Sonar By Night

Back in London and it’s taken almost a week to recover from the rave fall out that is Barcelona’s Sonar Festival. And I’m sure that’s an excuse the other 84,975 attendees can attest to too because this year was particularly special. Yes, there were the big names that played over the three days. But these are the very same acts that will be headlining every European (and many U.S.) summer festivals in 2010. On the somewhat confused Tube ride back home on UK turf, I saw posters for LCD Soundsystem headlining Wireless and Roxy Music and Dizzee Rascal, Lovebox. And yes, 30,000 people did ram out the vast, industrial expanse of the airplane hanger-like void that is Sonar By Night, to rave (or most likely rock) out to the Chemical Brothers, LCD Soundsystem, Roxy Music, Hot Chip and Dizzee Rascal. Or smooch away to the return of Air. At one delirious point I even found myself hands in the air, pumping gun finger salutes to Booka Shade’s v-drum assault as the sun was coming up on the Saturday morning.

But what felt different about this year’s festival was that it brought together a sprawling, yet tightly knit group of worldwide artists, friends, promoters and fans, all fiending the very best hip hop, techno, dubstep and electronica-inspired music of 2010. And each and every member of this global family represented to the fullest, when each and every member was on stage at Sonar By Day, performing at Sonar By Night or raving out to an off-Sonar Barcelona warehouse party. It’s the super supportive family of beat kings and queens that made this year’s event so unforgettable.

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