Red Bull Music Academy Radio teams up with music festivals worldwide to curate dedicated stages and bring you exclusive live recordings from the season’s most thrilling acts.
A3C Festival (USA)
In the heart of Barcelona, the Sónar festival has not only taken the crown for must-attend festivals in Spain and Europe - it takes the pulse of electronic music and digital art from across the globe and presents its diagnosis to leagues of revellers every year over three hot sunny days in June. It's the festival that any fan of the 'soul in the machines' has to go to, and not just to see the big names, or their favourite artists, but to get turned on to box fresh acts of the unheard variety. There's none of those backstage VIP vibes, and you're more than likely to bump into your number one DJ wandering through the tangled alleyways of the city while looking for your friends. The Red Bull Music Academy has a strong connection with the Sónar festival, and hosted its own musical perspective at a customised 'lounge' from '05-'08. The Academy Lounge became one of the festival's pit stops for a broad selection of styles; featuring alumni from previous Academies, including Flying Lotus, XXXchange, TRG, Jneiro Jarel, Aloe Blacc, and plenty more. From 2006-2008, we went one step further and programmed Red Bull Music Academy Radio showcases at Sónar by Night, big enough to hold the whole Buraka Som Sistema live crew, and the intergalactic drum beat that only Theo Parrish can bring. Since 2009 the Academy curates a full line up of Academy artists over three days on the SónarDôme main stage - with visits by everyone from the Bomb Squad to Moodymann or Caribou, the Dome has quickly become a centerpiece of Sonar by Day. Turn your radars on and scan some unfamiliar territory.
June 14 - June 16, 2012
Sónar by Day
Carrer de Montalegre 5
08001 Barcelona
Sónar by Night
Carrera de la Botànica 62
08908 Hospitalet de Llobregat