Sounds of Sónar back in Barcelona

Sónar, the annual music festival that is a must for urban clubbers returns to Barcelona from June 18 to 20, with big-name international headliners, such as The Chemical Brothers, Skrillex and Duran Duran. Taking place in two venues, Sónar by Day will be based at the Fira Montjuic, while Sónar by Night will be at the Fira Gran Via. In all, the festival will include some 150 acts in the three days it lasts.

The Chemical Brothers, will be one of the most popular highlights at the 22nd edition of the digital culture music festival, with the dance duo presenting material from their new album, Born In The Echoes, in what is likely to be a spectacular live show on the SonarClub stage in the Sónar by Night section. Their live concert is scheduled to begin at 1.30 am on Saturday 20.

However, the night before will see Sonny Moore, aka Skrillex, weave his adrenaline-pumping magic in a re-envisaged show that promises to turn Sónar's biggest dance-floor upside down. The six-time Grammy award winner will perform at 3.15 am in the early hours of Friday morning also at SonarClub. Meanwhile, the other huge international name comes in the shape of perennial chart-topping rock band, Duran Duran, on Saturday 20 at 10.30pm also at SonarClub. It will be the Sónar debut for the British band that has sold more than 100 million records during its 35-year career.

Also programmed to appear over the three days of the festival are performers such as Autechre, Lee Gamble, Evian Christ, Kiasmos, Kindness, Fat Freddy's Drop, Tourist, Daniel Avery, Ten Walls, Sophie, Holly Herndon, Kate Tempest, Vessel, Niño, Mans O and Helena Hauff.

However, the electronic music festival will also feature plenty of local talent, with performances from some 30 domestic artists representing the full panorama of digital and experimental music making, which includes such diverse genres as R&B, noise, techno, synth boogie, house, dub, bass music, electro pop, flamenco, chillwave, latin beats, Italo-funk and trap.

Among the local concerts to look out for is the Sónar debut of Madrid remixer and electronic musician, Pional (Miguel Barros), who will be appearing with new material at SonarLab in Sónar by Night on Saturday 20 at 11.30pm. Other highlights include the Barcelona-based Spanish trap sensation PXXR GVNG on Saturday 20 at 1:40am at SonarCar in Sónar by Night and the mysterious footwork duo ¥€$Ø at 3.30am on the same day.

Synth boogie will be represented by the likes of Niño at the SonarHall stage in Sónar by Day on Saturday at 2.30pm, with machine music by Catalan outfit, CaboSanRoque, on the Sónar by Day SonarComplex stage on Saturday at 8.30pm. Meanwhile, Niño de Elche will perform rave flamenco, also at the SonarComplex earlier at 5pm.

Last-minute additions to the line-up include two new performances on the SonarVillage stage at Sónar by Day: Toronto musician and composer Owen Pallett and historic US producer and remixer Arthur Baker.

For full information of the festical and events visit the Sónar 2015 website: http://sonar.es/en/2015.