Summer music festivals ready to kick off in Catalonia
Two days after the 15th edition of Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona closed its doors with a record 200,000 attendants, half of them international fans, Catalonia is getting ready for a vibrant summer of music festivals, attracting all types of music lovers. In Barcelona and the Costa Brava, both mass and boutique festivals are held. Mass festivals are the big, open air, hipster festivals, such as Sónar Festival, the largest electronic music festival in Europe, and Cruïlla, to name a few. Boutique festivals, on the other hand, focus not only on the music, but also on offering high-quality gastronomy and a classier atmosphere that targets a public with a higher income. In these cases, the venue is sometimes as important as the artists, which may be a castle on the Costa Brava or a cosy stage near the sea. Here is a list of some of most important events from both worlds
The 15th edition of Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona saw a record 200,000 attendants, half of them international fans from more than 124 countries. Indeed, Primavera Sound is probably the most important live music event in Catalonia but it is not the only one: around 360 music festivals per year take place in Catalonia, attracting a total of 1.5 million visitors. Barcelona and the Costa Brava are the places to be for open air festivals. Sónar Festival, the largest electronic music festival in Europe, or proposals such as Cap Roig and the International Festival of Peralada, which mix quality concerts with outstanding natural scenery, are amongst the most renowned. Here is a list of the eight most important boutique and mass music festival hosted in Catalonia this summer.
Bona Nit Barcelona (11th June) - Mika hits Montjuïc
Bona Nit Barcelona is a small festival located in Poble Espanyol, an architectural and open air space in Montjuïc, just a few metres away from the Fountain, which creates a replica city made up of different houses from all parts of Spain. The festival lasts for one evening only, starting at 6.30 pm and finishing at 1 am. Also, there is only one stage. MIKA is the main act of this edition, while the band Two Smoking Fellaz is in charge of the closing set. The aim this year is to awaken awareness regarding the environment, with initiatives such as rich biological food. Tickets are €40.
Jardins de Pedralbes (11th June - 12th July) - Classic Names on the Diagonal
“We love music and we love Barcelona. The Jardins de Pedralbes was born from these two passions”, explain the organisers of this open air boutique festival. In its fourth edition, this festival brings to Catalonia international artists such as The Cranberries, Milky Chance, James Morrison, The Lumineers, Miguel Bosé, Tom Jones, M83 and José Gonzalez, the indie songwriter who will be at the event. Also, for the first time, this festival will not be exclusively about music, but will also feature outdoor cinematographic projections. In particular, on the 19th and the 20th of June, the festival will show ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, with the soundtrack to be played live, on the 2nd and 3rd of July, the Oscar-winning film ‘The Artist’ will also be projected to the music. The prices for the concerts range between 16 to 160 euros.
Sónar (16th - 18th June) - Creative Technology
Sónar is not only a music festival but also a cultural event known for its electronic music landscape and its interactions with digital culture. It is a link between creativity and technology, a global event and a meeting point for creative people from different disciplines and communities. Sonar Barcelona's activities are divided into two main locations: Sonar by Day, located in Fira Montjuïc, and Sónar by Night located at the Fira Gran Via de L'Hospitalet. The music festival will host live shows and dj sets from the biggest names in international music, such as Fatboy Slim, Flume and James Blake. Tickets for the festival are between €54 and €300.
Cruïlla Barcelona Summer Festival (8th - 10th July) - Outdoor Indie Music
Cruïlla is an outdoor music festival that brings international and national artists to the centre of Barcelona for one weekend of music, beer and friends. This year, electronic bands and indie singers are the main attraction of the Cruïlla programme. Rudimental, Crystal Fighters, Damien Rice and the Spanish group Vetusta Morla are some of the most popular names. Furthermore, the organisers offer special packages including hotel and tickets for prices that go from 190 euros to 210 euros.
International Festival of Peralada (7th July - 16th August) - Seal, Simply Red, Puccini
The International Festival of Peralada is, together with Cap Roig, the most popular boutique festival on the Costa Brava. Beyond the exclusive music programme, the festival is held in the Gothic and Renaissance setting of the castle of Peralada, built between the 14th and the 16th century. This summer artists such as Seal, Diana Krall and Simply Red will be on stage, together with other shows such as the opera Turandot, by Puccini, the mezzo soprano Anita Rachvelishvili and dance performances by Aley II and Roberto Bolle and friends. Furthermore, in order to celebrate their 30th anniversary, the organisers of the International Festival of Peralada have started an education project to bring culture and art to the young audience. Prices range from €45 to €260.
Cap Roig (8th July - 17th August) - Beautiful Gardens and Deluxe Food
Cap Roig is one of the most important festivals to be held on the Costa Brava, and is another boutique summer music festival with a rich diversity of concerts. At this festival, international, Spanish and Catalan artists meet in a beautiful setting. The castle and botanical garden of Cap Roig were built in 1927 and it is a place where nature, calm and the sea breeze come together. For this edition, globally known bands and musicians such as Rod Stewart, Santana, Alejandro Sanz, The Corrs and Kings of Convenience will be performing, as well as national artists like Melendi, Manel, Rosario and Sopa de Cabra. However, the programme of this festival does not only focus on an adult public, but also targets children with shows of Tarzan and from the Catalan public television channel for kids, Super3.
Porta Ferrada in Sant Feliu de Guixols (15th July - 20th August) - Oldest outdoor Festival in Girona
Porta Ferrada is the oldest open air music festival hosted in Girona province, specifically in the port of the coastal town of Sant Feliu. For its 54th edition this year the organisers have prepared a programme that combines different genres, from classical music to circus, flamenco and comic monologues. Some of the most popular artists that will be playing this summer are Barbara Hendricks and God Save the Queen, as well as the Spanish bands Hombres G and Estopa and the singers Diego el Cigala and Manolo García. Furthermore, the Classical National Orchestra of Andorra and the Shanghai Circus World will also hold shows on the Porta Ferrada stage. Finally, children also have their own programme with a rendition of the Little Prince and a concert by the Catalan band for kids, Macedonia. The average price is about €45, starting at €10 and increasing depending on the concert.