Barcelona

Arca has announced a new album, 'Kick iii', which will land on 3rd December through XL Recordings. 

Sónar will return to Barcelona for the first time since July 2019 this weekend, with two new in-person events featuring a host of live performances, DJ sets, talks and workshops.

The inaugural AI and Music S+T+ARTS event will focus on the growing role of artificial intelligence in music production while the other event, SónarCCCB, will combine live performances with talks and more from the technology-focused Sónar+D programme. Part of the two events' programmes will be streamed live online this Friday (October 29th) and Saturday (October 30th). 

Barcelona's indoor venues are looking set to reopen this weekend.

A week on from the news that Ibiza clubs will be allowed to reopen from the same date, indoor nightclubs in Catalonia are expected to make a return from 8th October. The Catalan government is reportedly still finalising details, but venues that can host over 10,000 guests will now be permitted to operate at 60% of their capacity.

A host of new names have been added to the Sónar 2022 line-up, including Brazilian DJ/producer ANNA, Avalon Emerson, Folamour and Kiwi Rekords boss, Conducta.

Taking place on the 16th, 17th and 18th of June in Fira Montjuic and Fira Gran Via, the 2022 edition of the event will follow on from Sónar Istanbul in October this year, and the Portugal edition in April 2022.

Barcelona’s indoor nightlife is to close this weekend in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Catalan government has ruled that indoor nightclubs will not be able to open from Friday, 9th July. Outdoor events will still be permitted, with a curfew of 3 AM.

The move comes in the wake of other Spanish regions reimposing restrictions due to a sharp spike in cases in the country. While 40% of Spain's 47 million citizens have been fully vaccinated, only one in ten within the 20-29 age group have received both doses.

Clubs have begun reopening in Spain on a regional basis, with indoor parties starting up in cities including Barcelona, Zaragoza, Santander, and Madrid. 

The announcements follow an Interterritorial Health Council vote earlier this month outlining plans for all 17 of the country's regions — which include island territories — to roll out localised rules governing the safe return of nightlife in their area. 

5,000 people attended a gig in Barcelona as part of coronavirus study this weekend.

On Saturday (27th), 5,000 music fans packed into the floor space of Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi 17,000-capacity arena for a concert courtesy of Spanish indie pop band, Love of Lesbian.

The gig was part of a pilot project between the Spanish government and venues, who are assessing if utilising rapid coronavirus testing systems could effectively prevent COVID-19 outbreaks at bigger events.

Primavera Sound has officially cancelled its 2021 edition.

After being forced to cancel the 2020 instalment of Primavera Sound in Barcelona, the team behind the festival have shared the news that this year's event will also be unable to go ahead due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

A concert hall in Barcelona is set to be the first venue worldwide to operate a test-on-entry system.

Making the official announcement on Sunday (4th October), President of the Association of Concert Halls of Catalonia, Lluís Torrents, and a doctor from Can Ruti hospital in Barcelona, confirmed a 1,000-person trial concert would take place later this month.