The summer is almost here and Barcelona´s cultural life is bursting with life. Although the people of Barcelona generally like to spend their time out, it´s in the summer when the city gets more vibrant than ever.
Music is in the parks again – Festival Música en los Parques with almost 30 concerts is taking place in 12 green areas of the city starting from early June and lasting till the end of August.
You will be able to enjoy classical, jazz music as well as sessions of Banda Municipal de Música de Barcelona during the whole summer and it´s all for free.
Hopefully it won´t rain all the time, so you can spend pleasant Friday and Saturday evenings (all until September 17th) in the open air cinema of MECAL AIR International Short Film Festival of Barcelona, traditionally organized in el Poble Espanyol.
HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL BARCELONA 2011 held from 8th till 12th of June in CCCB, Col·legí de Periodistes de Catalunya and Cinemes Alexandra, is the perfect spot to see interesting works from all around the world.
The presentation of Femitic, the Festival of videos and photography made by women is taking place the 9th of June from 19h in la Coctelería Milano(Ronda de la Universitat, 35, 08007 Barcelona) All the women artists are invited to participate and send their video and photography works.
The 13th edition of Barcelona Jewish Film Festival will be taking place from 11th till 19th of June with the screenings on Plaza Sant Felip Neri and Institut Francès de Barcelona ( Carrer de Moia, 8). This festival brings us the best of cine de autor, many films that are normally not shown in the commercial cinemas due to the lack of good distribution.
This year, with credo Cine Abierto de Mente ( Open Mind Cinema) the festival brings us films from the east of Europe.
It´s all around the city and everyone talks about it – the weekend of 16- 18th of June is reserved for the 17th Sónar, International Festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art.
Sónar takes place at various venues in Barcelona (CCCB/MACBA, Fira Gran Via 2 l´Hospitalet, l´Auditori de Barcelona and CosmoCaixa) and this year it brings us Underworld, M.I.A., Aphex Twin, Magnetic Man, Die Antwoord, The Human League, Dizzee Rascal, Cut Copy, James Murphy, Buraka Som Sistema, Katy B and many more artists.
The 19th of June comes SonarKids, the Festival of Music and Creative Experiences for children and parents. The festival will take place on two stages (SonarVillage and SonarComplex) and other spaces in the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) and the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB).
Musical line up with performances by the Portuguese group Buraka Som Sistema, the renowned British dj and BBC Radio 1 presenter, Gilles Peterson, pop group Papa Topo, the indie pop group Polock, the stories sung by Barbara i Els Morenos, the dj Amarelo and the wizardry on the decks of the Pioneer Dj Kids will be combined with diverse creative activities such as a street dance masterclass, constructions with sonic cubes and dj, beatboxing and skateboarding workshops.
Catalan most international dancer, Cesc Gelabert will be in charge of the opening of the XXXV Grec Festival of Barcelona, on the 17th of June with the inaugurational “La muntanya al teu voltant”.
Grec festival – city´s main annual theatre, dance, music, circus & stage arts festival has, over the years, become the most outstanding summer cultural attraction in Barcelona, as well as the key reference on the European festival calendar.
Most of the music events will be taking place in the Teatre Grec, the Greek Theatre, on Montjuïc, an open-air theatre built for the 1929 Universal Exhibition.
Barcelona´s Greek Theatre will host Maria del Mar Bonet, Manel, Ainhoa Arteta with L´Orquestra de Cadaques, Goran Bregovic, Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette, Niña Pastori among others.
Beside Montjuic, Grec Festival will also take place in more than twenty theatres and open spaces around the city – from la plaza del Rei, el Teatre Lliure, el Mercat de les Flors, el Teatre Nacional de Catalunya to the more “alternative” places such as Sala Muntaner or Sala Beckett.
The Grec Festival mission is supporting the local production and producing outstanding works by Catalan artists and companies as well as presenting the most interesting works from around the world in Barcelona.
One of the main protagonists of this years festival definitely will be Catalan dance scene with names such as Àngels Margarit, Sol Picó, María Muñoz (Mal Pelo), Andrés Corchero (raravis) and the residents of the creation centre La Caldera.
During almost two months audience will be able to see more than 60 shows, by numerous international artists: Peter Brook, Romeo Castellucci, Joel Pommerat, Claudio Tolcachir, Patrice Chereau and Catalans Calixto Bieito, Carme Portaceli, Alex Rigola…
Barcelona being one of the favorite Gay destinations is well into the preparations of the most important LGBT pride festival in the Mediterranean –Pride Barcelona’11. The main celebrations will be on the weekend of the 24th, 25th and 26th of June, but entire festival includes a program that runs from the 18th to the 28th! For the 3rd time in the city, Pride Barcelona is offering ten days of culture, sport, debate, entertainment and parties.
If you are a fan of World music you might consider spending la Noche de San Juan in the neighbouring Girona at the World music festival Etnival. Unnim Etnival Festival de Musicas de Mundo is being held for the 7th time, hosting artists like Canteca de Macao, Molotov, Los de Abajo, Lila Downs, Bongo Botrako, Malakaton…It is an open air festival (taking place in the Parc de les Ribes del Ter as well as in the Girona´s Casc Antic) and all the concerts are for free.
From 28th of June till 15th of July Barcelona celebrates design with the FADFEST, the meeting point of professionals, businesses and public with the culture of design.
The greater part of the programme takes place at the FAD headquarters and nearby spaces such as the CCCB and the MACBA. Other venues in the city of Barcelona also host a variety of activities.
July starts with dance- Days of Dance 2011 – XX International Festival of Dance in Urban Landscapes takes place all around the city from the 1st till 6th of July. Barcelona, being a member of the artistic network “Ciudades que danzan” ( Dancing cities) during this festival really dances. Philippine teenagers who usually practice their choreography in the Pati de les Dones, during this week get a lot of competition. Innovative, cutting edge dancers take over many public spaces, turning the city into a friendlier place.
After dancing you may want to check out some more cinema on the open air or perhaps go for a concert. From 4th of July cine a la fresca ( Open air film festival Montjuic) is once again on Castell de Montjuic offering you some of the best movies of all times but also another chance to see some of the recent works if you missed them in the regular cinema. A prophet, The ghost writer, About Elly, and many all time favorites including A bout de souffle, Nosferatu, Some like it hot are on the programme. All the films are shown in original version with spanish subs. Concerts by bands Cargolé(flamenco), Os Seresteiros ( Bossa nova, Jazz, Samba), Mala junta trio ( gipsy swing) as well as many more taking place in Montjuic might be the perfect choice for the summer nights in Barcelona.
On the 9th of July Barcelona “transforms into a world Hip hop capital”. Hipnotik festival brings us more than 13 hours of music, competitions, battles, graffiti, break-dance, workshops, exhibitions…This year the festival is promising to be more interactive, using the tools such as internet, streaming…Groups confirmed: Looptroop Rockers, La Puta Opepé, Duo Kie, Cookin Bananas, ZPU, Putolargo, Rayden, Los Chikos del Maíz, Noult, Spec Boogie, Agorazein, Costa, Duddi Wallace… Place: CCCB
If you´re more into the big festivals, Cruilla Barcelona might be “your cup of tea”. 8th and 9th of July in the Parc del Forum you can find Madness, Public Enemy, Lee Scratch Perry, Max Romeo, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Maika Makovski, dEUS…
After all this you might be ready for some meditation on Barcelona Yoga Conference that brings Yoga maestros from all around the globe to Barcelona. Four days of yoga, meditation, relaxation and positive energy. 14th -18th of July, Complex Esportiu de la Mar Bella, 30 meters from the sea. From the organization they promise it to be “The Experience”.
There are always plenty of good reasons to come to Barcelona!
When I read this, I get desire to come to Barcelona immediately – there are so many great events. And when I come in July I will be able to stay just for few days…That’s not fair:( Thanks anyway for this nice piece of information.
Posted by peter | June 11, 2011, 11:16 amvery nice post, i definitely love this website, keep on it
Posted by Bonita Eliott | March 21, 2012, 6:42 am