Words: Rafe Llewellyn
Sonar festival is set to engulf the Catalan capital Barcelona with a whirlwind of decadent innovation this weekend. The celebration of talent begins each day with ‘Sonar by Day’ held at Fira Montjuïc. Discussions, workshops and installations are seamlessly weaved into an alluring electronic music experience that sees an intelligently curated and versatile bill to stimulate all. As sun sets however the attention will shift to ‘Sonar by Night’, a sonic expedition through time in an ethereal venue that promises to provide a paranormal party spanning all the way until sunrise.
Thursday, opening day, should ease us in nicely, before an exhaustive couple of days of boogying from dawn till dusck loomed on the horizon. So here at ASBO we were grateful for the brain-exercising lineup of talks and music on show to begin things. Day one is characterised by discussions around various aspects of Artificial Intelligence, including talks such as ‘Artistic Trends in Music AI’ and ‘Automating Bodies: Power, Music and AI.’ With the creative industry seemingly under threat from AI’s very existence, it’s compelling to understand how we can inoculate against the threat it poses in a productive way. Closing off Thursday however we’ll be invited to the electronica groove of the ever-experimental Blawan and a vibrant display of Tech-House and Brazilian Funk by South American juggernaut of dance, Mochakk.
Despite an array of coveted talks and workshops, it is the arrival of ‘Sonar by Night’ held at Fira Gran Via that is tickling our fancy for Friday night here at ASBO. A stacked lineup of dance that also includes Honey Dijon during the day, we will be in huge anticipation alongside swathes of fans for performances from BICEP, Pa Salieu, Four-tet and Barry Can’t Swim. Think that’s a lot? I haven’t even named half of the powerhouses set to take to the stage on Friday. A lineup beyond even the comprehension of festival organisers, the two of us representing ASBO are already practicing our foot massage technique in preparation of acts stretching beyond even 7am, serious museum feet pending.
A day where fresh legs will be in high demand but not necessarily in high supply, we’ll be returning to face Saturday with as much vigour as we can muster. Another huge day of electronica, highlights include a Boiler Room collaboration for Dokku; a dogmatic pioneer of UKG in the Spanish underground as well as heavy hitting sets from established names such as EDM legend Armin Van Buuren and long-time figurehead Skrillex, who is B2B with Blawan. We cannot wait to sink our teeth in, but I can only hope they stay sunk long enough to survive the back to back sunset to sunrise skanks.
Stay tuned for more updates to come!
