Sonar

Sonar

The International Festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia, as Sónar is known in official circles, has won acclaim for packed programmes of big-name DJs and hot live acts (Beastie Boys, Peaches, Mogwai and the Knife are all on the roll of honour), plus showcases of multimedia and contemporary art. By day, it’s a music-industry market. At night, things really get going. Four locations (SonarClub, SonarPub, SonarPark and SonarLab) party well into the next day. No muddy fields fetter these electro-music fans; instead, they savour the utterly urban joys of buzzing Barcelona’s restaurants, bars, clubs and boutique bolt holes. And, for a hedonistic dose of sunshine and fresh air, the beach is always nearby…

Highlights

For big-time party-lovers, Friday night’s atmosphere is better than Saturday’s. Think tables turning into podiums, and plenty of mischief-making. However, we prefer the chilled atmosphere of the daytime events, especially drinking and networking in the courtyard and on the lawns of the CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona; www.cccb.org).

In The Know

Head Count

Around 90,000 party here over the weekend.

Meeting Point

During the day, outside MACBA (Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona) at the Plaça dels Angels, which is a meeting point for artists, professionals and the public (including a fairly constant flow of skateboarders). At night, arrange to rendezvous at the SonarPark dodgems – you’re bound to want to have a go at some point, anyway.

Best View

Since tickets are limited, the crowds are manageable and you'll be able to see fine, wherever you end up.

Packing Tips

This is an urban-cool affair, and you can dress up as much or as little as you like. A fan is a glam and useful heat-diminishing accessory for both men and women. A map will help you orient yourself, and it can be useful when you get a taxi, too, since some of the cab drivers are not as knowledgeable as they could be.

Escape

Hit the beach, or head to Park Güell and meander down winding pathways through Gaudí’s mosaic wonderland. The hop-on, hop-off open-top double-decker Barcelona Bus Turístic is a jolly way to enjoy the city’s sights (www.tmb.net).

Dos and don'ts

• Make a list of your must-sees. The festival is just too big to allow you to see all of them: a little focus and some gentle planning will help you tick things off, one by one.
• Don’t try to get in a cab at 03h to get to Sónar by Night – or expect a long wait if you do.
• Be prepared to queue in bars at night; they operate a token system that can be confusing and there’s not much order.
• Don’t forget to make the most of your great location and have a rummage round the cool shops of El Born.
• The best time to visit Sónar by Day is at 13h on the opening day. You’ll catch fewer well-known artists, but there’s a buzz in the air and a chilled-out atmosphere.

Need To Know

Children

Kids might be happily soothed by the daytime chill-out electro, but really this is a festival that’s designed for grown-ups – certainly in the evenings.

Parking

You won’t want or need a car – it’s simply impossible for the city-centre events, and there’s no official parking place for the out-of-town night-time events, either.

Disability Access

Only what is offered by individual venues – not too bad at MACBA and CCCB, but few provisions at the Sónar by Night venues.

Food & Drink

No less than everything that central Barcelona has to offer. For tapas, try Commerç 24 on Carrer Commerç (+34 93 319 21 02) or Cal Pep at 8 Plaça des les Olles (+34 93 310 79 61); we love the art nouveau touches at Bar Almirall, 33 Joaquin Costa (+34 93 412 15 35), near MACBA. But make sure you eat well before attending the main Sónar by Night venue, which is a couple of miles away from the city centre – the night time offerings there aren’t great and you’ll need lots of sustenance.

Sleep

If you like your bunk-ups hip and designer, Hotel Omm and Prestige Paseo de Grácia are in the centre of town, a stroll from the Born district. If you’re after somewhere a little more romantic, Neri Hotel & Restaurante, hidden away in the Gothic Quarter, is amazingly peaceful given its super-central location. For more details, and to book rooms, go to www.mrandmrssmith.com or ring 0845 034 0701.

VIP

If you’re here to network, get a SonarPro ticket, aimed at those directly involved in the music industry and multimedia arts. They cost a little more (€160, rising to €185 a couple of weeks before the festival) and allow you access to different bars, a record fair and the SonarPro professional area at Sónar by Day; the website has details. If you’re here purely for fun, though, don’t bother – just party along with everyone else.