Sónar ends 2024 edition with Paul Kalkbrenner and Charlotte de Witte
Barcelona electronic music festival welcomes 154,000 visitors
The 2024 edition of Barcelona's electronic music festival, Sónar, comes to an end after two nights and three days of around 200 artists across many stages at both Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night, as well as the OFFFSónar.
Out of these, most of the festival-goers, 66,000, attended the Sónar by Night events, and 54,000 the day activities. Overall, they add 120,000 spectators, the same as the 2023 edition. However, for the first time, festival organizers are adding attendees of the OFFFSónar events, a group of parallel activities to the main festival, but still connected somehow. In total, there were 34,000 spectators.
Among the main headliners of the 31st edition of Sónar were Laurent Garnier, Kittin, Air, Jessie Ware, Sevdaliza, and Vince Staples and Paul Kalkbrenner, both playing on Saturday night, the closing night of the event. These were some of the many artists coming from around 20 different countries.
30% of international visitors
The percentage of international visitors continues to decline at Sónar, in comparison to the other larger music festival in Barcelona -Primavera Sound. This year's edition saw around 30% of foreigners attending the event, a slight decrease compared to the previous year, but still on average.
In fact, since the Covid-19 pandemic, the local and national public has increased, something that makes festival promoters "very happy," as Advanced Music CEO Ventura Barba said during a press conference on Saturday afternoon. Most of the spectators averaged between 24 and 36 years old.
2025 last edition, ahead of changes
Sónar music festival will return between June 12, and 14, next year at the Fira Montjuïc during the Sónar by Day, and Fira Gran Via for the Sónar by Night.
Next year, they will also recover the opening concert at the Palau de la Música Catalana concert hall, on June 12.
However, 2025 will be the last edition ahead of changes. Sónar by Day, in 2026, will move to Fira Gran Via too, as the Montjuïc area will be under renovation.
"We will not our essence, as we are studying the format and the options; but every time the festival has changed its site, it has been to improve, co-director Ricard Robles, said. In the past, Sónar used to take place at the CCCB exhibition halls.
"It seemed impossible for that event to improve, and we landed here, and we made it possible to implement an experience and festival standard," he added.
Last night of concerts
Sónar by Night marks the end of the electronic music festival in Barcelona after dozens of gigs.
But Saturday is one of the most attended days, just to enjoy some of the biggest names such as rapper Vince Staples, DJ Sam Shepherd aka Floating Points, and Belgium Charlotte de Witte with her next-level trance and techno, and Paul Kalkbrenner, who started the night.
Charlotte de Witte comes to Sónar to launch her new concept show, 'Overdrive,' after building on Belgium's rich rave heritage.
Meanwhile, coming from California, Vince Staples lands at Sónar to show why he is considered an innovator but also a genre custodian who is unafraid to push the musical envelope.
Among his hits, he tackles themes that range from personal strife and romance to past trauma and societal ills with effortless eloquence.
Similar to Floating Points, leading the night, who pushed at the outer limits of club music, building on the modular synth work outs of recent single Birth 4000.