Sónar announces first artists for 2023 festival
Celebrating three decades of the landmark European electronic music event, with music, art, science, technology, masterclasses and more
Sónar has announced the first artists for its flagship 2023 festival in Barcelona, which will mark 30 years of the electronic music institution.
Taking place from 15th to 17th June next year, the line-up includes Bicep performing a headline live show, while Solomun makes his debut at the event. Amelie Lens, Peggy Gou, Honey Dijon, The Blessed Madonna, Laurent Garnier and Richie Hawtin are also confirmed.
The Knife member Fever Ray, producer and movie score master Oneohtrix Point Never, Max Cooper, and Japanese interdisciplinary practitioner Ryoji Ikea are also all on the bill. Spanish composer Santiago Latorre will perform his piece, 'The Architecture of Friendship', alongside Colin Self, while Colombia's Lucrecia Daly brings her acclaimed '¡Ay!’ show to the city for the first time, inspired by music from her childhood.
Other highlights are set to include pianist Carles Viarnès and visual talent Alba G. Corral's new collaboration, 700 Bliss teaming up with Kode 9 for 'Escapology' — which centres on political and sonic radicalism — and a rare set from drum & bass heroes MikeQ, DJ Marky and MC GQ. Exclusive back-to-backs by Call Super and Sedef Adasi, BADSISTA with Cash, and ISAbella and Rosa Terenzi have also been revealed.
Music aside, attendees are being promised redesigned venues and spaces. An expanded Sonar+D will offer morning masterclasses, lectures, demonstrations and meetings available exclusively to accredited delegates, in addition to its showcase of technology, art, and science from across a range of creative industries open to all.
Enric Palau, co-director of Sónar, said: "The festival marks its 30th anniversary with an entirely electronic line-up that celebrates club culture, the role of the DJ as a cultural symbol of our time, and the diversity of sounds at the heart of today's electronic music scene. It does so with a wide representation of emblematic artists — those who have grown alongside Sónar over the years and are now considered masters of the form, plus some of the hottest names in electronic music today."
Ahead of the 30th anniversary edition, Sónar will return to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, for its second weekender in the city (31st March - 2nd April 2023), and then head to Istanbul for the seventh time (28th and 29th April 2023), where a strong representation of homegrown Turkish talent will perform alongside major international names. Full details of all festivals, tickets and registration can be found here.
