flying V.
The evening opened with Be For You (B4U), a band from León, Spain. During an approximately 40-minute set, they performed original songs including The Distance Between Us, Shadow Of Me, Light and The Things I Never Told You, alongside a cover of Foreigner’s Heart Turns to Stone. It was the Spanish band’s first performance in Bilbao.
At around 8:00 pm, Michael Schenker took the stage alongside Robin McAuley (vocals), Alessandro Del Vecchio (keyboards and guitar), Barend Courbois (bass) and Bodo Schopf (drums). The opening notes of Looking for Love immediately established the direction of the evening: straightforward, unmistakable hard rock with no unnecessary detours.
Red Sky, Emergency and Rock You to the Ground kept the momentum going. One of the night’s standout moments, however, came with the instrumental Into the Arena. It showcased everything that makes Schenker distinctive: memorable melodies, technical precision and a guitar style that has made his Flying V one of rock music’s most iconic images.
Following Are You Ready to Rock, the band performed Don’t Sell Your Soul, the title track from their 2025 album. Nevertheless, the set was firmly rooted in MSG’s classic catalogue. Cry for the Nations, On and On and Attack of the Mad Axeman brought the audience back to the band’s golden era. Before Sail the Darkness, bassist Barend Courbois enjoyed a brief solo spotlight.
Robin McAuley was another essential part of the performance. His vocals gave the current lineup its own character, particularly on Armed and Ready, one of the night’s most recognisable songs. However, fans hoping for a larger selection from the McAuley Schenker Group era had to settle for a setlist focused primarily on MSG’s earlier years.
The second half featured Desert Song, A King Has Gone, Rock My Nights Away, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie and Assault Attack. The closing number was Doctor, Doctor, the timeless UFO classic that prompted one of the audience’s most enthusiastic responses. The crowd joined in with the famous chorus while Schenker took photographs of the audience during the final moments of the show.
Around an hour and a half of music covered several decades of hard rock history. Santana 27 enjoyed a good turnout, although the venue was not completely sold out.
Bilbao witnessed more than another performance by a legendary guitarist. It was an opportunity to see that Michael Schenker’s musical legacy remains very much alive. He needs no grand gestures to reaffirm his place in rock history. A few notes, his Flying V and a musical identity unlike any other are more than enough.
support:
Be For You
