Barcelona
The complete Barcelona gig guide plus our pick of the latest albums & singles.
Clubs & gigs
It’s increasingly hard to tell where dinner ends and clubbing begins in Barcelona. A trend for multitasking restaurant-bar-club combinations has swept the city and there is a job for every DJ who wants to work.
Not so for musicians, however. A city council clampdown on late-night noise has closed over 80 bars, clubs and cultural associations in the last year and even iconic venues like La Boîte and Jazzroom have not escaped the pogrom. Of the bars that have remained open, many, like Barcelona Pipa Club, have ceased to stage live acts out of fear of huge fines.
In terms of music groups, Barcelona has scenes rather than any big emblematic bands. Jazz, indie, rock català and electronica are all well represented and local names to look out for at festivals such as BAM, Primavera Sound and Sónar include indie rockers Beef, electro-popper Iris and 12Twelve, an unclassifiable quartet bringing together free jazz, psychedelia and cosmic krautrock. Where Barcelona has had most international success is with mestizaje – a blend of influences including rock, flamenco, rai, hip hop, and various South American, Asian and African styles. The mestizaje top draws at the moment are Ojos de Brujo and the Raval’s 08001.
Clubbing
In a city where everybody wants to be a DJ, local standouts are Will Deluxe for electrotech, Annemiek’s dirty house (CDLC, Private Lifestyle events), and DJ Fra, who had a big hit in production duo Ferenc with ‘Yes Sir, I Can Hardcore’.
One of the most successful new clubs on the scene has been Fellini, indulging Barcelona’s insatiable appetite for all things house and techno. Its older and far more glamorous sister is La Terrrazza – Barcelona’s best and best-loved open-air summer club – which reopened after a year closed because of neighbours’ complaints in time for its tenth anniversary in May 2006. Also recreating that Ibiza feeling is Private Lifestyle’s new all-day (noon-3am) Sunday beachfront party in Shôko. Back indoors, grown-up clubbers heaved a sigh of relief when old-school night, Mond Club, was brought back in April 2006 after a ten-month hiatus. It now lives at Fellini (last Thursday of the month).
Concerts
The main venue for international names (as well as hotly tipped unknowns and local musicians) is the multi-faceted industrial space Razzmatazz, which has recently hosted everything from Arctic Monkeys and Rufus Wainwright to where-are-they-now bands like Sisters of Mercy. Moving into fallback position, the mall-like Bikini still nets some top-notch international names and plenty of local stars. For weirder and less well-known acts, the old dancehalls Sala Apolo, Luz de Gas and La Paloma host several concerts a week. Global superstars perform in Montjuïc’s sports stadiums, one of which has recently become the Barcelona Teatre Musical.
When to go
Going out in Barcelona happens so late it’s early. People rarely meet for a drink before 11pm and it’s not until the bars turf everyone out at 3am that clubs (mumsily known as discotecas) get going. As elsewhere, the biggest nights are Thursday to Saturday, but Sunday teatime chill-out sessions are catching on.
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14 Comments
Just out of interest I´ve had to become a promoter as I now can´t dj for a living. We host the Ninja Tune parties in Barcelona - search for contraflow party barcelona and you´ll find us!! Posted on Mar 04 2008 19:09
Im going to visit Barcelona this new year. Do anyone have great tips on what clubs to visit on new years eve? and if you have to make reservations this weekend Posted on Nov 13 2007 09:34
Thanks
allxxxx Posted on Jul 30 2007 14:54
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Cheers Posted on May 14 2007 22:12
www.masterpiece.es
Masterpiece meets SHÔKO: Friday 25th of May
We share one of the best places with the nicest people…
We are proud to offer you a “ Masterpiece“ event, in collaboration with one of the best clubs in Barcelona. “SHÔKO” close to hotel ARTS on the beachfront of Barceloneta that gives us the possibility of awesome views in a fantastic lounge atmosphere combined with the character of a nice designer club directly on the beach.
The spirit of Masterpiece is the “Get Together “of ESADE, IESE, EADA students in combination with other interesting people and friends of Barcelona with the same "savoir-vivre"...
We are glad to invite you to this special event. Meet great people! Dance to the best music played by DJ Toni Bass! Enjoying live performances with a concept that stands for itself!
Where?: At the SHÔKO (www.shoko.biz)
When?: Friday, 25/5/2007, starting at 11:30 PM – 3:30 AM
How much?: We invite you and your friends!
Register for VIP list: www.masterpiece.es
Location?: at the Paseo Marítimo de la Barceloneta, 36 / Barcelona Posted on May 12 2007 16:46
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