Out of Town Summer Music Festivals
Do as the locals do this August! Escape the heat of the city by heading to the coast to enjoy some outdoor music at one of the Catalunya’s many summer festivals.
Portalblau Festival
June 28 to August 11, 2024, L'Escala, Girona Province
Portalblau Festival in L'Escala offers evenings filled with a wide range of high-quality cultural events with the participation of artists from all over the world. Music, dance, poetry and theater performances are all presented in spaces steeped in cultural and historical significance against the deep blue backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea.
Culturally and socially committed, the Festival supports emerging local artists and hosts a series of events that promote social and environmental values. This year's lineup includes Meritxell Neddermann, Pau Alabajos, Mishima, Mayte Martín, Sopa de Cabra, Andrea Motis, Guillem Gisbert and many more.
L'Escala is 145 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 50 minutes by car. portalblau.cat
Nits d’Estiu de Calella
June 28 to August 30, 2024, Calella, Barcelona Province
In Calella, live music fills the air during its summer-long festival: Nits d'Estiu de Calella. With a line-up that includes well-known artists and local talent, there's something for every musical taste. The festival offers live outdoor concerts, performances and shows in various locations throughout the city. This year's agenda is being finalized and soon will be announced on the festival website.
Calella lies just over 60 kilometers up the coast; it's about one hour by car and one hour and 10 minutes by train (R1) from Plaça de Catalunya. calellabarcelona.com
Vida Festival
July 4-6, 2024, Masia d’en Cabanyes, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona Province
Just a short train ride down the coast from Barcelona, in the grounds of a neoclassical mansion dating back to 1574, Vida provides a dream festival landscape. Think sandy beaches, a fairytale forest and lush gardens. Soak up the sunshine with a soundtrack of local and international talent at La Daurada Beach Club by day, before heading up to the masía to enjoy the evening performances. This year's lineup includes Vance Joy, Ty Segall, Julitea, Clara Peya, James Blake, Standstill, Black Lips, M.I.A. and Alice Phoebe Lou to name a few.
While headliners take to the large Estrella Damm Stage, the smaller concerts take place in the enchanted forest, featuring a range of quirky stages. Among the hidden corners, which are tastefully illuminated with fairy lights and lanterns, you’ll stumble upon all sorts of happy surprises, from handmade markets to art installations and film screenings. An ideal festival for families, Vida has a large activities area for children with a program of storytelling sessions, instrument-building workshops and circus acts to keep them entertained.
Vilanova i la Geltrú is just 50 kilometers down the coast from Barcelona; it's about 45 minutes by car and one hour by train (R3) from Plaça de Catalunya. vidafestival.com
Festival de Porta Ferrada
July 5 to August 20, 2024, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Girona Province
Named for the 10th century iron gate that once stood at the town's Benedictine Monastery, the Porta Ferrada Festival fills the streets of Sant Feliu de Guíxols with live music, theater and dance performances every summer. The program is unique for its wide range of artistic disciplines across genres; jazz, pop, rock and folk can be found alongside classical theater, ballet and flamenco.
You can kick back and relax in the Espai Village which offers cocktail stands and food trucks as well as live performances and DJ sessions both before and after the shows. This year's lineup includes American baritone Gregory Porter, two-time Grammy Award winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album; Barcelona's own Andrea Motis, jazz trumpeter, singer, sax player and songwriter; singer and songwriter Madeleine Peyroux; and legendary crooner Tom Jones, to name a few.
Sant Feliu de Guíxols is in Girona Province, 105 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 15 minutes by car. festivalportaferrada.cat
Cap Roig Festival
July 12 to August 16, 2024, Calella de Palafrugell, Girona Province
Perched on the coast surrounded by natural woodlands, the Cap Roig Castle was built in 1927 as the dream home of a Russian colonel and his English aristocratic wife. Covering 17 hectares, its botanic garden is home to over a thousand plant species and is considered one of the finest in the Mediterranean. The picturesque location boasts an open-air stage, with capacity for over 2,000 spectators, providing the perfect backdrop for the Cap Roig Festival’s equally impressive lineup. This year's program includes John Fogerty, Diana Krall, Passenger, Chris Isaak, Raphael, Rozalén and many more.
To round out your plans, consider reserving a table at the castle's Michelin star Restaurant Via Veneto. Or, if you're looking for something lighter, the Plaça del Castell has a variety of tapas, sandwiches and a special drinks selection.
The castle is 130 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 35 minutes by car. caproigfestival.com
Sons del Món
August 1-11, 2024, Roses, Girona Province
Held in the Ciutadella in Roses, this ancient site dating back to the 4th century BCE is transformed in the summer by Sons del Món with live concerts, dance shows and theatrical performances. This year's music lineup includes Sergio Dalma, Luz Casal, God Save The Queen, Joan Dausà, The Tyets and many more.
When you're ready for a break you can head over to El Village where you'll find a selection of food trucks that offer varied products to satisfy the most demanding palates as well as cocktails, beer, and, of course, wine from the D.O. Empordà. Good wine music and food, what more could you ask for?
Roses is 160 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 50 minutes by car. sonsdelmon.cat
Mar d’Estiu
August 3 to August 18, 2024, Pineda de Mar, Barcelona Province
Formerly known as ARTS d'Estiu, Mar d'Estiu was created in 2000 in an effort to bridge the gap between music festivals and local culture in Catalunya. Hosting a diverse lineup of artists, including Los Secretos, Sergio Dalma, God Save the Queen, Sopa de Cabra, Luz Casal, Rozalén and Ara Malikian, the festival acts as a meeting ground for artists from a variety of disciplines.
If you want to take a break or just need to sneak away from the crowd for a drink and a bite, the festival also offers "El Village." There you'll find a space with a pleasant atmosphere, small-scale performances and varied gastronomic offers in a laid-back setting. It's a space to eat, drink, shop, dance and have fun, all right next to the beach.
Pineda de Mar lies just over 60 kilometers up the coast; it's about one hour by car and one hour and 15 minutes by train (R1) from Plaça de Catalunya. mardestiu.cat
White Summer Festival
August 4-15, 2024, Pals, Girona Province
A highlight of the summer in the Costa Brava town of Pals, this hip gathering markets itself as Bohemian glamour. On offer are dozens events and attractions, from theater and music to parades and shopping; many of which are dedicated to fashion, art, food, wine, artisan crafts, antiques and design.
Held in the masía Mas Gelabert in Serres de Pals, the White Summer Festival offers culture, gastronomy and emerging musical talent. An array of acoustic concerts, circus acts, theater and dance shows provide entertainment for all ages and a selection of food trucks offers options for even the pickiest eater.
Pals is 130 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 35 minutes by car. whitesummer.es
Festival Internacional de Música Pau Casals
2024 Dates to be announced, El Vendrell, Tarragona Province
Located in the hometown of world renowned cellist, conductor and composer Pau Casals, this festival offers a classical music program with a special focus on chamber music and works for cello. Since its inception it has brought together the world's best performers and musical ensembles with the cello as the common thread. The festival has become an essential summer encounter and a musical event of reference throughout the country. July's days are filled with the best music imaginable right in front of the house where Pau Casals lived.
El Vendrell is 70 kilometers down the coast from Barcelona; it's about one hour by car and one hour and 15 minutes by train (R4) from Plaça de Catalunya. auditoripaucasals.cat
Festival Castell Peralada
2024 Dates to be announced, Perelada, Girona Province
Nestled in the beautiful grounds of a medieval castle, the Festival Castell de Peralada has been celebrated since 1987. Hosting large concerts in the gardens and smaller, more intimate recitals in the church and cloister, you'll find a wide range of artists performing rock, pop, ballet and opera. Last year's festival program opened with tenor Freddie De Tommaso accompanied by the pianist and orchestra director, Audrey Saint-Gil and included performances by vocalists Diana Damrau and Nicolás Testé, cellist Jordi Savall, dancer Israel Galván and many more.
Located 145 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 50 minutes by car, the castle is also home to one of the Costa Brava’s best known wineries, a 5-star hotel with a casino and a golf course. festivalperalada.com
Festival Internacional de Música de Cambrils
2024 Dates to be announced, Cambrils, Tarragona Province
The Cambrils International Music Festival has been held in this little seaside town on the Costa Dorada every year since 1974 and has become the benchmark of the Tarragona music scene. This year's festival program has not been announced, but last year opened strong with a performance by Gipsy Kings by André Reyes. Legend of the rumba with more than 30 years of success on stage and 60 million records sold, André Reyes founded the mythical Gipsy Kings and now keeps alive the flame of the band that popularized "Bamboleo" and "Djobi, Djoba." Included on the program was prodigious violinist Ara Malikian, Rosario, Pablo López and This Is Michael, a show featuring an international selection of dancers, singers and musicians and impressive staging to revive the King of Pop.
If you need to recharge, the festival has a space where you can kick back while enjoying a wide gastronomic offer by Cal Blay Food Lovers, as well as live performances by local emerging artists. The festival is open daily from 19:30 to 2:00.
Cambrils is 115 kilometers down the coast from Barcelona; it's about one hour and 30 minutes by car and one hour and 30 minutes by train (R3) from Barcelona-Sants. festivaldecambrils.com
Festival Torroella de Montgrí
2024 Dates to be announced, Torroella de Montgrí, Girona Province
Festival de Torroella de Montgrí began in 1981 with a small number of concerts and it's now a fully-grown classical music festival that takes over the medieval center of this small seaside village. Last year's program opened with Domènec Terradellas with the oratorio Giuseppe riconosciuto and included performances from Yuliana Avdeeva on piano, the Gerhard Quartet with Shostakovich's Complete String Quartets, Víkingur Ólafsson playing the Goldberg Varitions and more.
Situated on the north bank of the Ter River just a few kilometers before it flows into the Mediterranean, Torroella de Montgrí is located 140 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 45 minutes by car. festivaldetorroella.cat
Festival Internacional de Música de Cadaqués
2024 Dates to be announced, Cadaqués, Girona Province
This picturesque little fishing village on the Costa Brava is known mostly for having been the residence of Salvador Dalí. But every summer the Cadaqués International Music Festival also hosts an eclectic little music festival that seems to buck the popular music trends. This year is no exception with jazz, gospel, Spanish guitar and chamber music all on the program.
Cadaqués is 170 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about two hours by car. festivalcadaques.com