Sonar – it’s amazing. Three nights of festivities in two locations in Barcelona – sunshine and boogie. What is there to dislike? In celebration, we’ve constructed a ‘10 Acts You Must See’ list, handily arranged in alphabetical order. Shall we begin?
Air
The French duo may not have shifted many units of their last album Love 2, despite it being really rather lovely, but their set on Saturday night should be chock-full of hits from a good 15 years in existence. And if they don’t play Sexy Boy from their landmark Moon Safari debut, then you are permitted to riot*.
(*well, not riot, maybe complain vociferously…)
Broadcast
The duo from the northern English city of Sheffield have been doing slightly suspect things with elderly electronic equipment for several years now, but their team-up with Focus Group on last year’s Witch Cults Of The Radio Age was a supremely disorientating spook-fest trip of fainting Victorian children and sinister nylon sci-fi. Far out.
The Chemical Brothers
There are few acts as amazing as the Chems are live. Their latest album, Further, has seen the duo put their live show into the actual music, with interactive visuals that are a real treat, even if they do leave you feeling a bit weird afterwards. Watch the Swoon video here…
Dizzee Rascal (pictured, top)
Nearly a decade ago, young Dylan Mills was looking like he’d be the latest act to benefit from the Curse of the Mercury Award (ie initial recognition followed by a trip to musical oblivion), but now, after five number ones in the UK, he’s become one the biggest stars in music today.
Flying Lotus
This year’s Cosmogramma has put Steven Ellison on the map, and won over a whole new load of converts. He’ll be warping minds and vibrating trousers for definite on this rare live outing, but, for now, try a little Massage Situation.
Fuck Buttons
Despite still probably being a bit sheepish when elderly relatives ask what the name of their band is, the duo from the city of Bristol in the west of England came on in giant leaps and bounds with the release of their second album Tarot Sport last year. Produced by Andrew Weatherall, it’s colossal.
Hot Chip
Despite their continued success, the London-based five piece have done approximately nothing to enhance their appearance from ‘early ’80s librarian’ to something a bit more this century. They’ll be peddling their wares, most of which will be from their splendid current One Life Stand album, and no doubt including the hit I Feel Better.
LCD Soundsystem
If it is genuinely the last LCD album release, then This Is Happening is a good way of signing off. Best get yourselves down the front for what could be literally the end (sniff).
Red Bull Music Academy presents…
Tufan Demir , BFlecha, Dizz1, Lucrecia Dalt, Pursuit Grooves, Fatima, Braiden, TOKiMONSTA, GoldieLocks, Photonz, Princess P, Minus, Sui Zhen, AD Bourke, Moodymann, Space Dimension Controller, Axel Boman, Lunice, Jackmaster… The Red Bull Music Academy will be taking over the SonarDome for the weekend with a vast array of genuinely tremendous music. It’s hard to pick one particular favourite, but we especially like the severe-fringe wordplay of GoldieLocks.
Roxy Music
It’s entirely fitting that the legendary Roxy Music are one of the star turns at this year’s festivals, and its only right that they kick off their summer season at Sonar.
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