OFF Week Barcelona 2016: The Ultimate Party Guide

Summer is coming back around here in Barcelona, and that means one thing, Sónar is looming. Thousands upon thousands of fiesta hungry troublemakers will be flocking to the Catalan Capital to get high on life (& other substances). They will be joined by a host of the best electronic artists on the planet, such as dance legend Fatboy Slim, DJ and producer Hot Since 82, or UK breakthrough grime artist Stormzy. The mix of genres and sub-cultures during the festival is truly incredible.

The city is taken over by thumping bass & echoing acoustics, the locals flee in hope that by the end of the week their house has not been burned to the ground. From the 100ft yacht parties to world-class label showcases, there is something for everyone. Here at Xceed we have prepared the ultimate guide to Off Week 2016. So grab a Corona out of the fridge and get planning!

DAY 1 – TUESDAY JUNE 14

It all kicks off on Tuesday 14th June, and the week isn’t starting slow.

UMEK @ BLOCWhen: 23:00 – 05:00Price: €20 tickets hereLineup: UMEK | Raul Mezcolanza | Pig&Dan | Rafa Barrios

The standout event of the night is Umek taking over at Bloc. Embrace the dark devilish vibes this club gives off with Umek’s world renowned Tech/House tunes. You will be humbled by the blaring speakers that this venue has, projecting beat after beat with utmost clarity, this party is set to continue until the early hours. If that hasn’t convinced you then bop your head to some Umek and we’re sure you’ll come round…

“Sonar is particularly special to us because we are half Spanish. We love celebrating music within our own walls (so to speak), plus it’s incredible the energy it brings to the beautiful city of Barcelona. The main appeal is the fact that there’s many parties in a zone that’s so spread out… It seems everywhere you go your greeted by music lovers and it’s super inspiring to be part of it!” – Pig&Dan

Despite being the first night of the week there is no shortage of events, perhaps La Terrraza is your calling. This open air club has an ambience like no other, and with My Favourite Freaks bringing artists such as Arjun Vagale, Dosem & Wehbba to the party the ambience will only be amplified. From 23:45 to 05:45 this party is not for the faint hearted so make your choice wisely and leave plenty in the tank for the rest of the week!

DANNY TENAGLIA ON & ON @ R33When: 23:00 – 05:00Price: €10- €20 tickets hereLineup: Danny Tenaglia

Catch a special extended set from Danny Tenaglia @ R33 and warm up for the rest of the crazy week ahead! Danny Tenaglia DJ was born in Brooklyn, New York, where he stayed until his move in 1985 to Miami Florida. Danny’s first gigs in New York include the Roller Palace, on of the first roller discos in Brooklyn, Stix and Crisco Disco.

DAY 2 – WEDNESDAY JUNE 15

After the crazy antics of last night with Umek or Arjun Vagale and co you’ll be wanting to cool off & bask in the Spanish sun. Normally the beach would be calling, but no, not this time, the party is still going, this time led by techno icon Sven Väth at the Cocoon Pool Party, part of the FACT Pool Party Series. Sven Väth, the world renowned techno legend, will be accompanied by Philly born Josh Wink, up and coming Italian Ilario Alicante, Danah Ruh, Christian Burkhardt and London based DJ & Producer Tim Green. This trio of international stars combined with the Barcelona event organizers FACT are sure to help you shake off that hangover from last night and set things straight for the rest of the week. Tickets for this one will not be around for long, so what are you waiting for go ahead & put yourself down for it!

“OFF Sonar is special because all my DJ friends are there. So it’s partytime full on and Barcelona is such a nice city with a beach and nice restaurants…” – Christian Burkhardt “For me, I think the combination of great locations, great weather and great crowds of people from all around the world coming together to enjoy the best electronic dance music is what makes Sonar so amazing. On a more personal level, it’s especially nice for me and fellow DJs / Artists to see each other all in one place as most of the time we are all in different parts of the world touring alone. So it’s a good place to catch up with friends.” – Tim Green

CHRISTIAN SMITH & NICK CURLY @ HOTEL OMMWhen: 23:59 – 07:30Price: FREE w/ Guest ListLineup: Christian Smith | Monika Kruse | Nick Curly | Dubspeeka | Sunju Hargun

However, OFF Sonar party animals are no normal breed and for some the Cocoon party will simply not be enough. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. There are plenty more parties to delve into. Why not get that one half ironed shirt out of your suitcase and head to Hotel OMM, where trendy meets underground with Christian Smith & Nick Curly on the decks. This one could well surprise you and be a highlight of the week.

PAN-POT & DUBFIRE @ PACHAWhen: 23:59 – 07:30Price: €20 tickets hereLineup: Pan-Pot | Dubfire | Stephan Hinz (live) | Clint Stewart | Michael Klein | The Reason | Y BEC Why not head to the Barcelona Pacha branch, where Pan-Pot & Dubfire will be going blow for blow until sunrise. Set overlooking the Mediterranean, you will think Sonar has moved to the streets of Ibiza.

“Since it’s the first time for me being there, I don’t really know what to expect but I’m very looking forward to an amazing SNDST event and to meet some of my friends and colleagues over the days and nights there. And of course to hang out with my label buddies Tas & Thomas (Pan-Pot), Clint Stewart, Michael Klein, Bec, Amelie Lens and Andi and Fred from The Reason Y.” -Stephen Hinz

https://soundcloud.com/stephanhinz/dj-mix-stephan-hinz-april-2016

Enjoy 3 separate stages and a jam-packed lineup right in the centre of the city at BLVD. Bounce your way through the night to the early morning until the party spills out onto the famous Las Ramblas, then grab yourself a street beer and keep going!

DAY 3 – THURSDAY JUNE 16

Thursday we recommend you chill out and recover for Friday… Fuck that you say? Yeah we were just kidding, fuck that indeed. If the Summer breeze & sunlight streaming through the window hasn’t woken you then surely the smell of a freshly made Gin & Tonic will? Thought so. Why not use the first few hours of the day to head to the beach, don your overpriced Havaianas & pick up a cocktail or two in one of the many beach side bars. If they all full then don’t worry, bathe in the sun & within minutes you will have your own personal waiter trying to sell you a Mojito (Bro tip, they will start at 5€ but barter them down to 1.50€).

So, you’ve shaken the hangover off, topped up on your tan and now it’s time to get back to business & plan your Thursday night. Thursday has an endless list of options for you to choose from all of which are certain to end in alcoholic intoxication.

We have the rundown on the 4 best parties of the night:

Spend the afternoon warming up for the night at the first of 3 rooftop pool parties by The Hidden People. Purobeach at the Hilton equipped with the biggest rooftop and open air pool in the city. Its localization in the @22 Barcelona’s technological district make this venue the perfect spot to host such event for a unique music experience!

Celebrate the 6th birthday of London based warehouse party, bookings agency and record label Toi. Toi. The night promises to be a special one as the Toi.Toi. crew takes control of INPUT club’s new revamped sound system and LED light setup.

Last but certainly not least, visit the holy grail of the Barcelona nightlife scene: Razzamatazz. Take the opportunity to watch Heidi, having played in the best clubs in the world we’re sure she will be bringing a real party to Off Week 2016. Razz is a truly unique experience, don that baggy tee and get ready for the night of your life.

Now, over to you. You are tasked with the incredibly hard choice of picking one of these venues. Whichever you choose make sure to get your tickets as soon as possible as they will sell out quickly!

DAY 4 – FRIDAY JUNE 17

Congratulations, you’ve made it this far! You’ve been going hard all week and have not faltered. Just as you think you can see an end to all this madness on the horizon it’s time to suck it up and keep heading straight. You’re a train that no mere hangover can derail. Nothing is stopping you.

Berlin based high-flyers Stil vor Talent present an exclusive showcase with its best-known artists, including label boss Oliver Koletzki. The chosen venue is La Terrrazza, a top notch club located in Poble Espanyol in the heart of Barcelona. The event will take place on the outdoor terrace of the club in the daytime/evening, fully equipped with a flawless sound system.

MISS KITTIN & THE GIRLS @ LA TERRRAZZAWhen: 23:45 – 06:45Price: €25 tickets hereLineup:Miss Kittin | Magda | Kim Ann Foxman

Continue the night at La Terrraza with Miss Kittin & The Girls (Magda & Kim Ann Foxmann) The club has often been named within the top 50 best clubs in the world and is the perfect spot to dance the night away at the hands of 3 talented ladies!

By this point you will have seen many of the best clubs in Barcelona and partied with some of the best DJ’s in the world. Causing havoc on such a scale will most likely leave your pockets a little empty. So why not try out El Maravillas, the only real beachfront venue during OFF Week, where you have free entry with Xceed. There you will be joined by Christian Smith, Anna, Pig&Dan, Mark Reeve and more…

“I love Off Week because it gives the opportunity for people to experience many different kinds of parties and talent. I do my yearly Tronic Beach Festival for free, because for me Off Week is not about making money, but having a good time and partying with your friends and fans! Last year we had over 4000 people dance under the stars on the beach, and it was a magical vibe from beginning to end” – Christian Smith

Plan C. You cannot go through Off Week without venturing to Barcelona’s most praiseworthy club, Razzmatazz, a legendary venue throughout the globe. Razzmatazz has been making waves throughout the nightlife industry for years, uncovering artists ahead of their time as well as bringing the biggest global names to Catalonia. Of course they have not disappointed this year, with Yousef headlining the Friday night. Yousef has become a household name throughout the party world and is sure to start your weekend in style.

dOP! @ HOTEL OMMWhen: 23:59 – 07:30Price: FREE with limited Guest ListLineup: dOP | Dave Aju | Andrey Pushkarev | Sety

Ommseries Week 2016 presents Circus Company Showcase, get on the Guest List quick for this one because it’s sure to be filled up quick! Catch dOP, Dave Aju, Audrey Pushkarev, and Sety at Hotel OMM in the Eixample district.

It would be possible to create a week long festival off Fridays events alone, and that is what makes Sonar’s OFF Week untouchable and dominant within the Music world.

DAY 5 – SATURDAY JUNE 18

All good things come to an end, and boy have you had a good time. However, the end it is still a good 48 hours before you can even consider taking your foot off the gas. You are now at the crucial stage, you’re coming into the final 100m of the London Marathon and you have 2 choices, push that bit harder and strive for eternal glory or get swallowed up by defeat.

The Hidden People Off Week Experience continues with acclaimed London imprint Anjunadeep. The crew have established themselves as one of the scene’s leading labels in recent years, featuring talent such as Jody Wisternoff, Cubicolor, Theo Kottis and Yotto. Following sold out showcases around the world Anjunadeep comes to Barcelona for the first time this summer.

Lola ED, Half Baked & Checkpoint team up for Saturday’s edition of the FACT Music Pool Series 2016.If you still haven’t been to one of these parties (and even if you have) this combination of artists is a real treat. Plus, everyone knows that swimming in the pool while sipping a mojito is the best way to get rid of a hangover!

LUCIANO & FRIENDS @ PACHAWhen: 23:59 – 07:30Price: €30 tickets hereLineup: Luciano | Special Guests TBA

After a year full of epic nights, INSANE has become the most successful techno party in town. Every Sunday Pacha Barcelona offers an amazing line up with the best artist of the electronic music scene. This time presenting Luciano & Friends at Off Week Sonar Festival. Luciano has been constantly involved in various music projects, such as playing live performances, running his label Cadenza Records, and hosting multiple parties in Ibiza, this is your chance to catch him in Barcelona!

As you scramble to shore having had an immeasurable number of Tequilla shots & Rum Cokes, it’s time, time to settle this for good and prove you are one of a select few to enter the Sonar Hall of Fame. To finish the week right, who better than German born techno sensation Ellen Allien to send you on your way into the next life. Head back to Bloc for what could be the party of the week, grab your friends by the scruff of the neck and rock this joint like never before.

DAY 6 – SUNDAY JUNE 19

The homestretch! Here are the final parties of the week, muster up the very last of your stamina and dance ’til the very end.

Here we have an amazing 12 hours of music with Kindcrime Recordings OFF Week Showcase. Right in front of Barceloneta beach where you can spend the first 7 hours of the party on the Catwalk terrace with an amazing sea view in company of astonishing artists for a Tech House and Dub Techno delicious blend. Then until 5 am there will be a darker, stronger mood inside the club for another 6 hours of Techno!

One of the final parties of the week, if you can’t make it the full night (or have an early flight home tomorrow) why not spend the evening at La Terrrazza dancing with Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Marc Marzenit, Nicko Izzo, Oliverio, Graziano Raffa and Nick Varon!

Nic Fanciulli & Friends (Anja Schneider, Butch, D’Julz, Timid Boy) at Pacha Barcelona. Nic Fanciulli is a DJ, producer and label owner who has remained one of the UK’s finest exports in electronic music throughout the last decade. One of the last DJs to break through to international acclaim on the strength of his DJ’ing alone, Nic has since gone on to establish his own imprint, Saved Records, a label that remains proudly at the forefront of electronic music today.

Over the course of it’s nine years in existence, WetYourSelf! has established itself as a Sunday night fixture at Fabric London. This summer, the brand will join forces with FACT and YAKAZI for the final FACT Music Pool Series 2016 event.

Congratulations! You made it, you have been accordingly invited to the Sonar Hall of Fame. Very few have come this far, and you only have yourself to thank.

You did it.

Now back to reality, the daily wake up call, the 9-5, the microwave meals. Don’t worry my friend, you have just over 50 weeks to wait until it all starts again.

#Clubbing