This weekend, the creme de la creme of the international electronic music scene will descend upon Barcelona for the 16th annual Sonar Festival. But while the dance music elite—including Plastikman, The Chemical Brothers and LCD Soundsystem—frolic late into the Catalan nights, plans are being made to bring the Spanish festival brand to Chicago this September 9-11.
This sort of international franchising is common among electronic music festivals. Detroit’s Movement event has an annual branch in Torino, Italy while Montreal’s Mutek gathering has ventured south of the border, conducting events in Mexico and Chile. But bringing international brands to the States has often faltered—likely due to the distinct challenges in presenting electronic music in a country not as accepting as the majority of the world.
No word yet on the line-up for Sonar Chicago. The Sonar by Day events will take place at the Chicago Cultural Center (CCC), and the headquarters of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs (which we assume isn’t the Billy Goat Tavern).
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