Concert tickets went on sale on Monday, 3 June and almost all were sold the same day, with online wait times to purchase tickets that exceeded six hours. This caused the organization to initially freeze ticket sales and then release 30,000 tickets for sale on the 17th, though these were for seats at the south goal post of the stadium, behind the stage. When the singer Dyango announced his participation in the Concert for Freedom, some Spaniards were outraged. Dyango was not intimidated by the attitudes of the hosts on 13 TV, an ecclesiastic television channel that is one of the stalwarts of Spanish nationalism, in the face of his support for separatism. He affirmed that the current goal is to hold a Catalan referendum, and ultimately achieve full separation from Spain. Peret also denounced pressure and threats he has received for participating in the concert. Singer-songwriter from the Canary Islands, Pedro Guerra, cancelled his participation in the concert alleging that the event had veered toward "purely separatist motivations that he doesn't share" and that "this is not his fight," while affirming that he was not pressured into withdrawing. Singer Mayte Martín also withdrew at the last minute for similar motives.
Program
Before the concert an information fair was set up outside Camp Nou and the local Food Bank established collection points to benefit the needy, collecting a total of 25 tons of food. The event was divided in two halves. In the first half, various artists interpreted songs related to freedom and popular Catalan tunes such as "L'emigrant" sung by Peret; "Què volen aquesta gent?" sung by María del Mar Bonet and Companyia Elèctrica Dharma, and "Camins" sung by Sopa de Cabra. The second half featured songs by Lluís Llach sung both by the artist himself and other artists such as Orfeó Català, Perros, Ramoncín, Pastora and Miquel Gil, in homage to Llach's concert at Camp Nou in 1985, remembered as a protest in supports of the rights of the Catalan nation. At halftime, the Castellers de Vilafranca orchestrated a 9 level high human tower called a 3 de 9 amb folre and they played the Catalan national anthem "Els segadors," while forming a giant mosaic reading "Freedom Catalonia 2014." During the first half, readings were performed between songs by Cristina Plazas, Anna Sahun, Bonaventura Clotet, Manel Esteller, Miquel Casas, Pere Joan Cardona, Alícia Casals, Isona Passola, Ventura Pons, Joel Joan, Jordi Díaz, Josep Pedrals, Lluís Soler, Màrius Serra, Matthew Tree, Montserrat Carulla, Núria Feliu, Quim Masferrer, Roger Coma and Sílvia Bel. Readings were written by Bertolt Brecht, Dolors Miquel, Enric Casasses, Jacint Verdaguer, Joan Margarit, Joana Raspall, Maria Àngels Anglada, Marià Villangómez, Miquel Martí i Pol, Montserrat Abelló, Salvador Espriu, Vicent Andrés Estellés, Joan Brossa, Josep Maria de Sagarra.
International reception
The Concert for Freedom was covered by several international media agencies and various newspapers, television and radio stations from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, etc. One of the most talked-about images from the event by the media was the mosaic that unfolded in the stands during the playing of the national anthem of Catalonia. Among the articles covering the event were:
Le Figaro : Un stade sang et or pour l'indépendace de la Catalogne
