Catalunya Calling (Back)

Red Bull Music Academy presents SónarDôme 2009

After hosting its infamous Sónar Lounge for three years straight, the Red Bull Music Academy this year took over a full stage at the ‘Sónar By Day’ part of the festival, bringing a unique cast of inspired, inspiring music makers to the heart of Barcelona.

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.

This year, from June 18 to June 20, the SónarDôme right next to the Museum of Contemporary Arts saw performances by Academy youngbloods and legends alike, ranging from Jamie Woon’s folky futuristic soul to punching bass waves from hip hop producer legend turned dubstep maverick Hank Shocklee of Bomb Squad. Another highlight was Mulatu Astatke’s collaboration with Malcolm Catto’s Heliocentrics who presented their mutual Inspiration Information project for Strut (that was first developed during a Red Bull Music Academy session at London’s Cargo).

More beats, grime and life came courtesy of la Lafourcade, Muhsinah, Innervisions’ new arrival Culoe de Song, Viennese microKORG wizard Dorian Concept, Brooklyn-via-Baltimore blogrocker Xxxchange, Glasgow’s wonkmaster Mike Slott, Internasjonal’s Mano LeTough, French sample slaughterers Débruit and Onra, Santa Cecilia’s electro-punk warrior Cécile, El Santo, Rory D, Lukid, Mweslee vs. Chelis, MiDee, Sonicbrat and Taras 3000, as well as matadores locales Cardopusher, d’J’w, Guillamino, and Miaau.

Was great seeing y’all in Barcelona – now check out the first Sónar 2009 sessions, as well as our selection of previous Sónar gigs plus shows by some of the key artist from this year’s line-up.

Heat Wave
Major Lazer x Notting Hill Carnival session on RBMA Radio

Lights Down Low
Four hour set from Theo Parrish on RBMA Radio

The Hundreds In The Hands
PanamériKa turns 100

On The Double
Hyperdub Special on RBMA Radio

Green Professors
RBMA Radio at Oxegen Festival

Cabride Reveries
SonarDome x RBMA Radio

Parclife
Primavera Sound Special on RBMA Radio

Move With It
Movement Festival Detroit on RBMA Radio

future roots experiments
dublab focus on RBMA Radio

D10
Dissonanze special on RBMA Radio

Rappin’ All Over
New hip hop shows on RBMA Radio

Zombie Nation
RBMA residency at Fabric kicks off with Brainfeeder

Tech The High Road
RBMA and RA hit the Royal Festival Hall

Sublime Frequencies
RBMA Culture Clash feat. Trojan, Soul ll Soul, Metalheadz and DMZ

Hitek House
Future Garage Special on RBMA Radio

Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
Disco special on RBMA Radio

Bubble Metropolis
Detroit Special on RBMA Radio

Listen Death From Above
DFA label spotlight on Red Bull Music Academy Radio

Chords Got Soul
Soul singers tune up on RBMA Radio

Dub Be Good To Me
The London-Kingston love affair on RBMA Radio

Making Waves
Mavericks of an era on Red Bull Music Academy Radio

Africa Center Of The World
Continental Focus on RBMA Radio

I Hear You Singing In The Wire
Wichita Records Label Special on RBMA Radio

Northern Soul
WARP/ED special on RBMA

Be Reasonable, People
Warp Records Label Special on RBMA Radio

No Ice Cream Sounds
Notting Hill Carnival Special on RBMA Radio

Yes We Cannes
Festival Pantiero special on RBMA Radio

Break A Dawn
Nachtdigital Special on RBMA Radio

Pips and Blanks
Domino Special on RBMA Radio

Punchestown Drunk Love
Oxegen festival special on RBMA Radio

Beats It
Beats Special on RBMA Radio

Catalunya Calling (Back)
Red Bull Music Academy presents SónarDôme 2009

Dem A Call Us Pirates…
RBMA Radio takes over Lisbon's airwaves

The Wolf Gang
Stones Throw Records Label Special

Lane Stage
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Special