Barcelona Music Festivals

Barcelona is the trendy and hip music capital of Spain, playing host to numerous music festivals through out the year. Thousands of concerts of all genres of music are held here every year, drawing in hordes of music lovers with offbeat sounds and atmospheric vibes. Although most of them are summer music festivals, there are plenty of music festivals held through out the year. If you’re a music buff, you won’t want to miss any of these festivals when you’re here. Mark them on your calendars and prepare to rock! Let’s take a look at the most popular Barcelona music festivals, listed according to the dates of the events.

Festival de la Música Antigua

Translated to mean ‘Festival of Old Music‘, this particular festival brings together international musicians of world-class standards to share and engage in traditional medieval or classical music. Since 30 years ago, the festival started with the purpose of celebrating the arrival of spring (takes place from April to May), These days, you can find a quartet of violinists or a solo pianist in Barri Gòtic, the historic quarters of the city, lost in their own beautiful melody of yesteryears.

Primavera Sound Festival

Another a-list music festival that attracts music fans from all over the world, the Primavera Sound Festival packs a punch with performers from different corners of the globe, bringing sounds of different background and genres. Especially popular with young music lovers, the Primavera Sound not only showcases world-famous artistes, but also interacts with spectators through workshops and guest stages. A huge legion of bands and performers have taken the stage here, including Pet Shop Boys, Pixie, Orbital and Van Dyke Parks. Concerts are held in the sprawling Parc del Fòrum in May. Details can be found on its official website.

Festival de Flamenco de Ciutat Vella

Although Barcelona is not the original birthplace of flamenco, its annual flamenco festival is definitely worth checking out. Veteran regional and Spanish flamenco artists get together here, sharing their passion for this traditional performing arts with flamenco enthusiasts. Through a series of flamenco lectures, performances and workshops, you can get under the skin of world-class flamenco artists. Spread through out May and June, the festival is held in CCCB (Centro de Cultura Contemporànea de Barcelona). You can find the event schedule on the festival’s website.

Sónar

As a major music event in Europe, Sónar is an advanced music and multimedia art festival showcasing the best in today’s progressive music scene. Influential international and local artistes from the world of electronic music take the stage here. Taking place every June over three whole days of power-packed events, the music festival fires up spectators with non-stop flow of music from noon to dawn. Those with an eye for progressive music and unconventional electronic beats are in luck, as the list of performers gets more and more exciting each year. Big names like the Chemical Brothers, Orbital and Grace Jones have graced its stage. Check details on its official website.

Barcelona Accio Musical

From indie, pop, folk to hiphop and jazz, the Barcelona Accio Musical (BAM) is jam-packed with music of all genres and background. To celebrate the Barcelona Day, the festival kicks off in July (but the 2010 version is pushed back to September) at the Stadium of Montjuic. With over 6 hours of free music performances, the outdoor concert event definitely draws in a massive crowd each year. The official website is only in Spanish and Catalan.

Barcelona GREC Festival

Named after Montjüic’s Teatre Grec, this performing arts festival is aimed to breath fresh air into Barcelona’s degenerating art scene. Showcasing music, dance and theater performances in various venus all over the city, GREC holds on to Barcelona’s cultural heritage and gives it a quirky twist. Before you dismiss it as a serious affair for classical art lovers, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that this festival also plays host to pop singers and contemporary artists. Pop singers in the likes of Corinne Bailey are part of the lineup while  Taiwanese dance group Wild Cursive have also performed here. The event is spread out from June through to August. Refer to the festival’s official website for schedule and prices.

Festival de Jazz de Barcelona

After more than 35 years in action, the annual Barcelona Jazz Festival has become one of the most prominent in Europe. Taking place from October to November each year, the festival croons its audience with groove. Among its impressive list of lineups, Chick Corea, Norah Jones and Dave Brubeck have grazed its stage in recent years. Taking place in various venues through out the city, stay tuned to the official website for updates.
Photo credits: and C.J.Wood.

Read more about:

>> Barcelona: Spain’s Most Beautiful City
>> Things to do in Barcelona
>> Recommended Day Trips from Barcelona
>> Summer Music Festivals in Barcelona