BCN ImproFest 2018

From March 1 to 11 Barcelona welcomes the third edition of this festival of improvised music and arts that brings together improvisational musicians from around the city. The BCN ImproFest was born out of the desire to give a collective personality to the notable quantity of artists who practice the art of improvisation on the current local scene. This year the events are mostly on at the Albareda cultural centre, but you'll also find performances at Sinestesia and Pou de la Figuera.

The inauguration is March 1 at 7pm in the Albareda with a concert from Mordrake and a collective exhibition of sound installations and interactive toys, with works by Xavi Lloses, Llorenç Barber, Alessandro Olla and Santiago Doljanin, among others. During the festival you'll also see video art and video creations in real time with Alexandra Garzón; animation with improvised musical support with illustrator Joma; and improvised dance from the Deria Rectificador collective. As for the more music-focused part, highlights include a concert from the Orquesta Infantil de Do d'Acords (a project that brings neighbourhoods together), accompanied by the group Impro & Draw.

The programme is rounded out with workshops on making instruments and an international meet-up of improvisers from March 8 to 10, with artists from various countries including Dave Jackson and Alex Rex from the UK; Italians Adriano Oru, Mauro Meda and Silvia Corda; Germany's Edith Steyer; and from Portugal Maria do Mar, among others. National groups are represented by Mireia Tejero and David Garcia Aparicio's collective MIS Movimiento of Insurrección Sonora; percussionist Núria Andorrà; composer, multimedia artist and pianist Danio Catanuto originally from Italy; psychedelic ensemble Zero de Conducta; and musicologist Llorenç Barber, among others.