It’s every day that you turn 30. That’s why for its 30th anniversary, Sónar has put together a refreshed edition of Sónar by Day. This year, alongside a typically diverse and especially celebratory lineup, we’ve also sought to improve the experience. For your comfort, we’ve added more taps with free drinking water, increased the amount of shade throughout the festival, and moved our food trucks and dining area inside into an air conditioned area, amongst other improvements. And above all else, the SonarVillage by Estrella Damm has been revamped and reorientated, with an open-air dancefloor fully protected from the sun, as well as a new SonarVIP by Red Bull with direct views on the stage.
SonarVillage by Estrella Damm: a three day long open-air party
In 2023, Sónar by Day will be an especially celebratory event, headlined by three big names in peak time slots on each day. On Thursday Black Coffee takes to the stage, on Friday it’s the turn of The Blessed Madonna and on Saturday an exclusive never-before-seen session from 2manydjs invite Peach & Tiga. Alongside them across the weekend are names from around the globe, from playful electro-pop duo Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul to Crystal Murray’s fluid blend of pop and r&b and latinx club styles from Nick León.There’s also ballroom house courtesy of MikeQ; percussive club sounds from Ahadadream; Horse Meat Disco x Prosumer’s mix of house, disco and beyond; plus feel-good sounds from UK selectors Eliza Rose and Bradley Zero b2b Moxie.
SonarPark by DICE: Sónar at its most radical and innovative
The celebration continues over at SonarPark by DICE. This indoor stage is both a vibrant party and a tribute to the ever-widening range of styles and ideas that make up global club culture. Its a celebration of what makes Sónar by Day unique: esoteric, hyperspecific, and above all open-minded sounds designed for the dancefloor. Amongst the highlights are artists like Omagoqa, Bored Lord, Merca Bae, and BADSISTA b2b Cashu. All of this without forgetting local talents like Flaca, Sticky M.A., LEÏTI, and Albany.
Experimental live performances…
Technology has always had a leading role at Sónar. SonarHall will welcome live performances from Ryoji Ikeda, Oneohtrix Point Never, Deena Abdelwahed, and Max Cooper’s 3D/AV live show. The Complex+D auditorium will be the venue for experimental shows that range from Kode9's ‘Escapology’, to Klara Lewis & Nik Colk Void and visual artist Pedro Maia (featuring 16mm projections) and Catalan duo Desert’s AI-enhance performance of their album Caos sota el cel. Carles Viarnès and Alba G. Corral will perform an audiovisual version of Catalan composer’s latest record Hyper_O. And the seven screens of Stage+D by MEDIAPRO will feature Nosaj Thing and Daito Manabe presenting ‘Continua’, as well as a brand new solo live show by Daito Manabe, local Pan-African collective Jokkoo with a new AV show inspired by their recent artistic residency in Kenya, and a brand new show ‘The End’ by groundbreaking local artists Lolo & Sosaku.
… and brand new premieres
Sónar by Day has long been where artists test out new ideas and premiere their latest work. In 2023, Héctor Oaks will reveal his new project ‘Fuego Universal’ to the world, and Spanish superproducer Merca Bae, known for his work with Sónar by Night headliner Bad Gyal, will perform ‘2048’, his first ever live show. Elsewhere, Spanish rappers Kitty110 / LaBlackie / L’Beel perform together for the first time, while Catalan experimental artists CLARAGUILAR and Marina Herlop will bothl premiere brand new shows. And longtime friend of Sónar Lorenzo Senni performs a new live show based on his forthcoming new album, as does local beatmaker and choreographer Mans O. Experimental duo Santiago Latorre & Colin Self appear on stage for the first time together, and local DJ and musical activist La Niña Jacarandá debuts her brand new ‘Sexpiritual’ show, mixing DJing and performance.
A Sónar+D for everyone
Sónar by Day wouldn’t be complete without Sónar+D. This year, the international meeting of art, science and technology opens its doors at 10am for all Delegate Pass, SonarPass+D or Sónar by Day Pass holders. And anyone attending Sónar by Day public can take in the concerts, masterclasses, talks, debates and everything else that happens at Sónar+D from 3pm onwards, with the exception of Lounge+D. There’s also the brand new Project Area, which serves as the central plaza for Sónar by Day. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy over 80 projects and prototypes spread between six distinct zones: Music & Sound, Art & Science, Design, Realities+D, Gaming, as well as the Stage Project Area where exhibitors will present their work. Elsewhere, in celebration of the 30th Anniversary image campaign, the immersive video installation ‘Processing…30 years of Sónar’ presented by ME by Meliá explores three decades of Sónar graphic history, as seen through the prism of AI.