The innovative European festival Sónar makes its much-anticipated return this June in Barcelona. The future-forward and innovative festival of creativity has hosted some of modern musics most profound and influential electronic music artists, such as Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin and KEYI Magazine cover star Richie Hawtin, to name a few. We have two tickets to give away for this year’s festival, so keep reading to find out more!
The innovative future-forward Sónar Festival is back; and this year it’s bigger and better than ever! With its rich history and forward-looking energy, this is not one to miss. The festival boasts three decades of innovation in the creative realms of music, technology, fashion, film and more. Hawtin makes his return, alongside other exciting electronic artists such as River Moon, Sevdaliza and VTSS.
PODCAST WITH RICHIE HAWTIN
In addition to showcasing the most influential artists from around the world, Sónar also serves as a fertile ground for new projects, collaborations, and creations that bridge the realms of music, performance, and technology. Since 2013, much of this creative content has been encapsulated within Sónar+D—an ‘anti-disciplinary’ program featuring performances, installations, and conferences held alongside Sónar by Day. Sónar+D delves into the ways in which emerging technologies and digital creativity are reshaping our world.
With over three decades and more than 100 editions worldwide, Sónar continues to redefine the boundaries of what a festival can encompass. It actively breaks down barriers and fosters connections between audiences, genres, and creative disciplines, consistently pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and innovation.
The innovative Sónar by Day festival will take you to places you haven’t been before!
The festival is split into Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night. The former hosts over 70 activities- live DJ sets, installations and panel talks about the future of music, art, fashion. Sónar+D features some the most engaging and innovative of shows at Sónar by Day. This year, the focus is on Creative AI in Film, Music and literature, exploring how digital fashion is changing the industry. With shows from Kiani del Valle, Team Rolfes, ASIANDOPEBOYS, Sevdaliza, Aisha Devi, Laurel Halo. Sónar+D looks to the future of all the creative industries. Not stone is left unturned – music, fashion, film, art and more. The Project Area also features over 100 projects by 73 different exhibitors who will give us an insight into what the future looks like.
Exploring the impact of AI on the future of creative industries.
Rob Clouth joins the line up for the AI&Music program powered by S+T+ARTS with an innovative live show and participation in the We Are The Music Makers Forum. This forum, exploring how artists are using AI to augment their creativity will also be moderated by journalist and curator Gunseli Yalcinkaya. Journalist and Curator Gunseli Yalcinkaya moderates this forum, which explores the use of AI to augment one’s natural creativity. AI’s inevitable role in the shaping of the future of music, as well as all the creative industries in general, ill be an exciting part of the Sónar story this year!
The entire program explores the impact, both positive and negative, of AI on creativity. Writers Joanne McNeil and Tim Maughan. They each address how AI is changing literature. Sofia Crespo’s Entangled Others studio, oceanographer Joan Llort and musician Daphne Xanthopoulou use AI to visualize the deepest part of the ocean in the installation ‘Liquid Strata‘.
After a resoundingly successful first edition in 2023, +RAIN Film Festival returns in 2024. An international festival devoted to the use of AI in cinema, it explores how this new technology is intersecting and integrating with current narratives in cinema. It also offers a forum for debate on the aesthetic, ethical and political implications of the use of AI in the creative industries. For the festival’s second year, Sónar+D has deepened its collaboration with the festival, which will take place from the 11th-14th June 2024, spread between the UPF’s Poblenou campus and Sónar+D, split into four different sections: RESEARCH, FEST, LIVE and FAIR.
Sónar and Casa Batlló present the world premiere of Music:Response, a new experimental audiovisual installation from The Chemical Brothers and Smith & Lyall
THE CUBE, a world-leading audiovisual space located in the basement of the iconic Gaudí building in Barcelona, kicks off on 24 May with the world premiere of Music:Response, a thrilling audiovisual installation featuring re-worked music by The Chemical Brothers, and kaleidoscopic visuals by Smith & Lyall.
With THE CUBE, Sónar and Casa Batlló offer a new narrative for audiovisual experiences, one that is built with pixels, high-end audio and input from leading artists, creators and engineers. More than a venue: it is a blank canvas for creativity that allows the participants to be transported into the heart of the music.
It’s not just music- it’s EVERYTHING this year at Europe’s innovative future-forward weekender!
There is something for everyone this year at Sónar! Fashion lovers will enjoy the ‘Creating New Identities through (digital) Fashion’ panel. Creative Director Isabelita Virtual and Leanne Eliot Young will host.
The technological revolution of dance is discussed on a panel featuring Kiani del Valle, Gabber Eleganza, Meritxell de Soto and Tianzhao Chen. Sónar Festival is truly ticking all the boxes. It’s sure to be an unforgettable weekend of intelligent discussion and idea-forming. And let’s not forget the sonic revolution!
Get excited for the future-forward Sónar by Night.
The innovative future-forward festival also brings Sónar by Night. This is for the music-loving partiers ready to dance until morning. It shines the spotlight on Europe’s ever-changing electronic music scene. Globally-celebrated DJs will keep the future of sound going across 4 stages. You won’t want to miss this weekend of unforgettable music and art.
