Sonar Barcelona

Chemical Brothers to headline Sonar 2015 shows

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Sónar 2015 announces its first names for Sónar Barcelona. The first artist announcement includes classic and revered names of electronic music and benchmarks for a new generation, together with new producers and bands outlining the future direction of electronica.
 
The Chemical Brothers (UK)
Autechre (UK)
Kindness (UK)
Evian Christ (UK)
Fat Freddy's Drop (NZ)
Daniel Avery (UK)
Ten Walls (LT)
Lee Gamble (UK)
Sophie (UK)
Holly Herndon (US)
PXXR GVNG (ES)
Kiasmos (IS)
Kate Tempest (UK)
Tourist (UK)
Vessel (UK)
Niño (ES)
Mans O (ES)
Helena Hauff (DE)
and many more to be confirmed…
 
Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers, speaks for the first time exclusively for Sónar
 
Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers, speaks for the first time exclusively for Sónar to provide the first details about the new show and new studio album in 2015:
 
“We're very excited to return to Sónar, one of the best crowds, in one of the greatest cities. We are still imagining the gig, both music and visual. We are working on the staging of the live gig at the moment. Adam (Smith) has some amazing ideas. The show will be an intense ride, hold tight. (About the new album) I guess the most important feature of the album is that it connects with us emotionally in some way. We hope for finding a new way to make you feel. We dream of new sounds and different frames. We have worked with some guest singers but mostly the album is pure Chemical Brothers.”
 
Keystones of electronica
 
For the past twenty years, The Chemical Brothers have redefined the idea of live electronic music. In that time, their live show has evolved from humble beginnings in dank London nightclubs into one of the most in demand festival headline sets in the world. All the while, it has adhered to the same basic idea: that the gig should create its own transcendent audio/visual space where the audience can lose themselves for the duration of the set. The Chemical Brothers on going relationship with director and visual artist Adam Smith continues to produce hallucinogenic results across the globe (as seen in 2012’s collaborative concert film Don’t Think). The band are due to release their eighth studio album in 2015. 
 
 
Autechre are one of the most admired and respected duos in abstract and experimental electronica. The importance of the music and sound imagined by Rob Brown and Sean Booth cannot be underestimated. They have played an integral role in the development of abstract techno and IDM (intelligent dance music) over the past 25 years. One of their tracks "Flutter", is considered by critics as a historical zenith of IDM, and albums like "Incunabula", "Amber", "TriRepetae" or the more recent "Oversteps" and "EXAI" are all masterpieces of sonic deconstruction. Their live performances are rare and very exclusive, and in 2015 they will perform at Sónar by Day, nearly two decades after their first and only appearance at the festival in 1996.
 
New benchmarks
 
As always, the Sónar line-up is dominated by the huge presence of new producers and bands noted for their powerful artistic profile and sound that in many cases outline the future direction of electronica and cutting edge music.
 
This is certainly the case for Vessel and Evian Christ, two very young British producers with a distinct and identifiable sound based on techno, who are exploring more complex sonic territories in immersive shows with a potent sensorial impact; Lee Gamble, the respected and experienced aural adventurer will present his new live audiovisual concept in collaboration with the London designer Dave Gaskarth.
 
Sónar also recognises new dynamic female talent such as American songwriter Holly Herndon, creator of dystopian sound worlds with futuristic auditory aesthetics; and KateTempest, poet, performer and British playwright -winner of the Ted Hughes Award in 2013- who will present her first album "Everybody Down" on hip-hop label Big Dada; or German dj Helena Hauff, faithful disciple to the continuation of the most resonant techno and electro from her home base in Hamburg.
 
The festival will also host exciting dance music projects from:Kiasmos, whose emotive and dance friendly techno is produced by prodigious Icelandic pianist Ólafur Arnalds, together with Janus Rasmussen; electropop quartet Bloodgroup; and the luminescent and penetrating melodies of Lithuanians Ten Walls, whose career has just taken off. You will also be able to enjoy prestigious young DJs likeDaniel Avery, mentored by Erol Alkan and hailed by critics as the British Isles new master of tech-house; and producers like Sophie, creator of colourful melodies and contemporary rhythms, in keeping with the new PC Music trend, who recently collaborated with Madonna, Nicki Minaj and Diplo.
 
There will of course be room reserved for pop and other styles including celebrated New Zealand band Fat Freddy's Drop, who return to Sónar with their fantastic live show where they will intelligently mix dub, reggae and soul, with techno and house. Also appearing from the UK will be Tourist and Kindness, two key names in today’s synth pop sound, both of whom have newly released material. Tourist will present a tantalizing live audiovisual show where the piano takes centre stage, while Kindness will present a liberating and highly emotive concert experience.

Sonar by Day and Sonar by Night latest additions

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The Summer Festival Guide has the latest additions to this years Sonar by Day and Sonar by Night lineups including Nils Frahm, James Holden, Simian Mobile Disco and more!
 
These are the artists that complete the program for Sonar 2014:
 
Nils Frahm, Buraka Som Sistema, Chris & Cosey, MØ, Daphni b2b James Holden, Simian Mobile Disco “Whorl”, Tokimonsta, Ryan Hemsworth, Dj2D2, Monki, Debruit & Alsarah, Uner presented by Pioneer dj, Stwo, Dengue Dengue Dengue, Elijah & Skilliam feat. Flava D, Sau Poler, Jameszoo, Simmone Jones, Arufe, Pick A Piper, Octo Octa, Mwëslee, Shelby Grey, Kresy, Nev.Era, Pina, Mr. k!, Territoire, Eme Dj, Sunny Graves, Rayo 60, Xavi Mateu & Carlos Bayona, Sonia Gómez & Lucy Suggate & James Holden, Discos Paradiso Crew, Glue Kids, BSN Posse, Mario Nieto, 3QUINOX, Dj Enpunto, Dj Der, Ordre Etern, Sanatruja, Vallès.
 
Top international names
 
The popular young German pianist Nils Frahm will perform on the SonarHall stage, and will demonstrate why he is one of the most revered new school representatives, combining acoustic with electronic.
 
Meanwhile, British duo Simian Mobile Disco present their new project 'Whorl' at SonarComplex, in which bpms will be replaced by a primal ambient approach akin to Tangerine Dream.
 
Rounding off the new additions to Sonar by Day are new Nordic pop star MØ and two pulsating sets at SonarVillage from Canadian beat makers Ryan Hemsworth and Frenchman Stwo.
 
Sonar by Night highlights will include: the collaboration betweenDaphni (Dan Snaith, Caribou) and James Holden, who will join forces to offer an unprecedented and electrifying four handed dj set on Saturday night at SonarLab; a set by the BBC Radio1 DJ & presenter Monki who will close the SonarCar stage with UK house and bass music of the highest order.
 
Red Bull Music Academy at SonarDôme
 
The infallible Buraka Som Sistema head the newly confirmed acts on the SonarDôme stage, curated by Red Bull Music Academy. The Portuguese group is famous for the assimilation of the most exciting in African and South American dance rhythms in a spectacular live show.
 
Joining them will be the mythical Chris & Cosey, founders of Throbbing Gristle, interminably investigating and advancing in the field of cutting-edge electronica; the exceptional LA producer Tokimonstafrom the Brainfeeder family; American housemaster Octo Octa; the fruitful alliance between Frenchman Débruit and Sudanese vocalistAlsarah; the UK garage and grime trio consisting of Elija & Skilliam(Butterz label chiefs) together with Flava D; Spanish nationals Sau Poler and Arufe, both of whose careers are about to take off; Peruvian cumbia-step duo Dengue Dengue Dengue; the contemporary electronica of Dutchman Jameszoo; charismatic electro-rock from American and Berlin resident Simonne Jones; and psychedelic groove from Canadian and ex Caribou drummer, Pick a Piper.
 
 
Today’s excellent Spanish scene
 
Sonar completes one of its most exciting Spanish line-ups ever, drawing from the national scene’s strength and depth in recent years.
 
New additions include the hypnotic electronica of Nev.Era, the industrial techno of Pina, the dream-noise of Sunny Graves, environmental drones from Rayo-60, Galician beatmaker Mwësleewho will close one of the nights at SonarCar, the cinematic hip-hop ofGlue Kids, bass music from BSN Posse, garage-house from Kresy, pictorial post rock from Territoire, the 3QUINOX audiovisual collision, the versatility and knowledge of Discos Paradiso Crew, supreme skills on the decks from DJ2D2, Dj Der, Enpunto and Shelby Grey, open-minded electropop from Xavi Mateu & Carlos Bayona, post-dubstep from Mario Nieto, the dance power of Uner (presented by Pioneer DJ), the noise experimentation of Ordre Etern, dance movement from Sonia Gomez and Lucy Suggate to the music of James Holden, the pop vocation of Eme DJ, the groovy house ofVallès, the future beats from Sanatruja and the dance floor versatility of Mr.k!.
This year, for the first time, Sonar will collaborate with the Mercat de les Flors venue, central reference for contemporary dance and performing arts in Barcelona. They will host the show  "The Inquisitive Middle" at Sonar by Day, a dance piece created by choreographer and performer Sonia Gomez and dancer and performer Lucy Suggate, inspired by the music from "The Inheritors"  James Holdenwho will be performing live.
 
Beside the main sponsor Estrella Damm and the further confirmed sponsors Red Bull Music Academy and adidas, Sonar will also be supported by Bershka, Ron Brugal, Pioneer Dj and illycaffè.

Fifty new artists added to Sonar Barcelona 2014 lineup!

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The world renown Barcelona International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art otherwise known as Sonar add fifty new artists to its already amazing lineup.

These are the artists joining the Sónar 2014 line-up: CHIC feat. Nile Rodgers, Röyksopp & Robyn, DESPACIO (James Murphy + 2manydjs), Lykke Li, Neneh Cherry, James Murphy, 2manydjs, Boys Noize, Trentemøller, Loco Dice, Todd Terje, Kid Koala's Vinyl Vaudeville, Audion, Spoek Mathambo, DJ Snake, Four Tet DJ set, BFlecha, Dâm-Funk, Future Brown, Brodinski, Forest Swords, WhoMadeWho, 2020Vision presents Debukas, Paul Woolford and Ralph Lawson, FM Belfast, Kaytranada, Matthew Dear, Camo & Krooked, Machine Variation, Daniel Miller, Henry Saiz, Daito Manabe, Unsound presents Robert Piotrowicz and Oren Ambarchi with Sinfonietta Cracovia, Chris Madak aka Bee Mask, Hucci, Tarek Atoui, Roll The Dice, Sibot, Professor Angel Sound, Sinjin Hawke, Astroboyz, Koreless, T.Williams, Throwing Snow, Emufucka, Louis Baker, Trancemicsoul, Suzanne Kraft, De La Montagne, Leo Aldrey, Harald Björk, Rudi Zygadlo, Jolly Mare, and Love Cult. 

Check here the complete list of artists confirmed so far 

Sónar 2014 has finalised its main line-up with 50 new artists, headed by the legendary Chic, with Nile Rodgers at the helm. The festival will also present performances by several Nordic artists with their finger very much on the pulse, including Neneh Cherry, Lykke Li (both presenting new albums at Sónar), the Röyksopp + Robyn duo, Todd Terje and Trentemøller, as well as immersive digital experiences byAudion and Daito Manabe and visionary artists such as Dâm-Funk, Kid Koala, Forest Swords, Henry Saiz and Oren Ambarchi, who will be performing with Sinfonietta Cracovia in a joint collaboration between Sónar and Unsound Festival in Poland. 

An unprecedented music listening experience: six hours playing vinyl, all three days of Sónar by Day 

One of this year’s highlights is DESPACIO powered by McIntosh, a new concept of a listening experience that brings together James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem / DFA) and 2manydjs to focus their finely honed skills on partygoers’ experience through a meticulously chosen selection of music and spectacular-quality high-fidelity sound. On all three days of Sónar by Day, James Murphy and 2manydjs will be playing vinyl records from their own collections for six hours (from 3.30 pm to 9.30 pm) in a specially designed space featuring a circle of seven speaker stacks as part of a one-of-a-kind 50,000 W sound system. Since space is limited, admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 

A live history of dance music 

Chic and Nile Rogers need no introduction. Universally acclaimed as one of the greatest dance bands of all time, with such immortal hits as “Le Freak” and “Good Times”, their popularity recently went through the roof when their leader, Nile Rodgers, worked on Daft Punk’s new album—not to mention their interplanetary success with “Get Lucky” and collaborations with Disclosure and Tensnake. Their legendary Sonar 2006 concert was one of that year’s highlights and this year’s performance has all the signs of being equally stunning. 

Nordic excellence 

After the huge success of Sonar Reykjavik and Sonar Stockholm in February, the Nordic scene will continue its onward roll in Barcelona with the likes of Swedish Neneh Cherry (who’s back with a new show and new album, produced by Four Tet, in collaboration with RocketNumberNine), Lykke Li (also presenting a new album) and Robyn, who’s teamed up with Norwegian duo Röyksopp and also appears on a track on Neneh Cherry’s album. Sonar will also be rolling out the red carpet for the Norwegian king of space disco Todd Terje (with a new LP coming out in April) and popular Danish musician Trentemøller, who’ll be performing songs from his recent album “Lost” with a complete band of musicians on stage. 

Immersive experiences and avant-garde sound 

Always eager to keep up with the latest technological innovations in audiovisual creation and performance, Sonar will be presenting shows that are total immersive experiences, fashioned out of complex languages embracing art, sound and technology. One striking example will be Audion’s performance, and highly acclaimed Japanese creative technologist Daito Manabe will give a live interactive concert combining video mapping and contemporary dance. In addition, US artist Matthew Dear will present his techno project with a powerful show designed by the creators of ISAM (Amon Tobin) in which an A-shaped mechanism responds to live audio impulses created by the artist. 

Avant-garde languages are always at the fore at Sonar and this year is no exception. Forest Swords will be revealing their perfect fusion of atavistic dub, ancestral folk and filmic guitar lines in the spirit of Ennio Morricone. Taking risks and searching for new concepts are the aims of the new partnership between Sonar and Unsound Festival in Poland, which will take the shape of two concerts for music connoisseurs: Oren Ambarchi and Sinfonietta Cracovia’s clash between synthetic and classic; and intense, microscopic electronica by Robert Piotrowicz, who regularly works with Kevin Drumm and Ambarchi himself. 

Groove in their DNA 

Funk and hip hop are in the DNA of three iconoclastic artists who will be at Sonar by Day: Kid Koala returns with a new show, Vinyl Vaudeville 2.0, which features turntable mischief and revamps classic genres of black music (funk, blues, jazz) in a contemporary cabaret format; Dâm-Funk will be bringing vintage synthesisers and drum machines to thrill partygoers with their sizzling retro-futurist boogie-funk; and Spoek Mathambo will be at the helm of Fantasma, a supergroup of South African musicians who fuse the country’s house and psychedelic traditions into a powerful, vibrant sound. 

Names from the Spanish scene 

Sonar by Day welcomes two of the leading lights on the current Spanish scene. Madrid-based Henry Saizwill premiere a new live show in which he will play songs from his latest album on the Natura Sonoris label with a wide range of acoustic instruments. And Galician Belén Vidal, aka BFlecha, will do the same with some of the many gems on “Beta”, an album that forges a new path for synth pop and electronic R&B sung in Spanish. 

Sonar Barcelona present Despacio!

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DESPACIO: Powered by McIntosh is a one-of-a-kind sound system created by LCD Soundsystem frontmanJames Murphy and prestigious New York sound engineer John Klett of Tech Mecca. DESPACIO: Powered by McIntosh is a statement intended to preserve, promote and celebrate the tradition of pure live music performances. The focus is on the partygoers’ experience instead of the stage spectacle that has become so commonplace in music today.
The sound system consists of a floor-standing series of seven giant, 11-foot stacks arranged in a circle – allowing the crowd to fully immerse themselves in the music. To carry out James and John's uncompromising vision, only McIntosh, a storied brand that handcrafts all of it products to the highest quality standard would suffice as a partner. While the technical specifications of Despacio are designed meticulously for optimal sound quality, the setup is quite simple considering the 50,000 watts of McIntosh power behind the system.

McIntosh’s first-rate sound and technology will be enhanced by the truly eclectic music selection of James, David & Stephen – recognized audio aficionados with an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of music over the last 60 years.

James, David & Stephen will be behind the decks, located in a dark and obscured background, for three daily six-hour sessions from 3:30pm to 9:30pm throughout the festival. Due to the capacity limitations of the space, access will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rudimental, Tiga and more added to Sonar Barcelona 2014 lineup

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A masssive new release of artists have been added to Spains Sonar Barcelona.  Pretty Lights, Flux Pavilion, Rudimental, DJ Harvey, The Martinez Brothers, Machinedrum, Tiga, Laurel Halo, Ben Frost, Yelle and showcase from New York label L.I.E.S. are among the new additions to Sonar Barcelona 2014.

Known as Pretty Lights, Derek Vincent Smith will present a lush visual show at Sonar performing "A Color Map Of The Sun" his fourth album, nominated for best dance / electronica album at the Grammy Awards.  Pretty Lights samples and combines hip-hop, glitch and also revives funk and soul samples, all of which make him the most organic artist within the explosion of electronica in the US.

Rudimental and Flux Pavilion are two of the UK’s most popular champions in today’s commercial dance music.  Rudimental, are a London quartet focused primarily on fusing pop and drum'n'bass.  They are comprised of composers, DJ 's and producers Piers Agget, Kesi Dryden Amir Amor and DJ Locksmith.  To add to their long list of UK and European chart successes is their new, 2014 Brits Awards, triple nomination for: Best Group, Best Album and Best Single (for "Waiting All Night"), the spearhead of their meteoric rise, achieved in less than three years. Their powerful live show at Sonar will feature 12 musicians, MC's, organs, synthesizers, guitars, percussion and MPC 's.

Rudimental

Meanwhile, Flux Pavilion, aka Joshua Steele, one of the most in demand dubstep producers and DJ’s in Britain, will present live, his sonic palette of sweeping hyperbolic bass lines.  As well as remixing the likes of M.I.A. and Skrillex, the 24-year-old Flux Pavillion also sings and plays a variety of instruments.  Over the last five years this versatility has seen him perform around the world, earning him the respect from both the industry and public alike.

With a completely new show the awe-inspiring Yelle aka singer -songwriter Julie Budet (a genuine star of electro-synth pop and one of the most internationally successful modern French artists) will present her charismatic personality during the live performance of her much-anticipated third album.  She will do so in the company of her band composed of DJs Grand Marnier (Jean François Perrier) and Tepr (Tanguy Destable).

 
Exemplary careers in the history of electronica
There will be no shortage of DJ heavyweights: Tiga, (one of the most important figures of electronica to come out of Canada) has been given the responsibility of closing this year’s festival on Saturday night.  DJ Harvey wizard in the realm of disco, house, garage, electro and cosmic rock will present his usual master class, and The Martinez Brothers, the new ambassadors of New York house music, who are responsible for revitalising the genre.

Also from the Big Apple the raw and minimalist electronica labelL.I.E.S. will present their showcase.  In just three years L.I.E.S. has built an impressive catalogue, already an international benchmark for low-fi house and techno. Label chief Ron Morelli will perform his first album live. Meanwhile, Svengalisghost, (alias of Marquis Cooper) will present its dystopian, paranoiac and noir sound that includes flawless hooks of acid, house, techno and EBM.  Cooper manipulates cassette tapes and uses old editing techniques and methods to distort the sound from a turntable.

Ben Frost, the renowned Australian experimental electronic artist living in Iceland has directed operas, composed music for the theatre, dance, visual arts and cinema.  At Sonar he will present his new album supported by his on stage band, providing guitars, several large amplifiers and various electronic devices in order to share his post- classical, noise, post-rock, drone and dark metal music.

 
Sonar 's commitment to new talent
Emerging artists like Machinedrum, UZ, Recondite and Alizzz will also represent new talent. 

American Travis Stewart, better known as Machinedrum (who has reinvented drum'n'bass and is one of the main advocates for the revival of jungle and it’s hybridization process with the Chicago footwork sound) will come to Sonar to present his "Vapor City Live Show" the live version of his new album. A visual concept album released on Ninja Tune, each track represents an imaginary city district.  "Vapour City" transports itself to the stage with Machinedrum’s own vocals and guitar, with percussion by Lane Barrington and visuals from the Weirdcore collective.

In recent years, American Laurel Halo has created her own unique sound: lush, avant-garde, electronic and experimental, inspired by the minimalist music of Steve Reich, Detroit techno, science fiction and experiences from 6 months spent in Thailand.  Halo experiments and shifts between techno, ambient, synth pop, drum machines, samplers, her voice, pianos, guitars and violins, among many other elements.  "Quarantine", released on Hyperdub in 2012, was selected as ‘album of the year’ by the prestigious magazine, Wire. In 2013 there followed EP "Behind The Green Door" and the album "Chance of Rain". It was material in which she abandoned her more experimental vocal treatments to concentrate in more depth, on the techno roots of her music.

The mysterious UZ is a true icon of trap, not only for his incredible talent but also for the mystery surrounding him.  Never showing his face, his identity is unknown.  His tracks are raw and minimalist, powerful and magnetic and his dexterity with bass lines sets him apart from other same genre artists.

Visionist, also known as Louis Carnell, has for some time been earmarked by the specialised press, as one of the most promising and intriguing artist’s in today’s British electronica. At Sonar he will present his unique take on the grime sound, including the ethereal elements, which place him at the forefront of the genre.

Recondite, aka German Lorenz Brunner is a staple artist of the current Berlin scene and a producer noted for his sensitivity to the deeper, melancholic and intimate side of electronica.   At Sonar he will present "Hinterland", his second album, inspired by the ecosystem of Bavaria and released on Ghostly International.  It is an album of slow techno and house, with frozen and bleak textures.

From the global sound arena, the Angolan DJ Nigga Fox is an artist exploring contemporary electronic music produced in the suburbs of Lisbon. It is dance music that draws ancient influences from Portuguese – African Diaspora like Funaná (a rapid accordion driven rhythm), Kizomba or Tarrachinha (slow and sensual) as well as the more contemporary sound of Kuduro, a type of tribal house with MC’s rapping vocal parts.

On a local level, Barcelonan Alizzz (alias of Cristian Quirante) is already one of 2014’s rising stars.  With an EP release on none other than Diplo’s Mad Decent label, he is one of the most talked about names of the year.  Counting influences as diverse as techno and 90’s hard rock, his music adds vitality and excitement by merging hip-hop and r&b, to produce an entirely contemporary, epic and danceable sound.

 

Sonar Barcelona announces massive lineup for 2014

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Sónar Barcelona 2014 presents Massive Attacks new show as well as Richie Hawtins Plastikman making a return to Spain with an exclusive performance of his Objekt live concept.

Massive Attack have chosen Sónar Barcelona to present a brand new show which will move a step further their ongoing audio visual exploration of agitation propaganda and technology.

Massive Attack will play Sonar 10 years after their previous performance and following the acclaimed series of groundbreaking and extraordinary shows designed and staged by Robert Del Naja and film maker Adam Curtis in Manchester, Duisberg and New York. For this new Massive Attack show Robert will again co-design, creating a compelling collision of music, art and political discourse. 

Massive Attack @ Sonar Barcelona 2014

Massive Attack (a worldwide reference for electronica) was founded in 1988 by Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Their debut album 'Blue Lines' contained the single 'Unfinished Sympathy', one of the 10 best songs in music history, according to a survey by The Guardian. Following their first release were albums: 'Protection', 'Mezzanine', '100th Window' and 'Heligoland' as well as numerous singles and countless remixes making up one the most personal repertoires in experimental pop music over the last 25 years. Plastikman at Sonar by Day and Richie Hawtin’s Close show at Sonar by Night Sonar 2014 will present both sides of Richie Hawtin's musical character over two days: from his own new recordings and live show Objekt as Plastikman at Sonar By Day, to his new standpoint on modern day performing as Richie Hawtin with Close in the main hall of Sonar By Night

Richie Hawtin, the globally recognised key figure of electronica, will update his recording alias Plastikman. Richie Hawtin's Plastikman will make a return to Sonar with the exclusive European performance of his developing 'Objekt' live concept – debuted at the Guggenheim in New York last month. Hawtin and his team created an entire new audio and visual experience for the Guggenheim – inspired by the room he was asked to perform in. Plastikman will return to Sonar in 2014 with the new music, visuals and a special variation on the obelisk that his team created for the landmark art event.

On a different day at Sonar by Night, Hawtin will headline with his new performance concept, Close. The new show is designed to bring audiences closer to the performance of a modern day electronic artist with the assistance of highly-advanced cameras and intimate lighting. Hawtin will give full transparency to the improvisation and technological manipulation in how he plays all which helps set him apart from the traditional definition of a DJ.   Leading lights in contemporary electronica The first batch of confirmed artists also includes purist bastions of electronica like Four Tet; James Holden (Border Community head honcho), with a unique staging of his stunning album "The Inheritors"; Jon Hopkins will perform live his techno album "Immunity" (heralded as electronic release of the year); Oneohtrix Point Never aka Daniel Lopatin, one of the most amazing artists to appear on the experimental scene in recent years and who will present his new audiovisual show; and Matmos, creators of an extremely elaborate IDM, who will convert the Sonar stage into their own private experimental laboratory.

Sonar 2014 will also enjoy incredible shows from Bonobo, who will present his new kaleidoscopic electronica album "The North Borders" with one of his spectacular live shows; Woodkid, the French multidisciplinary artist enjoying a meteoric rise in recent months, a natural creator incorporating design, advertising, video and music; and Moderat, an alliance of Berlin’s electronic scene’s foremost representatives (Modeselektor + Apparat) presenting their new album 'II'.

Dance music, implicit in its multiple forms, will feature in the hands ofCaribou, the Canadian musician and mathematician Dan Snaith, who has chosen Sonar to present one of his limited shows before the release of his next album; Gesaffelstein artist name for Parisian musician Mike Levy, will present on stage 'Aleph', his acclaimed debut album, and I am Legion, the band formed by British hip hop group Foreign Beggars and Dutch dubstep trioNoisia.

There will be no shortage of talented newcomers like Evian Christ, the youthful dj and producer for label Tri Angle, who is making some of the most futuristic beats for Kanye West and Matthew Barney;Jessy Lanza, the Canadian signed to prestigious label Hyperdub, who will present her celebrated and atmospheric debut album "Pull My Hair back"; Copeland, the female element of enigmatic and unpredictable duo Hype Williams will present her as yet unreleased new work; Majical Cloudz, the pop art duo based in Montreal;
the festival’s up and coming artists like Happa, aka Samir Alikhanizadeh, whose music at the tender age of 16 already
stands out as the most exciting and brutal techno around today;Nisennenmondai, Japanese instrumental power trio; or
Clipping., the Californian rap noise trio…

Some of the national artists performing at next year’s festival will beBalago, the experimental post-electronica and synthetic kraut group; Downliners Sekt, the Catalan-French duo who will present a brand new album and live show; Desert, dream pop’s best kept secret; and Pau Roca, one of the national scene’s most prominent house djs.

Huge lineup additions to Sónar Barcelona

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New additions to Sónar Barcelona

Darkstar (UK)
Liars (US)
Paul Kalkbrenner (DE)
Sherwood + Pinch (UK)
Nicolas Jaar (US)
Delorean (ES)
Foreign Beggars (UK)
Maceo Plex (US)
Mykki Blanco (US)
Karenn (Blawan + Pariah) (UK)
Baauer (US)
Gold Panda (UK)
La Bien Querida (ES)
Christeene (US)
Sound Pellegrino presents Sound Pellegrino Thermal Team + Matthias Zimmermann (FR)

Sónar continues to add new artists to its 20th anniversary event, which will take place in Barcelona on 13, 14 and 15 June. The scheduled shows by Kraftwerk (3D show), Pet Shop Boys, Two Door Cinema Club, Lindstrøm & Todd Terje, Vatican Shadow,Bradien + Eduard Escoffet, Hot Natured and Fantastic Mr. Foxare joined by various heavyweight additions. 

These new names include outfits whose appeal is tried and tested, like the British trio Darkstar, one of the most interesting projects to emerge from low-rev dubstep, who are about to release their new LP, "News From Nowhere", on the prestigious London label Warp; and the American trio Liars, presenting their excellent new LP "WIXIW," which is much more synth-based and oriented towards electronica than their previous albums.

Among the latest names to be added to Sónar Barcelona is the new artistic duo Karenn, which brings together two masters of today's rawest techno: Blawan – who astonished us at Sónar by Night last year – and the talented Pariah; the New York trap producer Baauer, who has hit the mark this year with his formula of powerful basses and rhythmic forcefulness; the British beatmaker Gold Panda, the main man at the Ghostly International label; and the haute école funk-based tech-house by the popular American dj Maceo Plex.

Sónar 2013 also presents the performance by a unique and very special duo: consisting of Adrian Sherwood, a cult name in dub in the British Isles and the founder of the influential On-U-Sound label, and Pinch, an eminent personality on the Bristol dubstep (and post-dubstep) scene.

Two international electronica benchmarks return, in the shape of Germany's Paul Kalkbrenner, now consolidated as one of today's most popular names, who will be bringing his new album 'Guten Tag' under his arm; and the Chilean-American Nicolas Jaar, who returns to Sónar for the third consecutive year entirely on merit.

Two of the biggest names on the Spanish scene, Delorean and La Bien Querida, will also be present at Sónar Barcelona. The Basque outfit are releasing a new album in 2013, two years after the international success of "Subiza," while the project by Ana Fernández Villaverde and David Rodríguez has given their songs a considerable twist, dressing them up in dazzling techno-pop costumes for their latest album, "Ceremonia." 

Two unique and irreverent artists will be visiting from the United States underground scene: Mykki Blanco, the standard bearer of the movement known as "queer rap" (a mixture of hip-hop rhyming and powerful techno basses); and Christeene, a man-woman who takes the extravagance and perversion of electronic pop one step beyond mischief by means of a highly individual sense of humour. 

This batch of additions is rounded off by the showcase from the French label Sound Pellegrino, in association with the historic rap group TTC and a platform for some of today's most cutting-edge and freshest dance beats, headed by Matthias Zimmermann and the Sound Pellegrino Thermal Team; and the highly respected British hip hop and grime collective Foreign Beggars, presenting their powerful new album, "The Uprising".

Sónar Barcelona tickets on sale

Sónar 2013 Passes and 2 Night Tickets for Sónar 2013 are available now.

Professional accreditation for SonarPro 2013 is available at a special price of 190 €, until 1 April only.

Sonar 2013 Details

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The 20th anniversary of Sonar will be a global celebrationwhich begins in Reykjavik in February and culminates inBarcelona in June, passing through Africa, Asia and Latin America. In total, within the next six months, Sonar will be programming around 300 shows spread across 21 stages 
at its 5 festivals.

In 2013, the Icelandic capital, one of the world's most musically fertile cities, joins the four destinations of 2012. Sonar celebrates 20 years as one of the most internationally renowned and solid cultural brands.

Today, the festival introduces the first artists for the celebrations atSonar Barcelona, which include Kraftwerk and Pet Shop Boys, two classic names in full force and with an transgenerational influence on the popular music of recent decades, from purist electronica, to dance music and pop.

The Sonar 2013 campaign kicks off at www.sonar.es with the first video of a series that will be revealed in the coming weeks.

SonarKids also returns to Barcelona this Christmas, on the22nd and 23rd of December, with a programme for children and parents featuring interactive sound sculptures on the big spiral ramp at CosmoCaixa.

BARCELONA

June the 13th, 14th and 15th, 2013
www.sonar.es

Line-up Preview:
Kraftwerk – 3D show (DE)
Pet Shop Boys (UK)
Two Door Cinema Club (UK)
Hot Natured (UK)
Lindstrøm & Todd Terje (NO)
Vatican Shadow (US)
Bradien + Eduard Escoffet (ES)
Fantastic Mr Fox (DE)

The 20th anniversary of Sonar Barcelona will take place on the13th, 14th and 15th June 2013.

The stand-out feature of the line-up preview is the extraordinary 
new show in 3D by Kraftwerk. The prestigious German group was founded in 1970 and has been one of the most influential outfits in the music of the last 40 years, in electronica and in popular music in general. Their eight studio albums are more than classics – they are true anthems in recent music history. For their performance at Sonar 2013, Kraftwerk will be reviewing their hits with a unique and updated sound at SonarClub, the festival's main stage. Their new show adapts 3D technology to their own language and gives body and volume to the powerful imagery that has accompanied them throughout their career. The show can be enjoyed with standard 3D glasses.

Another unquestionable benchmark – in this case in the field of electronic pop – is the British duo Pet Shop Boys. After the recent release of their latest album "Elysium”, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, who began working together in the early ‘80s, will be presenting a new show featuring visuals and technological content atSonar Barcelona. The creators of countless legendary songs of our era, including “West End Girls”, “Domino Dancing”, “It's A Sin”, “Always On My Mind”, “Go West”, “Being Boring”, “Domino Dancing”, “Flamboyant” and “New York City Boy”, Pet Shop Boys have always been a step ahead of their peers, shrewdly navigating the currents of electronic pop and dance music, while maintaining an admirable and carefully balanced critical and commercial success. 

The Northern Ireland trio Two Door Cinema Club is another of the great attractions in the line-up of Sonar 2013. During their live show, the band will be reviewing their two albums released to date, which have made them one of today's most powerful and vigorous producers of electropop hits, with tracks like “What you know”, “Undercover Martyn” and “Something Good Can Work”. 
Within Sonar's 100% dance territory, this year's highlights include the live show from Hot Natured, the energetic collective of DJs and producers led by the already essential Jamie Jones, the new king Midas of underground house, and the special collaboration betweenLindstrom & Todd Terje, Norwegian producers who combine luminous electronica and nu-disco. Another name on the up,Fantastic Mr Fox, will be deploying his unique vision of R&B on an abstract and at the same time danceable tip.
Among the sonic explorers, the festival presents Vatican Shadow, the project who rediscovers industrial techno by the American producer Dominick Fernow.

In the Spanish artists section, we have a couple of very special guests, Bradien + Eduard Escoffet, the combination of the Barcelona-based instrumental group and the poet Eduard Escoffet presenting their new album 'Pols' live.

Reykjavik (ICELAND)
February the 15th and 16th, 2013
www.sonarreykjavik.com

Line-up Preview:

James Blake – LIVE (UK)
James Blake – DJ (UK)
Squarepusher (UK)
Modeselektor (DE)
Simian Mobile Disco – DJ (UK)
Diamond Version (Alva Noto + Byetone) (DE)
Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto (DE/JP)
GusGus (IS)
Thugfucker (US-IS)
Tale of Us (US-CA)
Retro Stefson (IS)
Ólafur Arnalds (IS)
Gluteus Maximus (IS)

The festival is travelling to Iceland for the first time for Sonar Reykjavik, which will take place on 15 and 16 February at Harpa, the city's brand new concert and conference centre, located by the sea, near the port.

For its first Nordic trip, Sonar will be adopting a small-scale and intimate format, as an example of how a renowned brand can redefine itself in smaller locations and venues. The event begins at 6pm and continues until 3am on each day. The line-up will include around 15 international artists and 30 from Iceland, who will be playing on 4 stages with capacities ranging between 200 and 1,600 spectators each.

The building that will host the first Sonar Reykjavik is the home of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and The Icelandic Opera, and was designed by Henning Larsen Architects in collaboration with the renowned artist Olafur Eliasson.

CAPE TOWN (SOUTH AFRICA)
March the 1st and the 2nd, 2013
www.sonarcapetown.com

Line-Up Preview SOON

Sonar returns to Africa in 2013. Sonar @ Design Indaba in Cape Town (South Africa) takes place on the 1st and 2nd of March at the City Hall. This second time around, the festival expands from one to two nights and presents more than 30 artists, including international figures and some of the most prominent names on the emerging South African electronic scene.

Sonar is once again working with Design Indaba, the major multidisciplinary platform that transforms the South African city into the world's capital of creativity and innovation. Every year, the event features the presence of the world's most important entrepreneurs and speakers, who present projects in the fields of architecture, design, film and music, among others.

TOKYO (JAPAN)
April the 7th and 8th, 2013
www.sonarsound.jp

Line-Up Preview SOON

The 6th SonarSound Tokyo will take place on 6 and 7 April. The Asian version of Sonar will have a highly experimental line-up that combines major international artists and the most outstanding representatives of the Japanese electronic scene. As in previous years, more than 30 shows at SonarSound Tokyo will be distributed over two days between the four stages at ageHa Studio Coast, a complex located in the restored industrial district of eastern Tokyo, in the Kōtō neighbourhood.

SÃO PAULO (BRASIL)
24th & 25th MAY
www.sonarsaopaulo.com.br

Line-up Preview by the 11th of December

The second Sonar São Paulo, the festival's Latin American experience and the largest of all the events organized by Sonar outside Barcelona, takes place on 24 and 25 May 2013, featuring a line-up of more than 30 artists, which will be announced in early 2013.

Sonar São Paulo includes all the ingredients that have made Sonar international benchmark: a broad-based musical and audiovisual programme of high quality that mixes entertainment and the cutting edge in leading urban venues.

The festival will take place in the iconic Parque Anhembi from 8pm to 6:30am. As at its Barcelona prototype, performances by new talents will dovetail with large-format shows and audiovisual productions by key names on the international electronic scene, on 3 stages with uninterrupted programming.

New Order, Die Antwoord and more set for Sónar Barcelona

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New Order, one of the most influential British bands in the history of music, will be headlining Sónar by Night on Saturday 16 June.  New Order is undoubtedly one of the key names in the history of music and one of the most influential bands of recent decades. The Manchester outfit pioneered the use and assimilation of the language of electronic dance music in a pop context after the end of Joy Division, and succeeded in creating a style all their own. Innovative and highly respected by the critics, as well as being massively successful, New Order have been responsible for an extensive catalogue of hits as timeless as "Blue Monday", "Bizarre Love Triangle", "True Faith", "The Perfect Kiss," "Regret" and "Fine Time," among many others.

New Order

South Africa's Die Antwoord has been also added to Sonar 2012, returning to the festival after their triumphant concert last year to present the excellent new "Ten$ion". Other additions include the wisdom of James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) on the decks on Friday the 15th at Sonar by Night; danceable electronica with a pop sensitivity from Britain's Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs; The 2 Bears, the new house project by Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) and Raf Lundell; the highly respected dj Untold, a mainstay of British bass music; the session by Daniel Miller, the founder of Mute and a living legend of new wave; the up and coming Barcelona kraut-pop duo Pegasvs; and the colourful show of mirrors by the American beatmaker Daedelus.

Besides those mentioned above, the festival will also feature Cornelius presenting the band salyu x salyu, the Brazilian experimentalist Ricardo Donoso, the Canadian remixers Keys N Krates, unusual musical-scientific ideas from Japan's Masaki Batoh, the mysterious 5-piece band performing under the Mostly Robot monicker (in a show conceived by Native Instruments), and some of the most interesting outfits currently working in Spain, such as Lenticular Clouds, Lolo & Sosaku, D.Forma and Esperit!, among many others.

Red Bull Music Academy comes back to the SonarDôme stage with another stellar selection of Academy affiliates, introducing fresh new sounds from around the globe. Performers on the programme include the legend that is Dj Harvey, Chicago footwork pioneers Dj Spinn and Dj Rashad, as well as recent Academy graduates Nguzunguzu, Canblaster, Barcelona's own Nehuen, future R&B crooner Jesse Boykins III and Doc Daneeka, among many others. More artists will be announced soon.

Lana del Rey set for Sonar Barcelona 2012

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The young New Yorker, whose rocketing career has converted her into a global icon, will present her debut album ‘Born to Die’ live, after having topped the charts in north America, the UK and other parts of the world.

Lana del Rey

Lana Del Rey possesses a carefully groomed style evoking images of the Hollywood hey-day, impeccable videos (“Video Games”, “Born To Die”, “Blue Jeans”) seen over the internet by thousands of viewers throughout the world in a short space of time and achieving millions of hits, and songs that stand out for their contemporary sound, accurate melodies, high doses of glamour and influences of pop, from the 50’s to the 90’s. 

Lana herself cites Elvis Presley, Britney Spears, Nina Simone, Nirvana, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys and Antony and the Johnsons amongst her principle references and defines herself as a “Nancy Sinatra in a gangster-rap key”. Moreover, Lana knows how to move in the right circles, currently mixing with the most interesting producers and artists of the moment, her songs have already been remixed by the likes of Balam Acab, Joy Orbison, Clams Casino, Jamie Woon, Odd Future and not forgetting Damon Albarn.

Lana Del Rey joins the Sónar 2012 Barcelona line-up already formed by The Roots, Modeselektor, Hot Chip, James Blake dj, Fatboy Slim, Richie Hawtin, Amon Tobin with his show ISAM, Squarepusher, Deadmau5, Nicolas Jaar, Luciano, Azari & III, Jacques Lu Cont, Friendly Fires, Metronomy, John Talabot, Mouse On Mars and the showcases by Hyperdub, Brainfeeder and 100% Silk, among others.