Born out of the desire to create a meeting point for electronic music fans in Barcelona, friends Ricard Robles, Enric Palau and Sergi Caballero launched Sónar in 1994, as ‘The International Festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art’. Over 23 years, Sónar has built an international reputation thanks to its innovative ethos and dynamic lineup of boundary-pushing artists. The first edition featured Mixmaster Morris and Laurent Garnier, who attracted a modest crowd of around 6,000. Now one of the main events on Spain’s festival calendar along with Primavera Sound, Sónar has grown to more than 115,000 visitors from 101 countries. And the Sónar brand is expanding across the globe, with events in a host of urban locations including Sao Paulo, Reykjavik and Tokyo.
Over the years, iconic artists such as the Beastie Boys, M.I.A., The Chemical Brothers and Björk, who is set to return this year, have graced Sónar stages. For Georgia Taglietti, head of communications, the most memorable performances were Daft Punk in 1997, before their signature helmets (it was their very first Spanish show), and Jimi Tenor in 1998, who made his entrance on horseback. Meanwhile regular Sónar attendee Alex Baker, 36, from Bristol, said his favourite moment was “witnessing Massive Attack’s mind-blowing rendition of ‘Teardrop’ at the 2014 edition, with thousands of people singing along at the top of their lungs”.
The festival is split between Sónar by Day, which gives up-and-coming artists and producers the chance to showcase their music, and Sónar by Night, where revellers can enjoy popular acts on a variety of indoor and outdoor stages. Sónar by Night promises a raucous party atmosphere whereas Sónar by Day is a more laid-back experience.
Sónar has plenty more to offer than just music. According to Taglietti, “There is an emphasis on technology and electronic culture. In fact, the daytime has a very important educational factor.” In 2013, the organisers created Sónar+D—signifying research and development (r+D)—as a space for creative communities to exchange ideas and tools. Running parallel to Sónar by Day, this year’s event includes songwriting workshops, exhibitions of new technologies and networking events. There will also be a talk and virtual reality exhibition presented by Björk.
Although not officially linked to the festival, a whole host of off-week parties fill the city’s rooftop terraces, bars and nightclubs, providing the opportunity for those not attending Sónar to soak up the party atmosphere.
When: June 15th-17th
Where: Fira Barcelona Gran Via and Fira Montjuïc
How much: €180 (day, night and Sónar+D), €125 (2-night ticket), €54 (day), €72 (night)
Lineup: Justice, Nicolas Jaar, Nina Kraviz, Fat Freddy’s Drop, De La Soul, Eric Prydz, Carl Craig, Seth Troxler & Tiga
Already a massive success in Amsterdam, the Dutch festival brand brought its industrial concept to Barcelona for the first time in 2015. Combining electronic music, outlandish stage production and innovative art installations, the futuristic festival was set up to fill a void in Barcelona’s summer festival calendar, which is usually left high and dry in mid-July after Cruïlla. The first edition saw a carefully curated lineup of big names including Maceo Plex, and local talent such as Paco Osuna, gathering 20,000 spectators. Although taking place in the same location as Primavera Sound—which makes use of the whole space with over a dozen stages—DGTL’s three stages make it a more intimate affair. “It’s less than a five-minute walk from one end of the site to the other,” explained Kit, 27, from Sweden.
Music aside, the festival curates a range of conceptual art performances and installations as part of the DGTL art programme. This year’s event includes a toxic parade, an unusual walk-act featuring two dancing giant robots, a laser show and interactive light tunnels. Meanwhile, experimental lighting and stage design enhance the music, making for a multi-sensory experience.
With a sustainability ethos at its core, DGTL strives to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Reusable hard plastic cups, renewable energy sources and the DGTL Trash Collective, encouraging festival-goers to recycle plastic waste into something new, are all present. At the DGTL revolution market, you’ll find a variety of sustainable products including organic cotton T-shirts, reclaimed wooden picture frames, and pots made from bound earth and moss. Once again, the organisers are taking it a step further by going 100 percent organic and meat-free, providing tasty veggie versions of classic street food dishes. Seventy-five percent of all vegetables used at the festival will come from the Kusturica agro-ecological farm, just half an hour from Barcelona.
When: August 11th-12th
Where: Parc del Fòrum
How much: €89 (weekend), €60 (2-day ticket), €35 (1-day ticket Friday or Saturday)
Lineup: Joy Orbision, Eats Everything, Solomun, Jeff Mills, Paco Osuna, Jackmaster
Originating in Mataró in 2008 as a cycle of concerts, Cruïlla enjoyed immediate success, and in 2010 moved to Barcelona’s Parc del Fòrum as a three-day festival. Although not as well-known as its Barcelona counterparts, Cruïlla (meaning ‘crossroads’ in Catalan) has been rapidly growing as a broad-spectrum festival, with a diverse programme of global artists and local talent alike. At the 2015 edition, jazz singer Jamie Cullum shared the bill with Compton-born rapper Kendrick Lamar, followed by Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand. “I prefer Cruïlla to other, bigger Barcelona festivals because of its variety—you can enjoy different types of music in the span of a few hours,” said Barcelona resident Pau.
The programme goes way beyond the music, with food trucks serving up cuisine from around the world, vintage markets, talks and workshops just as much a part of the Cruïlla experience as the music. This year there will be live graffiti art shows, tea-tasting sessions and acroyoga workshops. The festival also has plenty for families—last year’s event saw circus acts, ball pits and model-making workshops appease the children of festival-goers. So if you’re looking for smaller crowds and a more mellow experience, Cruïlla may be your best bet.
When: July 7th-9th
Where: Parc del Fòrum
How much: €120 (weekend), €72 (1-day ticket Friday or Saturday), €25 (Sunday)
Lineup: Jamiroquai, The Lumineers, Pet Shop Boys, The Prodigy, Two Door Cinema Club, Ryan Adams
It’s all about sun, sea and electronic music at Barcelona Beach Festival (BBF). Now in its fourth year, this one-day extravaganza draws some of EDM’s biggest DJs, producers and artists to its two seaside stages. Organised by Live Nation Entertainment, also responsible for V Festival and Wireless (both in the UK), BBF hit the ground running, securing internationally renowned DJs David Guetta and Avicii in its first year. With the industrial architecture of the Platja del Fòrum and its coastal views serving as the backdrop, BBF is quickly becoming a key fixture on the electronic festival scene. Last year’s edition enticed over 30,000 guests to join the party. Generally attracting a younger crowd of tourists, students and locals, BBF is ideal for those wanting to rave until the early hours.
When: July 16th
Where: Platja del Fòrum and Parc de la Pau
How much: €70.50 (general admission)
Lineup: Armin Van Buuren, Kygo, Lost Frequencies, Hardwell,Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
FURTHER AFIELD
Often dubbed the Spanish version of Glastonbury, Benicàssim is back for its 23rd year, once again promising a stellar lineup of indie rock, pop and electronic artists. Over the years, big names such as Bob Dylan, Amy Winehouse, Muse and The Chemical Brothers have all made appearances. Located in the small port town of the same name, on the Costa del Azahar, the beachside festival takes place over four days whilst the campsite is open for nine, allowing visitors to extend their break and enjoy the surrounding landscape. Thanks to the combination of balmy weather, its coastal location and crowd-pleasing acts, the festival attracts a young, party-centric crowd, and the average patron is more likely to be from the UK than from Spain.
The music doesn’t start until 7pm due to the hot weather, so attendees have all day to chill at the beach. In the evening, the site is transformed into a hub of activity with live music and DJ sets blaring from the various stages until 9am. Reminiscing about her favourite Benicàssim moment, Chloe, 24, from London, said, “It has to be when Arctic Monkeys played in 2013. They brought Miles Kane from the Last Shadow Puppets on stage for the encore and the crowd went wild.” Another memorable moment was when British rapper Dizzee Rascal stopped mid-song because he spotted a group of girls getting crushed in the audience and wanted to make sure they were OK. He proceeded to crowd-surf, and those who were present still recall the image of him suspended in the air on a bed of excited fans’ hands.
Benicàssim prides itself on its meticulously planned productions, utilising multisensory light shows and quality sound systems. In addition to the music, the festival organisers curate a varied programme of art, theatre, cinema and fashion. Expect food trucks, silent discos and market stalls too.
When: July 13th–16th
Where: Benicàssim, Costa del Azahar
How much: €149 (4-day ticket)
Lineup: Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd, Kasabian, deadmau5, Bonobo
Just a 30-minute train ride 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. Although approaching its fourth year only, the festival has already made a name for itself thanks to its discerning lineup, beautiful woodland setting and magical atmosphere.
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. Past events included Primal Scream, The War on Drugs, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Father John Misty, who delivered a particularly energetic show, falling to his knees in ecstasy at one point and jumping into the enthusiastic crowd midway through his set.
While headliners take to the large Estrella Damm Stage, the smaller concerts take place in the enchanted forest, featuring a range of quirky stages. For example, the ‘Vaixell’ stage is perched on an old wooden boat, while ‘La cova’ is inspired by the acoustics of a cave, and the ‘Music Box’ is in the shape of a cube, with the outside covered in mirrors which camouflage the stage in its wooded surroundings. 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 programme of storytelling sessions, instrument-building workshops and circus acts to keep them entertained. While most festival-goers camp or ‘glamp’, there is also the option to get the train back to Barcelona as late at 3.30am on Friday and Saturday night.
When: June 29th–July 2nd
Where: Masia d’en Cabanyes, Vilanova i la Geltrú
How much: €80 (4-day ticket), €100 (4-day ticket + camping)
Lineup: Fleet Foxes, Phoenix, The Flaming Lips, Devendra Banhart, Warpaint,Erol Alkan, Dr. Dog, John Talabot
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