Sonars greatest asset is its location, as compared to the average festival, spent in a field somewhere miles from civilisation or in a city park with oppressive sound restrictions, Sonar is in a class of its own, spreading its influence across Barcelona for over a week. Over 150 live acts and DJs from the world of electronic music combine with a host of art, multi-media installations, exhibitions and demonstrations by painters, sculptors and visual artists- the festival really lives up to its billing as an ‘advanced music festival’.

The festival however spreads it’s fingers throughout the city- there are a huge number of ‘off-Sonar’ events- indeed many people go to Barcelona during Sonar week simply to go to these events in the city- ranging from beach parties, boat parties and club nights starting at almost any time of the day or night. Personal highlights were ‘Secretsundaze’ (featuring Wbeeza) at La Terrazza and ‘Cocoon’ at Kanna beach club- nights which are frequently in London and should be checked out.


The festival itself consists of Sonar de Dia, held at the MACBA, and Sonar de Noche, set in Fira Gran Via L'Hospitalet, a vast conference centre in an industrial wasteland on the city limits. The line up at sonar never fails to impress, you’ll always find impressive headliners; Animal Collective, Orbital, Crystal Castles, Grace Jones, Fever Ray and Late of the Pier; as well as less well known acts from the worlds of techno, dubstep and drum and bass (as well as everything inbetween) and the unexpected; Mulutu Astake, an Ethiopian Jazz composer, and Omar Souleyman, one of the Middle East’s most successful musicians.


Personal highlights included Lars Horntveth, Moderat and Dorian Concept whose performance encapsulated Sonar itself, it was an intellectual master class demonstrating the family relations between electronic music genres seamlessly and with so much enthusiasm the crowd were dancing in minutes- despite the 4pm billing. Moderat illustrated the that art and music needn’t be considered separate disciplines, the whole performance visually and aurally was so well orchestrated it had the crowd almost in a communal trance, it really was incredible.


In summary Sonar is a festival than has an unrivalled line up, is based in Barcelona, doesn’t involve camping and doesn’t actually end up costing all that much. On top of this its at the end of June, just after exams, and is the perfect way to mark both this occasion and the start of summer. I wouldn’t miss it.