As Angel Molina - the veteran Barcelona DJ who closed Sónar 1994 and will close it again this year - said this week in an interview, Sónar has helped show the world that electronic music is for everybody, and can be listened to in any setting, place or at any time. 

Three decades on, and the definition of electronic music, like Sónar, has continued to expand exponentially. This year, Sónar has created four lists of artists on the lineup - Dancefloor, Hard and Fast, New Voices, and Outer Reaches - to help you celebrate the 30th anniversary of the festival with the soundtrack of your choice.

Dancefloor

This year, Sónar is a three-day long celebration, with a soundtrack to match. At Sónar by Day, Black Coffee closes SonarVillage by Estrella Damm on Thursday night, and UK garage revivalist Eliza Rose and ballroom ambassador MikeQ are amongst the highlights on a packed Friday programme. And a word to the wise: don’t forget the potent combination of Horse Meat Disco x Prosumer, who close Sónar by Day 2023 on Saturday. 

Colossal live shows from Eric Prydz and BICEP aren’t just spectacular: they’re designed to get bodies moving. They’re joined at Sónar by Night by DJs of the calibre of Peggy Gou and Solomun, as well as a pair of charismatic performers in Chloé Caillet and Mochakk. For classic house fans, Honey Dijon’s set is not to be missed, and don’t sleep on Granada’s Mareo: Chico Blanco b2b 8kitoo, who mix 90s house with more modern sounds. 

Hard and Fast 

Techno is a critical part of Sónar history, but there’s plenty of other high intensity music at Sónar 2023, starting at Sónar by Day on Thursday with Bored Lord’s furious breakbeat. Amor Satyr calls his music ‘speed-dembow’: he performs on Friday before BADSISTA b2b Cashu bring the riotous sound of the São Paulo underground to Sónar. And on Saturday Héctor Oaks premieres his new ‘Fuego Universal’ live set. 

At Sónar by Night, lovers of high bpms are spoilt for choice. On Friday, Aquarian’s freewheeling set of modern club hybrids is followed by a UK-flavoured tripleheader: UK garage legend DJ EZ; jungle, juke and footwork from SHERELLE x Kode9; and drum’n’bass from veteran pair DJ Marky & MC GQ. On Saturday, techno will reign supreme: firstly with Berlin raver Nene H and a brand-new AV set from Richie Hawtin, followed by Amelie Lens and Angel Molina closing the festival on separate stages.

New Voices

Sónar has a long-held tradition of bringing new styles and voices to the festival: from hip-hop and r&b to grime, trap, and reggaetón. 2023 will be no different with 700 Bliss’ radical hip-hop joined by Erika de Casier’s tender take on 90s r&b on Thursday at Sónar by Day. On the same day, Japanese rapper/popstar Tohji makes a rare European appearance, while on Friday Sticky M.A. and LEÏTI show how Spanish rap is expanding in bold new ways. 

At Sónar by Night on Friday, New Jersey rapper Cakes Da Killa makes his first appearance in Spain, and rising star Shygirl debuts at Sónar, while Ikonika’s ‘Bubble Up’ mixes influences from r&b and amapiano. On Saturday, Catalan superstar Bad Gyal debuts at Sónar by Night, and UK rapper Little Simz plays a back-to-basics show. Over at SonarCar by TOUS, Spanish reggaetón star La Zowi performs her new album live, following a sure-to-be triumphant debut at Sónar by Night by Spanish queer icon Samantha Hudson. 

The Outer Reaches

Experimentation has always been at the heart of the Sónar project, and especially at Sónar by Day. Catalan artist Marina Herlop’s unique compositions have brought her recognition around the world; she’s prepared a special set for Sónar. Elsewhere, Lucrecia Dalt explores latin tradition and experimental sonics, longtime friends of the festival Lorenzo Senni and Kode9 bring their latest live shows to Barcelona, and Oneohtrix Point Never will play a special retrospective set. There’s borderless club music from Deena Abdelwahed and a dadaist performance art from local duo Lolo & Sosaku. And on top of that, Japanese innovators Ryoji Ikeda and Daito Manabe each return to Sónar with new audiovisual shows, and Max Cooper brings his 3D/AV live show to Sónar. 

At Sónar by Night, all eyes will be on Aphex Twin, who returns to Sónar for the first time in 11 years, with a brand new audiovisual show. Not to be overshadowed, Fever Ray also returns to the festival for the first time since 2009: come take a glimpse into their unique world.