Haizea

Haizea, whose name means “Wind” in Basque, was a five-piece band from the Basque region of Spain active in the late 1970s. The group played a unique blend of psychedelic rock, progressive rock, and folk-rock, with a sound that drew inspiration from both traditional Basque music and international progressive folk influences. Their lineup at different times included Xabier Lasa (later Txomin Artola) on guitar and vocals, C. Busto (later C. Busto Hondar) on drums and percussion, Xabier Iriondo on flute and guitar, Gabriel Berrena on double bass and electric bass, and Amaia Zubiria on vocals.

Haizea released two studio albums: the self-titled *Haizea* in 1977, which leaned closer to folk, and *Hontz Gaua* in 1979, featuring a more psychedelic folk approach. Known for theatrical live performances that incorporated costumes, mime, and audience interaction, Haizea broke new ground in the Basque music scene by blending music with performance art, gaining significant public recognition for their creative fusion.