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.

My god, this weekend is so packed that there is hardly any room to manoeuvre for hangovers. But even though we know of the impending doom that is likely to happen next week in the form of an almighty comedown we’re still going to give you our low down on what seems fun for the short term.

If you’re starting things early then new club Cable in London Bridge has their opening night on Thursday. Will Saul, Dave Congreve and the Disco Bloodbath fellas will no doubt be cracking open a bottle of bubbly in celebration.

But now on to the real weekend. Friday sees the French grand master Laurent Garnier debut his live show in the UK at matter. Things kick off early with the live show starting at 7pm and running through till 9pm. That’s then followed by a pretty monstrous line-up consisting of DJ sets from Garnier, Francois K, Yousef, Norman Jay, The Unabombers and Chris Coco. Not a bad way to start a weekend eh? Get your tickets from the following links: Live Show only or Combined Live/Club tickets here or Club night only tickets here

If a trip all the way out to Greenwich is too much (and I don’t blame you) then maybe a trip to East Village where everyone’s favourite Romanian DJ, Pedro of a:rpia:r fame is manning the decks in the basement. He’s sure to have things bumping with his blend of techno and house. Moving on to Saturday and there is one event which is sure to be a complete roadblock.

That is of course Ricardo Villalobos at Fabric. He’s going back to back with everyone’s other favourite Romanian DJ Raresh. Their sounds are similar so this should surely be a blinding B2B set from the duo. Be warned however, this will be a roadblock event so be prepared to dance on the spot pogoing to the beats. It’s also not advisable to wing it on the door so get your tickets here.

If being stuck in a sea of people until the early hours of the morning isn’t your thing then Jay Haze at the recently reopened T-Bar is popping in for a visit. The guy is releasing a Fabric CD in the coming months so it could be cool to check out his sound and the new venue (apparently a converted S&M retreat). Also worth a mention is part three of Cable’s opening parties. UR legend Rolando is over along with Chateau Flight and Rub n Tug. There’s also resident support from our favourites Will Saul and Dave Congreve. Tickets are only £12 so it would be rude not to hear some quality techno. Get your tickets here.

That brings us neatly on to Sunday where things start from the get go. Egg play host to the Mixmag after party where the Ketoloco folks have Pier Bucci and Tim Paris firing up the decks on their garden terrace for those that has trouble sleeping. Reckon if the weather is on form this could be a top class after party. You can still get tickets here.

If you’re really wrong you can go from the Mixmag after party straight to Secretsundaze who will be taking over the MOS terrace in the afternoon. Unfortunately Onur Ozer who was booked to play is having visa troubles so instead they’ve got Tobi Neumann who is definitely a worthy replacement. The last few times I’ve seen Tobi play it was been phenomenal jacking grooves which are bound to go perfect in the sunshine. Tickets have sold out so you might have to chance it on the door or on the tinterweb. There are however tickets left for the evening party round the corner at the Coronet where Sebo K will be making his long awaited Secretsundaze debut. Get your tickets from RA here.

If south of the river isn’t your thing then Mulletover are having their summer close down party in Old Street. The venue is the Basement on Scrutton Street off Curtain Road. If it’s the venue I think it is then it’s a raw industrial basement which should have a great vibe comparing to those Addias Originals adverts. Providing the music will be Cecille’s Robert Dietz with Burnski, Anthea and Geddes in support. The staple party will be sorely missed until they return in October, so send the Mulletover folks off on their summer travels in high spirits. Get your tickets here.

Our final mention of fun things to do is Dig Your Own Rave at T-Bar. It’s been a while since the hay days of free messy Sunday evenings at the T. But they’re back with a TBA line up which could be special considering all the talent in the vicinity. So even if you don’t go big you could always pop in to the old faithful. So there you go… The weather looks good as do the parties. Bon Voyage!