Update – Check out the earPIPE Sonar Disco Map Here.

This weekend Barcelona becomes the centre of attention as Sonar festival rolls into town. The festival itself is a jam packed 3 days and 2 nights of music and art featuring the likes of Plastikman, The Chemical Brothers and Roxy Music. However its not just the festival that garners all the attention, as for the same weekend Barcelona turns into a thriving party city with what are now known as the Off Sonar parties. This year we’re spoilt for choice in terms of party venues. We’ve got parties on beaches, on rooftops, on terraces, on boats and at secret villas. There’s even a few parties happening in them there nightclubs. There’s a lot to pick from so here’s what we think is looking pretty hot for the weekend.

Wednesday

Ovum at Boulevard Culture Club (Tickets)

If you’re arriving in the city before the festival starts, then you can start your sleepless campaign from Wednesday night. Josh Wink takes over Boulevard Culture Club with friends Shlomi Aber, David Squaillace and Luca Bacchetti from his Ovum record label. The clubs conveniently located on La Ramblas, so there’s no hassle in getting there.

Warehoused  at Mephistos (Tickets)

Warehoused is a new night for Off Sonar and it opens at Mephistos, a heavy metal club in Barcelona. So i’m not sure what the venue has to offer, but the line up looks pretty solid with Konrad Black and Stimming heading the bill. Not bad to warm things up for Wednesday night.

Thursday

RA by Day at Hotel Diagonal (info)

RA host one of the parties of the weekend. They’ll be getting things into motion with their Thursday daytime party at the beautiful Hotel Diagonal rooftop pool. A minor distraction from the views will be the stunning lineup they’ve got planned – Michael Mayer, Steve Bug, Jesse Rose and Eric Duncan from Rub n Tug!! All for free!! But before you dust off you deck shoes and rolled up denim cut offs, entry to the party is by invite only. So you either need to know someone who knows someone, or you might have been one of the lucky 50 that won tickets.

Desolat Experience at Ghoa Beach Club (Tickets)

Sub Club at BeCool (Tickets)

Moon Harbour at Discotechque Club (Tickets)

Moon Harbour will be celebrating ten years with its sister label Cargo at the imaginatively named Discotheque Club. Matthias Tanzmann, Martinez, Boris Werner and Ekkohaus will be playing the labels’ blend of bumpy techno and house.

Friday

Watergate and Beatport Secret Villa Party (info)

Hot Natured at W Barcelona Hotel (info)

BPitch Beach Party at Playa de El Prat (info)

Cocoon at Ghoa Beach Club (Tickets)

Kompakt at Nitsa (info)

Kompakt have a pretty tasty party at Nitsa. You’ll be able to catch Michael Mayer, if you weren’t invited to the RA party, as well as Superpitcher, Gui Boratto and DJ Koze. That’s a huge lineup to celebrate 10 years of Off Sonar parties.

Circus Company at Oshum (info)

Saturday

Mobilee Rooftop Party at Hotel Diagonal (info)

BPitch Control Boat Party (Tickets)

Cadenza at Ghoa Beach Club (Tickets)

Crosstown Rebels at Oshum (info)

If you’re still alive then Secretsundaze will be taking up its traditional position at La Terrazza. They’ll be out in the picnic area from 5pm and then in the usual club from midnight. For music, they’ve got the cream of their DJ agency from Patrice Scott, The Mole, Trus’me, Ethyl, Flori and of course the two residents Jamie and Giles. Great club, great tunes, always a must on the Sonar weekend.

Minus Beach Party at Playa de El Prat (info)

If you fancy something with a rougher edge, then Minus will be for you. They’re throwing their beach party at Chiringuito Calamar out by the airport and have got everyone off the label to get involved, from Marco Carola, Troy Pierce and Heartthrob to Ambivalent, Fabrizio Maurizi and Hobo. They also say they’ve got some special guests, which means its highly likely the two Minus names not on the line-up but are playing at Sonar will probably turn up for a few tunes!

Playkula & Wilde Boat Party (Tickets)

Two of Berlin’s biggest DJ agencies join forces to set sail for the high seas. Tiefschwarz, MANDY, Pig & Dan, Thomas Schumacher, Matt Tolfrey, Heidi and INXEC will be entertaining a packed catamaran of ravers finding their sea legs after a weekend of fun. Let’s hope the seas aren’t too rough.

Wax’d at Public Life
Just a bit of self promotional glory first. This Friday I’ll be laying down some grooves for Wax’d at Public life – Shoreditch’s most loved toilet. I’ll be playing alongside Andy Richardson and Nick Warren, where we will be laying down your typical offering of house and techno fit only for a toilet. Its free before 11 and then only £3 after that. We finish at 2am so you’ve even got options to go other places after….

Derrick Carter at T-Bar (Buy Tickets)
One of those places is most definitely T-Bar. They’ve been pushing hard on giving you good reasons for paying on the door and I have to say with recent line-ups they’re doing a pretty good job of convincing me. This Friday they’ve got the teddy bear of Chi-town Derrick Carter busting out those bumping rhythms that there windy city is so famed for. Dave Congreve the legendary Bomb resident is down to give some support too. Big for a Friday night!

Buzzin fly at Plastic People
Also in the general Shoreditch vicinity will be Ben Watt and Buzzin Fly chums at Plastic People. He’ll be taking the deeper stance on house with his long time side kick Chris Woodward. Tickets are gone so get there early!

Paradise 45 at Dalston Superstore
Guy Williams of DTPM fame brings kicks off a new monthly night called Paradise 45. Serge Santiago will be joinging Guy to start things with a bang at the now staple Dalston Superstore. At only a fiver on the door it sounds like the start of something promising.

MuMu 1st Birthday at The CAMP (Buy Tickets)
Saturday sees The CAMP play host to relative London new comer MuMu who will be celebrating their 1st year in the city. They’ve just got the opening hours extended so that Boris Werner and Lauhaus can now do a five hour extended set. That is a great way to celebrate being one.

Mulletover at The Basement (Buy Tickets)
Mulletover are sticking their two fingers up at Valentines Day which happened two weeks before. I’d imagine Mulletover were busy wining and dining their Valentine which is why their Anti-Valentines Special is happening now. Either way Luke Solomon of Freaks fame will be headlining, so expect all manner of quirky house sounds for your listening and dancing delight. Another of the third wave Detroit contingent Ryan Elliot will be in support along with Tom Demac who’s making his debut. And of course Geddes will be there to keep things tidy.

Lick MY Deck T-Bar (info)
Finally, another great line-up at T-bar. Lick My Deck have Baby Ford and Bruno Pronsato for a night of introspective minimal techno, and that’s minimal in a good way.