Piknic Electronik Barcelona

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Piknic Electronik Barcelona

James Holden who plays at the first Piknic Electronik Barcelona on July 8th

Yet again Barcelona refreshes its cool credentials, by becoming the first city outside North America to host a Piknic Electronik. What’s that, you ask. Well, it’s a Montreal-born initiative that combines electronic music and a picnic in the park.

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I hear the words electronic music, I think of night-time events, be it in a club or festival marquee, featuring lots of flashing, frantic lights, a similarly frantic music beat and sweaty bodies. A picnic in the park does not spring to mind, especially one where families are welcome and drugs are not. However, those are just some of the features of the Piknic Electronik.

Over six Sundays and one Saturday in the summer (four in July, a break for August and then back for three dates in September), the event is divided between several ‘themed days’ and various stand-alone concerts in the Jardins de Joan Brossa on Montjuïc.

The themed days include: one dedicated to French electronic music at the Institut Français (Sept 9th); one to coincide with La Mercè (Sept 23rd); and another being staged as part of the Montjuïc at Night festival (July 14th). So pack your picnic basket, gather friends and kids (each picnic setting is divided into two zones, with a ‘family area’ that features child-friendly activities and lower sound levels) and head out for a summer picnic with a difference.