The concerts of 2024
Bruce Springsteen, Estopa and Rammstein will be at the Olympic Stadium, with Depeche Mode, Olivia Rodrigo and Manolo García at the nearby Sant Jordi
Depeche Mode, Rammstein, Olivia Rodrigo, Bruce Springsteen, Estopa... it looks like 2024 will be another year of great concerts on Barcelona’s Montjuïc mountain, with 50 performances already scheduled at the Palau Sant Jordi arena, the Sant Jordi Club venue and, so far, three macro shows at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.
Let’s take a look at how the 2024 musical agenda is shaping up, starting with the concerts that will attract the largest audiences. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band return to the Olympic Stadium on June 20, already sold out, and June 22, which at the time of writing still had a few tickets available. Unlike last year, the Boss is not starting his tour in Barcelona but will get to the Catalan capital after stops in such cities as Dublin, Marseille, Milan and Madrid.
In the same month at the Olympic Stadium, German outfit Rammstein are due on June 11, some 11 years since their last visit to Barcelona and 26 since they made their debut in the city. Then on July 10, Estopa will become the first Catalan group to play a solo concert in the stadium as the rock/rumba duo from Cornellà de Llobregat celebrate 25 years on stage and present their new album due out in March.
In the nearby Palau Sant Jordi, January kicked off with concerts by Joan Dausà and Laura Pausini, which will be followed by Bad Gyal (Feb 9), Depeche Mode (Mar 16), Nil Moliner (Apr 20), The World of Hans Zimmer (Apr 24), Andrea Bocelli (May 1), Manolo García (May 18 & Nov 30), Jonas Brothers (May 25), South Korean girl group Ive (Jun 7), Maná (Jun 9), Marc Anthony (Jun 13), Olivia Rodrigo (Jun 18), Camilo (Jul 3), Christian Nodal (Jul 12) and Luis Miguel (Jul 17 & 18).
Concerts at the Sant Jordi Club include Idles (Mar 2), Jason Derulo (Apr 2), a night of old-school heavy metal with Judas Priest, Saxon and Uriah Heep (Jun 13) and later in the year Jacob Collier (Nov 4), Tyets (Nov 15 & 16) and Within Temptation (Nov 23). Yet this year in Barcelona there will be no Taylor Swift, Metallica or Karol G, all of whom will only perform in Madrid.
Small venues at full capacity
As for the city’s smaller venues, there is no shortage of attractive proposals this year. Razzmatazz boasts a programme of gigs that include Slowdive (Feb 5), Mujeres (Feb 10), Crystal Fighters (Feb 16), The Australian Pink Floyd (Feb 21), Swans (Feb 22), Xoel López (Mar 15), Mr. Big (Mar 30), The Warning (Apr 8), Tom Odell (Apr 9), Jolie Holland (Apr 11). Sôber (Apr 13), Die Antwoord (Apr 18 & 19) and The Hellacopters (May 28).
Meanwhile, the Apolo concert venue will welcome the likes of Iseo & Dodosound (Feb 20 & 21), Mazoni (Feb 24), Maria Hein (Feb 29), Quique González (Mar 2), Ana Tijoux (Mar 9), Acid Arab (Mar 14), Roba Estesa (Mar 21), Las Migas (Apr 5), Maria Jaume (Apr 10), Yard Act (Apr 11), Guillem Gisbert (May 3) and La Fúmiga (May 11). And a few metres away, the Paral·lel 62 venue will have performances by Hermanos Gutiérrez (Apr 2), Ginestà (Apr 12) and Gossos (Apr 25).
As for the historic Sidecar in Plaça Reial, which has recently changed ownership after 40 years, there are only a few concerts scheduled, including The Bevis Frond (Apr 12) and Alain Johannes (Apr 18).
However, the Upload venue on Montjuïc will host a number of concerts, including Susan Santos (Feb 11), Israel Nash (Feb 25) and the UK’s Nine Below Zero (Apr 16), and La Nau will have concerts by Jay-Jay Johansson (Feb 16), Vargas Blues Band (Mar 10) and Willie Nile (Mar 24).
In neighbouring Hospitalet de Llobregat, the Salamandra concert venue will welcome La Ludwig Band (Feb 17, performing in tandem with Remei de Ca la Fresca as part of the Lets Festival) and Amparanoia (Feb 22).
The various music festivals scheduled in and around Barcelona already have the bulk of their programmes filled. Guitar BCN, for example, has confirmed performances by the likes of Ismael Serrano (Feb 29, Teatre Coliseum), Andrea Motis (Mar 8, La Paloma), Coque Malla (Mar 22, Palau de la Música), Rodrigo Cuevas (Mar 22, Liceu), Los Tigres del Norte (Apr 7, Forum) and summer concerts by Loreena McKennitt (Jul 4, Forum) and Toto (Jul 26, Poble Espanyol).
Meanwhile, the Millennium Festival will feature concerts by Paco Ibáñez (Aprl 3, Palau de la Música), Loquillo (May 17, Liceu) and Adamo (18, Palau), and Badalona’s Blues & Ritmes festival will welcome Eli Paperboy Reed, Sam Outlaw, Jim Lauderdale & Los Hermanos Cubero, La Santa Cecilia and Vieux Farka Touré from April 12 to 21.
As for the Barnasants festival, it already kicked off on January 26 and by the end of May will feature a hundred performances by the likes of Alba Careta and Henrio, Gemma Humet and Toti Soler and a recital commemorating the 50th anniversary of Portugal’s Carnation Revolution. And last but not least, Alba Pujals will inaugurate Terrassa’s 43rd Jazz Festival on March 1, featuring concerts by such artists as Jeremy Pelt, Bobo Stenson and Erik Trufazz.
MUSIC
Summer festivals
The spring and summer festivals began the year announcing their programmes. From May 29 to June 2, Primavera Sound will feature Lana del Rey, Pulp, The National and PJ Harvey. Sónar announced the first names at its 31st edition from June 13 to 15, including Jessie Ware, Floating Points, Charlotte de Witte and Kaytranda. Cruïlla will be eclectic as usual, with the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, Avril Lavigne, Amaral, Oques Grasses, The Tyets, 31Fam and Figa Flawas, from July 10 to 13. That follows Vilanova i la Geltrú’s Vida festival (Jul 4-6), with James Blake, Ride, Los Planetas, Sílvia Pérez Cruz, Ty Segall and the reunited Standstill. Rock Fest in Santa Coloma de Gramenet returns from July 5 to 7 with Deep Purple, Michael Schenker, Europe and Wolfmother, with most of the programme still to be announced. The same weekend will be Canet Rock, with Oques Grasses, The Tyets and Els Catarres. Other highlights are the Alma festival in Poble Espanyol and Nits de Barcelona in the Pedralbes gardens. The former boasting Sheryl Crow (Jun 24) and the latter with concerts by Patti Smith (Jul 5) and Sopa de Cabra (Jul 11).