Off Week takes the electronic music consciousness in Barcelona next week (13-19 June), while Sonar celebrates 22 years on the festival circuit during the latter half of the week. Seven days of both international and homegrown artists taking stage in the spectacular city. Heavyweight DJs, live performers, and dozens of label showcases soon descend to the city's venues and spaces. With so much on offer, here's a top pick for each day to help make your decision easier.
Monday: Memento XS
June 13 at Macarena Club
Macarena Club kick off their Off Week schedule by welcoming Idriss D who's stirred a storm in Italy, acclaimed Karim Sahraoui, and Lino Pugliese to join them at their venue in the heart of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Listening to music from upcoming underground talent is a perfect way to start the week.
Tuesday: Form Music
June 14 at City Hall
French label Form Music throws an early week rave-up with Parisian head honcho Popof, who has seen in releases from prestigious producers, quickly raising the profile of the label in six short years. At the city centre of Barcelona, Popof is accompanied by Oxia best known for his production "Domino", Simina Grigoriu, and Melanie Ribbe.
Wednesday: Cocoon
June 15 at Fact Music Pool Series
Embarking on a splash in the water under the sun is Cocoon, throwing a pool party alongside FACT to take us well into the night at 5am. Headed by Sven Väth, joined by Josh Wink, Ilario Alicante, Dana Ruh, plus more names that carry the Cocoon baton around the world and bring the uppermost layer of quality club sounds. Ain’t no party like a Sven Väth party.
Thursday: Afterlife
June 16 at Plaza Mayor
Afterlife headed by Tale of Us is inaugurated in Barcelona on this date, before embarking to Ibiza for its summer residency. The Italian duo are joined by the DJ half of Ame, Dixon who has topped the Resident Advisor DJ poll for three years running, Marcel Dettmann, and Recondite. All names that will be representing Afterlife all season long.
Friday: Secretsundaze
June 17 at Parc del Forum
London imprint Secretsundaze has crossed waters to Barcelona countless times to throw parties. This year's Off Week sees them host two nights for your dancing pleasure. Acts billed for the first of which include Marcellus Pittman, Hunee, Midland, and Nick Höppner. It's taking place at a never-used-before private beach, twelve hours of sand in toes awaits from 2pm.
Saturday: 2020 Vision vs Poker Flat
June 18 at La Terrrazza
Competing to fight for your attention are names representing labels 2020 Vision and Poker Flat. Taking part, armed with their truck of vinyls, USBs and CDs there is Steve Bug, Ralph Lawson, Hector Couto, Mihai Popoviciu, and Sven Tasnadi. Mountain located La Terrrazza has seen a good few parties in its time and this is sure to be one of them.
Sunday: Elrow
June 19 at Row14
Ending the seven-day long fiesta is Elrow. Barcelona’s homegrown party has taken the world by inflatable storm and is celebrating six years at the top of the fun game shortly after this party. Expect people on stilts, confetti and water guns. Invited down are almost 40 acts, such as Guti, Lauren Lane, Marco Faraone, Matador, and Subb-an. Elrow is set to mark Off Week 2016 with a bang.
Check out the full Off Week 2016 schedule here.
