The definitive list of the best parties to attend this year.
For the next few days, Barcelona will be transformed into the stuff of audio wet-dreams with hundreds of venues across the city playing host to some of the industry’s biggest names. We’ve scoured the listings to bring you the very best from ‘Off Week’ 2017.
Thursday 15th June
EG Private Sessions OFF Week with Ferro, Oshana, Voigtmann and Sofianne Fessi (Livestream)
Electronic Groove will be hosting its first ever off-week event this year on the rooftop of creative warehouse, ATIPICO. A family gathering that will bring artists, friends and music connoisseurs to enjoy some of the most prolific talents on the international scene.
Already considered one of the most promising selectors of his generation, with releases on Fuse, Lessizmore and family imprint VBX, you’ll find Ferro shaping the future of electronic music, one way or another. Speaking of the future, there’s much to say about Oshana. With two baffling releases and a new label, Partisan, she’s indisputably channelling something seriously fresh. Meanwhile, co-founder of groundbreaking imprint Toi.Toi & resident at London’s Fabric, Voigtmann sets himself apart as one of the strongest emergent talents visible today. The sound of the future: It’s already next week on Electronic Groove.
Guestlist only, please message: sofiane@electronicgroove.com
Tuesday 13th June
Pig&Dan presents Elevate Barcelona
Techno dons Pig&Dan kick off the week with a notable label showcase teaming up with two female artists that are shaking the worldwide dancefloors, Monika Kruse and ANNA. Hosted at City Hall, the night promises to be a very special evening. Be sure to check the special mix the German duo exclusively prepared for EG.
Wednesday 14th June
Maya Jane Coles & Friends – indigo Raw
If her Boiler Room sequences weren’t enough to satiate your thirst, head to our favourite spot in El Monasterio of El Poble Espanyol to catch the manga-lady herself, together with techno stalwart, Chris Liebing, Ellen Allien, Kim Ann Foxman and Wax Wings in what promises to be a sequence so grabby Tinder will likely consider it in favour of its own algorithm as flirt-bot come Sonar 2018.
Pan-Pot presents Second State Barcelona
German duo Pan-Pot is worldwide renowned for their energetic techno sessions. This time they invite a relevant group of their label’s partners as Amelie Lens, Stephan Hinz (Live), Roman Lindau, among others to showcase their sounds, and including a very special guest, Saved Records head and tech-house stalwart, Nic Fanciulli.
Thursday 15th June
One of the highlights of last year’s off-week, Tale Of Us return to the city with their conceptual event, this time bringing Floating Points on board for a collaboration that will fling your expectations firmly into 2018. Expect all-out production and full-decibel sounds from Mano Le Tough, Stephan Bodzin, Mind Against and Barnt.
Toi.Toi will be celebrating its 7th anniversary at Input for a night of forward-thinking, groundbreaking music. On the list, some well-established figures such as live performance prodigy Ion Ludwig, underground veteran Audio Werner and analog wizard Losoul. You’ll also find fresher talent in the form of mind-bending composer Nicola Kazimir, Junkie Inoue and Toi.Toi co-founder, the inimitable, CVoigtmann. Toi.Toi has established itself as one of the most disruptive yet relevant imprints in electronic music, with the obsession to create the most authentic, interactional experience between the crowd and its artists. Thursday night at Input, with one of the best sound systems in Europe, will be something special.
15 Years Get Physical at Off Week
Who doesn’t love M.A.N.D.Y and their cutting-edge house beats? Celebrating 15 years in the music scene they’ve invited a prominent group of label collaborators to cheer up with them on the special occasion. The lineup includes African rising star Aero Manyelo, charts top hitters Booka Shade, Flying Circus mates Audiofly, and electronic sensation Eagles & Butterflies to name a few. The event is free but invite only, to sign up click here.
Friday 16th June
Diynamic Outdoor – Off Week Edition
Despite its ubiquitous popularity the dream team behind Solomun’s imprint Diynamic, offer even the most esoteric music-geek something invigorating, so if its live and loaded you’re after, look towards Johannes Brecht, for orchestral precision met with Delhi-dirty vibes. At EG we love rising Italian duo, Undercatt whose remix of George Fitzgerald’s ‘Temper’ track is nothing short of sexed-up finesse. Heavyweights, Kollectiv Turmstrasse, Swiss duo, Adriatique, Karmon and of course the big man himself, ensure the usual dose of wonder-stuff ensues from some of the dance world’s most prolific hard-hitters that will see you sailing through closing weekend.
If you’ve been following the freshest house, minimal and techno releases of the past couple years, surely Yoyaku will be no stranger to you. The Paris-based concept record store, booking agency and distribution company will be showcasing some of their most popular artists on Friday, Janeret, Varhat, Zendid and Oshana. The showcase will be hosted at RED 58, which has been consistently offering a home to some of the best underground acts over the last couple years.
Saturday 17th June
This ephemeral day party is the stuff of off-Sonar day-dreams. Think small, intimate sun-soaked terraces doused in lilies, floral excess and seriously beautiful crowds. Line up includes Bedouin, YokoO and founder Lee Burridge. The vibe is pure halycon sunset. One not to be missed.
Second only to maybe Seth Troxler or Jackmaster, there are few DJs who will make you want to quit your job and sell your soul to Satan (or his modern manifestation: Southern Rail) to buy vinyl quite like DJ Koze. Support from the entire Pampa family including Robag Wruhme, big-band smarts from Die Vogel and rising new talent in the form of Jackmate and Sophia Kennedy, guarantee off-the-cuff, auditory utopia. The venue too is next level stuff: Housed in the ancient monastery, El Monasterio of El Poble Espanyol, this is one of the most atmospheric party locations in the city. Nice crowds and loose vibes invariably follow.
Sunday 18th June
Innervisions takes over one of Barcelona’s most impressive spots, Plaza Mayor at Poble Espanyol on Sunday 18th to bring off-week to fruition with a compelling ten-hour showcase. With a line up boasting Ame, Dixon, Job Jobse, John Talabot, Todd Terje (live) and one half of Amé, Frank Wiedemann together with Henrik Schwarz in their modern manifestation: Schwarzmann, this is 2017’s hot ticket. Innervisions has selected the last day of this special week in order to change the plaza’s setting and create a more intimate dance-floor vibe. Expect epic noise & wannabe crowds at off-weeks’ most coveted, sold-out gig.
The Barcelona-based party makers bring their usual dose of carnivalesque magic to their hometown in the form of Sambodromo do Brasil, which refreshingly lets the audience, dancers, props, blow up toys and curated mayhem rather than DJ’s, take centre stage. The line up remains hush-hush but rest assured of evenly distributed magic as only the Elrow fun-squad know how.
It’s now a Sunday night classic for those who know their OFF Sonar. Cartulis Music will be an extended family gathering of avant-garde music visionaries. Over the years, Cartulis co-founders and residents Unai Trotti, Davy and Raphael Carrau have proven themselves as some of the most promising selectors on the boiling East London scene. Valentino Kanzyani and a very very special guest will be completing the lineup. Sunday night, join the Cartulis family into drawing the contours of the sound of tomorrow.
What is there to say about Fuse that hasn’t been already done a thousand times? The London crew has simply written one of the most spectacular stories in electronic music of the past decade. From the depth of the East London after hours scene to a residency at Amnesia Ibiza. Their secret: A tightly knit crew of talented artists and friends, coming together to celebrate a common adoration for the proper rave, London style. On Sunday night at Input, for the second year consecutively, Fuse will be showing how it’s done with co-founder Enzo Siraguza and residents Seb Zito, Archie Hamilton, Rossko and Rich NxT. Get in!
