Sónar

Concerts & DJsAcid Arab, Alva Noto, Alizzz, Angel Molina, ANOHNI: HOPELESSNESS, Astrolith, Ata Kak, Awwz, Badbadnotgood, Baelish, Ben Klock, Bicep, Ben UFO b2b Helena Hauff, Bob Moses, Booka Shade, Boys Noize, bRUNA & Wooky + Alba G. Corral, Byetone, Cauto, Club Cheval, Congo Natty feat. Congo Dubz, Tenor Fly, Nãnci & Phoebe, Coyu, Cyclo, Craze, Danny L. Harle, David August (live band), Dawn Of Midi, DJ EZ, Drippin, DVS1 & Rødhåd, Eats Everything, Ed Banger House Party: Busy P + Para One + Boston Bun, El Guincho, FIELD by Martin Messier, Fatboy Slim, Flume, Four Tet, Gazelle Twin: Kingdom Come, Golden Bug & Desilence - V.I.C.T.O.R., Gerd Janson, Hiele, HomeSick, Howling, Hot Shotz (Powell + Lorenzo Senni), Ilia Mayer, Intergalactic Gary, Ison, Ivy Lab, Insanlar, Jackmaster, JackWasFaster, Jacob Korn, James Blake, Jean-Michel Jarre, John Grant, Jamie Woon, John Grvy, James Rhodes, John Talabot, John Luther Adams + Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, Kasper Marott, Kaytranada, Kenny Dope, Kelela, Kerri Chandler, Kode9 x Lawrence Lek present The Nøtel, King Midas Sound + Fennesz, Kode9, Krysko & Greg Lord, Kölsch (live), Las Hermanas, Lafawndah, Laurent Garnier, Lady Leshurr, Lemonick, Lloret Salvatge, LiL JaBBA, Magic Mountain High, Matias Aguayo, Malard, Melé & Monki’s NRG FLASH, Mano Le Tough, Mura Masa, Mikael Seifu, Mind Against, N.M.O., Nicola Cruz, New Order, Niño de Elche + Los Voluble: “En el Nombre de”, Nozinja, Noaipre, Oneohtrix Point Never, Paco Osuna, Pulsinger & Irl, Richie Hawtin, Roots Manuva, Red Axes, Sapphire Slows, Santigold, Skepta, Sevdaliza, Silkersoft, Section Boyz, Sobrenadar, Strand, Soft Revolvers by Myriam Bleau, Stormzy, Sassy J, Soichi Terada, Tendts, The Black Madonna, The Spanish Dub Invasion feat. Mad Professor, Sr. Wilson, Lasai & George Palmer, Talktome, TroyBoi, Trill Squad: Toner + Sanatruja, Tuff City Kids, The Martinez Brothers, Undo, Underground Resistance presents Timeline, Yung Lean, Zero vs. Chelis, 65daysofstatic plays No Man's Sky

Sónar+D 2016: Game on ‘Why we play?’ Was the title of Brian Eno’s keynote at Sonar+D 2016, and indeed, gamification and subversive, artistic use of the world building technologies around video games, emerged as one of the key themes of this year’s edition. As a producer and musician celebrated for his pioneering use of emerging technology to unlock creativity, Brian Eno was the perfect choice to head up the talks portion of the programme. His keynote, in a packed out SonarComplex auditorium, riffed on his Oblique Strategies to show how play, experimentation and fun are instrumental in creating new ideas; musical, artistic, environmental and everything in-between. Gaming as a space for experimentation and creation then, became one of this edition’s standout topics. Fellow electronic pioneer and conceptualist Kode 9, presented the ‘Notel’, with 3D artist Lawrence Lek, imagining hospitality in a post-human age. A less dystopian take on using games to construct new spaces for social interaction was explored by Minecraft’s Adam Clarke in his talk, while Oculus studio presented their latest innovations in interactive storytelling with Lost and Henry at the new Realities+D space. One of the most talked about, and technically advanced games in years also debuted at Sónar+D, with the procedurally generated worlds and audio of No Man’s Sky. Head of audio for Hello Games, Paul Weir explained the challenges of creating sound that infinitely evolves, whilst the game itself was shared with the public through a live audiovisual show at SonarComplex, performed by soundtrack creators 65 days of Static. Joyful experimentation with technology has also marked the career of Jean Michel Jarre, Co-inciding with his performance at Sónar by Night, the iconic producer gave a talk at Sónar+D, illustrating how a forward thinking use of technology can build both temporary worlds in the form of groundbreaking live shows and albums, and longer lasting ones in the popular imagination. Central to all the keynotes at this year’s festival was the idea that play actively helps us to come up with creative solutions to problems that may seem insurmountable, a concept that chimed with Semiconductor’s installation for SonarPlanta by Fundación Sorigue. In Earthworks, the artist duo created a large-scale video installation that reacted in real time to the Earth’s increasing seismic activity; at once a comment on the Anthropocene and an acknowledgement that visualizing a problem through art, we can create the tools to confront it.