The best of 2009

January - Bread & Butter

This time last year, the fashion world was gearing up for the January edition of the popular Bread & Butter show in Barcelona. Unfortunately, it was to be the last time the design event was held in the Catalan capital, with organisers deciding it to move it back to its original home in Berlin

February - Un fotografo insolito

The Kowasa gallery show of Catalan photographer Oriol Maspons ran into February, giving us a glimpse of Paris and Barcelona societies as they used to be. We saw the famous and fashionable of the Fifties in all their glory, as captured by his lens.

March - Jane Birkin

Jane Birkin showed off her tender side when she performed here in March. Instead of a display of her racy and tempestuous reputation, fans were treated to a more reflective and intimate performance from the 60-year-old 'Anglaise'.

April - David Byrne

As part of the 20th Festival de Guitarra, April saw Talking Heads's frontman David Byrne demonstrate his guitar skills. The visionary performer was a definite highlight at the long-running festival.

May - Batman in BCN

Last year's Saló del Cómic was made all the more special when the caped crusader flew into town. It saw the global launch of the comic, 'Batman in Barcelona: Dragon's Knight', where the hero saves the city from impending doom.

June - Grace Jones

June was dominated by Barcelona's thriving musical festival Sónar, and its indisputable star was Grace Jones. The ageless wonder wowed festival-goers with her funky beats, millinery creations and endless legs.

July - Robert Capa: Això es la guerra!

Despite disputes over the authenticity regarding some of the work of war photographer Robert Capa, the MNAC showcased his photos in July. One hundred and fifty images taken in the Thirties and Forties were shown alongside the work of Capa's partner Gerda Taro.

August - El segle del jazz

We cooled off in August to the sounds of jazz with an extensive exhibition at the CCCB. Magazines, record covers, posters and film clips all went some distance to explain just how influential the Jazz Age was on the arts.

September - 1984

Hollywood royalty Tim Robbins brought his theatre company The Actors' Gang to town in September. Their interpretation of Orwell's '1984', written by Michael Gene Sullivan, and directed by Robbins himself, was a glamorous theatre treat.

October - In-Edit Festival

You couldn't move for film festivals in October with no less than five running concurrently. In-Edit focused on musical documentaries and included Bestor Cram's film of the legendary night in 1968 when Johnny Cash performed at Folsom Prison.

November - World Press Photo

It was a sobering exhibition that stood out in November this year. The World Press Photo show displayed 2008's best shots and journeyed through some of the world's toughest spots. War, famine, violence and disaster were portrayed in horrifying glory by some of the best working photographers in the world.

December - Devendra Banhart

To lift our winter spirits, the nice people at Primavera Club staged a whole host of concerts to take us through the colder, darker days. A stand-out in the eclectic programme was the unique and chameleon-like talent of Devendra Banhart.