At the cutting edge of electronic music, Sónar is one of the world's leading music festivals. in the world.
Held for the first time in 1994, the festival has since welcomed some of the world's greatest musicians.
Let's find out more.
Sónar festival: article summary
The Sónar festival in a nutshell
Attracting over 100,000 festival-goers over three days, Sónar is an intense musical experience. It is divided into two parts: Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night. The two parts take place in separate venues from the start of the festival.
Sónar is unique in that it takes place all over the city. Barcelona itself becomes the festival ground, with most guests staying in hotels in the Catalan capital.
"Music, creativity and technology" is the festival's slogan. Indeed, many of the artists performing at Sónar are pioneers in the world of electronic and experimental music. Since its inception in 1994, the festival attracted Björk, Kraftwerk and The Chemical Brothers.
Festival history
Sónar was first held in 1994. It was founded by music journalist Ricard Robles and musicians and visual artists Enric Palau and Sergio Caballero. The first edition of the festival, called Sónar by Daytook place at Barcelona's Centre for Contemporary Culture. Sónar by Night took place in the discotheque Apolo from Poble Sec.
Over the following years, attendance rose from 6,000 for the first edition to 18,000 two years later. In 2000, some 53,000 people attended the three-day event. Inevitably, the festival moved to newer, larger venues to adapt to its exponential growth.
Since 2013, a year that saw 121,000 attendees, Sónar by Night has taken place in a large showroom on the outskirts of Barcelona. Sónar by Day takes place in a smaller showroom near the place d'Espanya. The main stage of the evening event, Sónar Club, can accommodate 15,000 guests, 5,000 more than the world's largest discotheque.
Sónar festival: a boost for Barcelona's economy
The impact on the city's economy has not
not insignificant either. In 2007, the festival contributed 43 million euros to Catalonia's GDP. Hotel occupancy rates in Barcelona in the days leading up to the festival exceed 80 %. It has become a major event in Barcelona's cultural calendar, attracting tourists from all corners of the globe.What to do during the week of the Sónar festival in Barcelona?
Another remarkable feature of Sónar is that the party doesn't just take place during the festival: every club opens late at night and every concert venue in Barcelona is part of the ongoing Sónar experience. Known as Off Sónar, this unofficial program of week-long events often features the same artists who play at the festival in smaller venues across the city.
Off Sónar is both a warm-up and after-party for the festival. It also means you may have the chance to see your favorite artists again, or catch up with those you've missed.
Nightclubs such as Moog, Razzmatazz and Sala Apolo usually have the most interesting programs. However, it's also worth visiting the smaller venues. to discover promising artists.
What can you expect at Sónar?
Shows continue until 7 a.m. for Sónar by Night and things are back on track from 1 p.m. for Sónar by DayAnd although most festival-goers don't follow this drastic schedule, many do.
With 100,000 guests attending the festival, the city is a party town during Sónar. The city's bars, restaurants and beaches will be packed, so you'll need to book your stay well in advance.
The Sónar festival is a very special event in Barcelona. On site, you'll discover many artists from the new music scene, as well as some of the biggest international names. If you can make it to this event, I strongly advise you to do so. You'll discover one of the most important festivals in the world and musical experiences.
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