European 2012 Capital of Culture (ECC) Guimarães is to stage five music festivals before the end of the year, including the Optimus Spring Club, held for the first time outside Spain.

Guimarães will also host the 2012 edition of Manta, the Barco Rock Fest, the Big Bang Initiative, and the second edition of the Semibreve electronic music festival, the latter in partnership with Braga, the European Capital of Youth.

The “great novelty” is the Optimus Spring Club 2012 “the little brother of Optimus Primavera Sound”, said one of the festival organisers José Barreira.

The concerts will take place from 30 November to 2 December.

The 7th edition of the Barco Rock Fest at Barco riverside beach between 1 and 4 August is bringing 22 bands and 10 DJs to the town.

It’s a “low cost” festival but with all the quality of bigger events, an organiser said.

The Big Bang will bring a “giant orchestra” to Guimarães’ Parque da Cidade on 9 September.

Lastly, the Semibreve festival with its electronic sounds will be held between 2 and 4 October in Guimarães and from 4 to 6 October in Braga.