Sónar Festival: Preview

After a two year hiatus The Wild City is heading back to Barcelona, Spain to take in the sights, sounds and smells of Sónar 2014. Sónar continues to be a staple rave-cation for international hedonists and electronic music lovers from all corners of the globe. Sporting the perfect mix of popular dance acts with a mixture of live avant-garde and left field electronica. All alongside the perfect fusion of cutting edge tech and arts events.

This year the festival presents another sterling forward thinking bill of electronic performers, live acts and a series of daytime tech and arts events. Names like trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack; twisted Texan producer Matthew Dear; Four Tet; Detroit special Theo Parrish; Despacio, a party starting collaboration between James Murphy and 2ManyDJs; and the G funk powered Dâm-Funk.

This year Sónar turns 21, for the uninitiated the festival is a three day event split into two parts, or three if you’re really hardcore: Sónar by Day, Sónar by Night and the unofficial OffSónar. The daytime event takes place at its new home in Fira Montjuïc, where experts from the realms of technology and arts will host documentaries and talks at the Sonar Cinema. Musical learnings are catered for by one of the four Sónar by Day stages: SónarVillage by Estrella Damm; SónarHall; SonarDôme by Red Bull Music Academy and SónarComplex. Get down with Machinedrum, Neneh Cherry, Buraka Som Sistema, Trentemøller and Jon Hopkins over an icy beverage.

When the clock strikes ten, it’s time to relocate to Sónar by Night, just down the road. The expansive Fira Gran Via L'Hospitalet has three impressive stages plus the fun Sónar Car with its neon carnie chic bumper cars that make for euphoric party vibes. Whether you’re scooping it low to Richie Hawtin or bumping to Daphni b2b James Holden, Sónar by Night promises a seriously good line up with the perfect mix of live performers and balls deep techno.

OffSónar, OK, so technically this isn’t part of the official festival, but when Sónar comes to town the entire city gets ready to rave. Make time to take a spin on the revolving dance floor at Sala be Cool, where you can check out takeovers by labels such as R&S and Hessle; or one of the many boat, pool or beach parties where you can find anyone from Seth Troxler, DJ Koze, Monika Kruse to Jamie Jones throwing down. Check out the full listings here.

Sónar draws together a fun loving crowd of electronic music lovers from Europe and further ashore all looking to party the Spanish way. But Sonar isn’t all about raving it up, we suggest taking things at your pace: chill out on the beach, rent a bike and take in the stunning architecture or get on Spanish time and have a late dinner before hitting the festival or the after party.

Visit the website here for line up details and tickets.

Words: Hayley Joyes