Dream of a summer Barcelona
For the first time in his career, and as an exception, the most immortalized international festival of Music, Creativity and Technology on planet Earth celebrates its 26th edition in full summer.
From July 17 to 20, Barcelona explodes in an impressive musical communion of abundant formats and categories , hordes of creative talent and a profuse artillery of new technologies that collapses on the laymen who thought, decades ago, that this was just 'an electronic music festival'. Yeah, yeah... deluded.
Let's speak frankly: for the loyal parishioners of the annual appointment little or nothing (we) care about the change of date. Month up, month down, and without effect, the figures for Sónar 2019 and Sónar+D are overwhelmingly solid: 140 performances (between Sónar by Day, at Fira Montjuïc, and Sónar by Night, at Fira Gran Via in L'Hospitalet) by artists of electronic dance, urban rhythms and artistic experimentation from 36 countries –friends Hats off to artists from Africa and Latin America–.
In the 2019 edition, they head the poster Bad Bunny, Skepta, Arca, Four Tet, Floating Points, Disclosure, Underworld, Paul Kalkbrenner, Nicola Cruz, Dengue Dengue Dengue, Maya Jane Coles and Amelie Lens . In addition, the festival will present more than 80 world premieres and unique experiences. Of these, you should not miss Arca, Holly Herndon, Body & Soul, BERLINIST presents GRIS Game Live, Bad Gyal, Hauschka & Francesco Donadello , Cecilio G. and three four-handed DJ sets created exclusively for the festival: Louie Vega & Honey Dijon, Peggy Gou & Palms Trax and Blawan & Dax J. If you want to know why Sónar is an exemplary platform for sound discoveries, don't miss KÁ R Y Y N, Lotic, Jlin, Muqata'a, Hibotep or Sevdaliza. In the Spanish chapter, Bad Gyal, Dellafuente, Cecilio G, Territoire, Ylia, Virgen Maria, Tutu, Desert+Desilence, Hamill Industries, Mans O, Aleesha or La Diabla shine. Start warming up your engines with this sound journey.
In parallel, the celebration of **the 7th edition of Sónar+D** takes the lead over its older brother with an agenda of 150 activities distributed among more than 200 professionals from the sector. What sector? The one from the artificial intelligence, that of the new Internet is coming, that of quantum computing... science fiction, come on. They promise, and a lot, the premiere shows of Holly Herndon: PROTO, Daito Manabe+Kamitani Lab: dissonant imaginary or Ouchhh+Za!: Superstrings.
Given such a large call and that, allow me to slip up, Barcelona gets very beautiful (and very ruby) in summer, many of us frantically applaud this tropical storm in the summer calendar with the legitimate desire to prolong the holidays in Barcelona. After all, are festivals for summer or not?
WHERE TO SLEEP OR SPEND A GOOD NIGHT
ME Sitges Terramar by Meliá _(Promenade, 80, Sitges) _
There are three virtues in hotel life: comfort, location and service. A half-hour train ride away, the ME Sitges Terramar meets these three expectations: its rooms are a window open to the Mediterranean , the avant-garde architecture meets all the requirements of comfort and the cultural agenda deserves, like its gastronomic range, more than one star that is not a fleeting one.
Bernardo Fernandez , musical artist and cultural manager of the Sitges hotel enclave, points out: “The best thing about this hotel, reminiscent of a yacht, is its location: in the Sierra del Garraf and at the foot of the Mediterranean. Founded in 1930 and redesigned by the Lagranja studio, it is an example of urban renewal of the 20th century with Santiago Ruseñol at the helm. In addition, the cultural forcefulness of its agenda is a breath of fresh air here in Sitges”.
The beach club **Beso Beach**, as well as RADIO ME Sitges Rooftop Bar , are part of the exclusive nightlife of the cinematographic municipality of Barcelona since its opening. The ME Sitges claims its place in the local culture scene with a succulent tray of plans: fashion design market, crafts, dj sessions, exhibitions by artists such as Javier Sánchez Medina , summer cinema (Mecal Cinema)… (HD: Average price €190).
Pulitzer Hotel _(Bergara, 8) _
We will always have the Pulitzer – okay, many of us fantasize about this speculation. For the topic that concerns us, it is as it is. Three strides from Plaza de Catalunya , the design boutique hotel gives style lessons in his Greenhouse restaurant, commanded by Olly Melhuish. The chef exhibits himself with a very fine concept of street food and that ends with some desserts that add fans.
On the terrace, the clientele is very happy to attend the #GoodAfternoonPulitzer sessions that, from May, and from Thursday to Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., which make up a large program of artists from the local scene.
Both djs, as musicians, and for all musical palates. Betty Belle, beGun, AWWZ, Bearoid, Playless, Brigitte Laverne, Big Summer, Chancha Vía Circuito, Raver Jewish or Nadia Reid They have passed and will pass through one of the most complimented rooftops in Barcelona. Be careful on Fridays with the session 'These Charming Evenings', by Dj Borja Malet. Free entry, without reservations.
BREAKFAST WITH SATAN
Satan's Coffee Co. _(L'Arc de Sant Ramón del Call, 11, Gótico/ Gran Vía 700, Eixample) _
There are two types of breakfasts: the lifeguards –they rescue us from the morning ineptitude to return us to the world– and hangovers -little to add-. Whether for one case or the other, we should put ourselves in the hands of those responsible for the satanic cafeteria. Managed by the Riojan photographer Marcos Bartholome and the Tokyo photographer Ken Umehara , their morning feasts summon neighbors and travelers every day with very good criteria.
Marcos, creative soul of Satan's, and Ken, dj, artist and head chef, since 2012 have been impressing their ways and means in this haven of New York air. Its two locations, located in central neighborhoods but far from the radar of cruise passengers, honor the best coffee in the world (of which there are many, no doubt about it) with skill, style and seriousness.
Because being punk is something to be taken seriously. Are you still hungover? Make peace with the world through its large windows and in front of a Japanese breakfast or reponte with one of their craft beers.
EAT WELL, DRINK MODERATELY AND DANCE UNCENSORED
Food Experience Sónar 2019
That a festival of music, creativity and technology dedicates a separate chapter to its gastronomic range raises passions and suspicions in equal measure. Against all odds, Sónar Barcelona has sophisticated the gastronomic offer in these latest editions. Let us recognize that he already pointed out ways. This year, the amazing culinary establishment responds with names and surnames:
1. VIP area: Music producers share the poster with artisans of another nature and just as hard-core. We are talking about spoiled pigs, about La Rovira de Sagàs (Jordi Rovira on the decks), the lettuces grown among the pear trees of The Boscana of Bellvis (remixed and harvested by Ramon Bosch) and with a natural octopus from Cap de Creus, from Port de la Selva Salvador (Salvador and Helena Manera 'click' with four hands) .
And seconding this gastronomic apotheosis, Three chefs with stars (also Michelin) will cook the delicacies on site: on Thursday, the octopus in the hands of Quim Casellas, from Casamar de Llafranc ; Friday, Oriol Rovira, from Els Casals de Sagàs , will set the pig on fire; Saturday will be the turn of Joel Castanyé and the lettuces of La Boscana de Bellvís. Menu: €30 (and with a vegetarian option) How are you?
two. Food Truck Space: As you can imagine, trucks go at the same revolutions as urban trends. Affordable and healthy, the menus of Sónar Día and Sónar Noche, served in organic and disposable material, integrate organically produced and sensitive products with all the peculiar intolerances of the new century.
This year, the amazing culinary establishment responds with names and surnames
laskar 74 _(Roser, 74) _
At the top of Poble Sec, A few steps from Sónar Día, there is a kitchen that is not suitable for those allergic to shellfish, raw fish, Andean cocktails and open pleasure in general. Free from sensationalism and mediocrity, this parish dedicated to ceviche and pisco sour imposes, to a certain extent, the admirable rules that govern the emerging Barcelona neighborhood, namely: good, nice and cheap.
And far from imposing nationalities, Lascar 74 could pass for a Peruvian cevichería, a Mexican taquería or a Colombian arepa tavern. Here the flag of the product rules, fresh and almost raw, coming from the Mediterranean tides. Ceviche? Much and varied. oysters? As breads, in addition to octopus, scallops and poké. poke? Because if.
Levante Bistrot _(Manuel Ribé Square, 1) _
a little hidden in a beautiful square in the heart of Call , Bistrot Levante caters to the demanding aspirations of palates eager for new trips to the table. Okay, we assume that the word 'bistrot' was exhausted back in 2008, and something similar happens to 'levante', only that to many of us the term appears in paella format the size of Portugal.
Well, that is not exactly what one expects from Bistrot Levante, which is in its own right one of the most beautiful, secluded and creative Mediterranean in Barcelona. Because that Mediterranean that belongs to its owners is the one that bathes the Middle East, where the tasty recipe for shakshuka –poached eggs in tomato sauce– or the hits of the area –hummus or shawarma– are prepared with the same care. A fair and well-deserved nod to its coffee (with homemade cake) and a wine list above the average in restaurants of its origin. Of note: their brunch from Wednesday to Sunday.
Super super _(Esparteria 14, Borne) _
If someone recommends you a site that begins with 'super', you may give them a scathing sideways glance. If it is repeated, two things can happen: that you leave whistling or that you are very curious. If their page calls itself a 'supersuperweb', you run to click on the questionable occurrence. And then you freak out.
Now to the point (and to the liquid), which matters a lot. It is not going to be that it stays on the surface. Its creators, coming from the universe of design and communication, maintain that the challenge is "Promote quality products and try to support ourselves as much as possible in local products".
Now, in this manifest declaration of ‘funnyness’ lies a virtue: its conceptual superiority shines through its frankness and honesty. Three recommendations: Espinaler vermouth, Extremadura Maldonado acorn-fed ham and its Spotify list of recommendations.
Drinks, tapas and good atmosphere, does anyone give more?
EXPO, TRUTHS AND VIDEO TAPES
One of the great qualities of the Barcelona event and the one that places the festival at the top of the podium in the category of essential events of the year is based on the complex and enormous program, both for Sónar and the Sónar+D congress.
So, as almost always in this life, we have to choose, or rather discriminate many of the presentations, talks, sessions, meetings, concerts, workshops... From all this magnificent mess of artistic possibilities, we urge you to thoroughly explore and study the agendas of both festivals. In the meantime, write down these clues:
- On the occasion of the Christian Marclay exhibition (curated by Tanya Barson, until September 24) at Macba, the artist will give a concert in the Capella of the same museum of contemporary art, guarded by ten (yes, TEN) pianos with their pianists: among others, Carles Viarnès, Steve Beresford, Philippe Thomas and Haize Lizarazu. Friday, July 19 at 9:00 p.m. at Capella MACBA. Admission: €10
- In this edition, Colombian artist Lucrecia Dalt will be in charge of signing the SonarMies , the annual sound intervention by the Mies van der Rohe foundation. The performance of Ella Dazwischen de Ella is a multidisciplinary investigation of the pavilion that houses it where the ideas on space and urbanism of the German architect are part of this particular universe created on purpose. Daily performances: Thursday 18, Friday 19 and Saturday 20 July; all at 10:30 p.m. Admission: €5 (general public) ; free (attendees and accredited to Sónar and Sónar+D).
- Saying goodbye to Sónar supposes, each edition, a certain pang of bitterness. To alleviate 'a mica' that nostalgia, its organizers are committed to a closing of the highest artistic level on a Barcelona stage like no other. In collaboration with the Grec Festival, The Matthew Herbert Brexit Big Band will be in charge of the closing ceremony. The British artist's band will feature the 50 voices of the Cor Pilot de l'ESMUC (Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya). Sunday July 21 at the Teatre Grec. Tickets here.
WHEN I GROUP I WANT TO BE A DJ
microfusa _(Ronda Guinardó, 65) _
Among the new trades that have arisen in the heat of the artistic yearnings of this new century, the figure of the DJ continues to arouse passions. To a great extent, thanks to festivals such as Sónar+D, which has given the figure of the DJ its place in the music profession as prescribers of the sound avant-garde and as reference of what electronics means in the virtual world that assists us.
In this line, it is worth mentioning the pioneering work of Microfusa, one of the first schools of DJs and music producers with more than 30 years of experience. Many of the artists who have paraded through the 26 editions of Sónar have passed through its classrooms, and a good handful of future students are waiting for the new course to finally fulfill the dream of putting together their own session with the latest digital technology tools . Note for travelers: they have just opened an office in the Madrid neighborhood of Salesas (Campoamor, 17).
Bass Valley (Passage Can Politic, 13, L'Hospitalet)
In the heart of L'Hospitalet, this training center for music producers and turntable artists just landed, as it were, in the city. Coming from Asturias, its teaching team assumes study programs based on the latest innovations in the field of electronic production and with a technical equipment supported by a comprehensive training that Berlin DJs already want.
Add points and supporters the club The Garage, on the ground floor, a warehouse of 130 square meters to spin what they learned in their classrooms on the plates. They also have studies, such as The Lab, for professional production, or The Room, dedicated to mastering and mixing.
FESTIVAL KIT: PHOTOGRAPHS, VINYL AND HAWAIIAN SHIRTS
Mecànic Barcelona _(Verntallat, 30) _
And why, of all the beautiful bookstores in Barcelona, do we stay with Mecànic? to start because Xenia and Jean decided to open a space inspired by the noble art of photography where vinyl –better if they are from the Velvet Underground–, resonate among the shelves strewn with hundreds of editions, past, present and futuristic, of exquisite substance.
So now we have what we were looking for: photography, books, vinyl, temporary exhibitions and, blessedly, a cafeteria so that everything else has a certain conductive aroma. The same aroma that distills its website: “Mecànic is a documentary image center. A physical place of meeting and exchange, for people and related entities or lovers of photography and image”. And then they add the sugar: “Photography is a love affair with life”, Burk Uzzle.
Paradise Records _(Ferlandina, 39) _
It's simple: the same Mecànic equation could be applied in the choice of the best electronics store in Barcelona (sic). An entire institution for those who have spent some years dedicating themselves to the challenging but exciting universe of remixes. Since 2010, Discos Paradiso sells on site, and from its minimalist website, New and second-hand pieces, which mostly sound like techno, house, kraut, electro, IDM, experimental...
Within its walls, the cream of the underground guild, from here and there, meets. popular is the event every Tuesday baptized as El Mostrador, where the artists set up a set or a live in the showcase of the premises. Angel Molina, Steve Summers, Mike Huckaby, DJ Zero or John Talabot They have come out of the weekly epic.
Brava Fabrics _(Roc Boronat, 6) _
Sónar ‘makes’ trends. Or at least, it summons them under the same sun and on the artificial grass of the Village. Each edition surpasses the previous one in Impossible looks, unprecedented compositions and aesthetic formulas that will be a trend the day after tomorrow. For the less risky, there are common places that work like a Swiss watch and do not pose any danger to the always fragile self-esteem. Flowery dresses, meringue t-shirts with a message, swimsuits combined with denim and the entire range of 2018 ugly sneakers... and, without detracting from the rest, the updated until exhaustion Hawaiian shirts.
And that's not all: in this edition they have boarded the AVE The sustainability. The Brava Fabrics store in Poblenou exudes summer fashion, a generous color range from the creator of the Tenenbaums, sustainable fabrics and a new capsule collection that could not be more appropriate: Aloha Shirt Summer. A compilation of 100% organic, light and colorful voilé cotton shirts perfect for this summer Sónar.
Imbued with the allure of early 1930s Hawaiian shirts, the collection exudes that vintage and tropical flavor worshiped by regulars at this type of summer congregation. As an addition, the space dedicates a corner to those 'cool things' and essential to go to the festival: Ykra backpacks, Kikkerland designer pens, ergonomic thermos flasks, Walk with Me wallets and, not to mention, the Barceloneta&Poblenou guide from Pocket Guide. Aloha Sonar.
**SAY GOODBYE TO THE WORLD (FOR A FEW HOURS)**
Bogatell
Without detracting from the charm of Mar Bella (with that name, almost everything goes great for you), and its neighbor, Bogatell beach, with some 640 meters of golden sand, has fans for its location –it is one of the Poblenou beaches–, for the tranquility of its sandbank –most of them are regulars from the neighborhood and in their thirties–, for security –precisely because of the above– **and by the Xiringuito de l’Escribà ** (Avenida Ronda Litoral Mar, 42) . Special mention for beach volleyball and ping pong, either to practice it or to be ecstatic with a few players.
Recovered, as we know it today, before the celebration of the 1992 Olympic Games, its nomenclature refers to the mouth of the old stream coming from Vilapicina. As a nod to the old fishing settlement, the restaurants in Bogatell are incorruptible: here the genre is fresh or it is not. Proof of this, the aforementioned Xiringuito de l'Escribà responds to the expectations of a beach club without much fanfare: Helpful and informal menu of seasonal products and a range of rice dishes that should be prescribed by the family doctor (and outlaws without a subsequent nap).
Air of Barcelona _(Paseo Picasso, 22) _
It is precisely, the slightly purer air of the Citadel which fills this old 18th century warehouse with a certain sacred aftertaste. This kind of water sanctuary responds to the prayers of locals and newcomers to the city, who invoke the rest of our trinity: body, mind and soul.
It is not a joke. Among its cavernous rooms, of waters, aromas and silences, the urban being triples his predisposition and sensitivity to escape, underground. At the moment, only a handful of cities can boast a temple Aire Ancient Baths.
In addition to Barcelona, Seville, New York, Chicago, Vallromanes and Almería they can boast of this kind of aquatic chapel where, if necessary, any of their rituals can make you forget even the name of the mother who fathered you. To talk about their treatments, we would need a separate chapter.
Let's get down to business, and since we are sailors, we recommend replenish post-Sónar energies with The Mediterranean Ritual , a facial and body treatment that starts with a thermal tour at different temperatures. And how does it end? With a happy ending, of course.
A temple dedicated to our trinity: body, mind and soul