On Friday, the session by Judah and the live show by Colectivooruga kick things off at 10pm at SonarHall and SonarClub, respectively. On the main stage, the night features the Portuguese outfit HHY & The Macumbas, Galicia's DJ Ino & La Keise Band, Galis 115, Wasilkoski and Caino & Zinqin, and to round things off, the hypnotic live show by Britain's Shackleton and the session by the incomparable The Gaslamp Killer. Meanwhile, SonarClub sees the trio of top level shows by Underworld, Magnetic Man and Buraka Som Sistema, and the sessions by DJ Sith, DJ Mehdi vs Brodinski and James Holden, who will be responsible for rounding off the evening with his sinuous techno for the dancefloor.

Check the line-up for Friday 17th

The second day of Sónar Galicia in SonarHall will feature performances by Spain's Lasers, the Australian synth pop quartet Cut Copy, the renowned British producer Four Tet and the bizarre and provocative hip-hop of Die Antwoord, with sessions by Galicia's Ningunos DJs and Mr.Fishman a.k.a. Dr.Think, and a de luxe closing set by James Murphy. Meanwhile, Munchi, will open at SonarClub with one of his sessions of moombathon and latin breaks, before M.I.A. and Martyn gives us their respective eagerly-awaited live shows; they are followed by three aces to round off the night on a dance tip: Richie Hawtin, Radioslave and Boys Noize.

Check the line-up for Saturday 18th

Sonar 2011 presents the shows bye Underworld, Richie Hawtin, Magnetic Man, M.I.A., James Murphy, James Holden, Boys Noize, The Gaslamp Killer, Four Tet, Martyn, Buraka Som Sistema, Munchi and Radio Slave, among more than 250 artists.

The festival’s stages, in both Barcelona and Galicia, will become enormous dancefloors where you can enjoy some of the most important artists in today's Spanish and international electronica.


For the second year running, the Sonar line-up covers two festivals, with the A Coruña venue operating at full steam as the same time as the Barcelona event. Several artists who will be present in Barcelona will also be performing at Sonar Galicia.

This is the case with projects like Underworld (respected veterans like few others in the electronica arena), Magnetic Man, (taking dubstep to a mass audience for the first time), M.I.A. (with her explosive live show), Die Antwoord (sudden impact from South Africa), Boys Noize (a specialist in making any dancefloor move with his acid techno) and Four Tet (increasingly comfortable with the danceable rhythms) as well as djs of the calibre of James Murphy (old school hard house and disco), Munchi (the king of moombathon, the new genre drinking deep from baile funk, cumbia and ghetto-tech, among other sources), James Holden (one of Europe's most respected djs), The Gaslamp Killer (a fabulous and fearless mixer of impossible styles) and Shackleton (a highly personal performer of dark techno verging on dubstep).

Particular highlights are the four exclusive international additions to Sonar Galicia, headed by Richie Hawtin, one of the world's most popular DJs, who will only be playing at Sonar Galicia; as will Hollan's Martyn (a skilled and innovative tech-step maestro), the highly respected British dj Radio Slave and the explosive French duo consisting of DJ Mehdi vs Brodinski.

And apart from them, of course, there will be several of the most interesting artists and djs from the Galician scene such as Judah, Mr.Fishman a.k.a Dr.Think, Ningunos DJs, Wasilkoski and Galis115, among others.

EGO PASS. Buy your 20 seconds of glory

Do you have something to say to more than 8,000 people? All the screens on the SonarClub Stage on Friday 17th June at Sonar Galicia can be yours for 20 seconds. Record your message and we will project it after the headlining concert. Visit ebay from Monday 9th May onwards and start bidding for your 20 seconds of glory.

Starting price: 1€ - BID CLOSED

Sonar Galicia Ego Pass Auction for Friday 17th June from 9th May onwards.

EGO PASS includes: projection of a 20-second video with your message after the headlining show on the SonarClub Stage + 1 accreditation for the festival.

*Offers only available to natural persons. Companies and brands may not participate.

LEGAL CONDITIONS

The first Sónar Galicia highlighted the great potential and talent of many of the groups, producers and projects working in Galicia today. In 2011, at the second time of asking, Sónar Galicia continues to reveal the most interesting sounds on today's Galician scene, with the confirmed presence of 9 artistic projects with a broad-based and varied range of styles.

Caino & Zinqin present an audiovisual spectacle in which the contemporary rhythms of the former (similar to the British rave scene) are combined with the latter's images created live especially for each piece. “Contemporary” is also a concept that fits in perfectly with the approach of the ColectivoOruga, blenders of musical genres and styles (new wave, synth pop, indie rock, electro), with an end result that cannot be pigeonholed under any established label.

The new project by the Galician dj Ino, Dj Ino & La Keise Band, includes outstanding jazz and funk musicians, who bring their instrumental quality and a whole lot of groove to a highly organic approach that shifts between hip-hop and contemporary soul. In a similar vein is Wasilkoski, a highly versatile dj who glides with ease from electro-funk to dancehall, taking in synth pop and the hottest techno-dub on the way.

Judah, the alter ego of Andrés Grobas, uses this alias to mix electro-funk, freshly minted hip-hop and contemporary beats. Mr.Fishman a.k.a Dr.Think and Dj Sith also focus on modern rhythms, and especially on the freshest beats from the United Kingdom: UK funky, grime and any other sound featuring powerful elastic basses.

There is also a place for experimentation among Galician djs and selectors: Galis115 is an expert at including samplers and field recordings in an all-enveloping context of electronica; meanwhile, Ningunos Djs investigate the most cutting-edge sounds without neglecting the dancefloor, making extensive use of deep techno, experimental IDM and classic house.

With these 5 new additions, Sonar Galicia 2011, the 2nd International Festival of Advanced Music which will be held in A Coruña on 17 and 18 June, completes its line-up with 28 shows.

James Murphy, one of the most important characters in music so far this century, comes to Sonar Galicia to give a special session packed with exquisite disco-funk-house after the tremendous recent recent farewell concert for his band, LCD Soundsystem.

Four Tet is one of the essential names in contemporary music working today. A top drawer producer and a maestro of meticulous electronica, this English artist will be presenting tracks from his most recent album, “There Is Love In You”, and his recent collaborations with Burial, Thom Yorke and Caribou at Sonar Galicia.

Holland's Martyn, a key figure in the new school where dubstep and electronica converge, will be presenting tracks from his forthcoming album on Brainfeeder –Flying Lotus' label– with his new live show.

Matt Edwards, the man behind Radio Slave, has been giving us remixes and his own tunes in the best European tech-house tradition for more than decade, creating standards that few can match throughout his entire output.

Finally, the French duo consisting of DJ Mehdi vs Brodinski (expert producers of carefully woven house and techno on a party tip on Ed Banger and Turbo respectively) promises to provide some of the highlights on the SonarHall stage at Sonar Galicia.


Latest additions to Sonar Galicia 2011

James Murphy (DFA/US)
Four Tet (Text/UK)
Martyn (3024/NL)
Radio Slave (Rekids/UK)
DJ Mehdi vs Brodinski (Ed Banger-Turbo/FR)

The fourth festival in the Japanese capital was attended by 5,000 people last weekend, in a sellout event.

The festival featured all-star shows by Underworld Djs (with a special set), Flying Lotus, Battles, DJ Krush, Y. Sunahara and Galicia's BFlecha and Mwëslee, as well as today's leading Japanese artists.

Visit SonarSound Tokyo 2011 photo gallery.


High artistic calibre

SonarSound Tokyo featured thirty shows, including the session by Underworld djs (Karl Hyde and Darren Price), who unselfishly gave up their time for the festival at the last minute to perform a set full of emotional electronica; the show by Flying Lotus, performing in a new trio format for the first time, with Dorian Concept on keyboards, and a live show featuring marvellous futuristic jazz; Battles, performing for the first time new tracks from their forthcoming and much awaited album "Gloss Drop"; Y. Sunahara, with a vibrant live show of organic electronica, with the band members ironically dressed in white overalls in imitations of the workers at the Fukushima nuclear power station; and Dj Kentaro, an established star in Japan, from the Sendai region, which was the area most heavily affected by the earthquake.

Other high spots were the shows by the Spanishs artist at the festival: BFlecha (showing the elegance and appeal of his new compositions) and Mwëslee (presenting his inexhaustible supply of complex beats). Also worthy of special mention were the installation by Japan's Daito Manabe (who will also be at Sonar Barcelona in June), the sonic art by Ryoji Ikeda, the show by Dorian Concept and the magnificent set by the true veteran Dj Krush, among many others.


A humanitarian event in support of the Japanese people

SonarSound Tokyo was the first major cultural event to take place in the Japanese capital after the tragic events of 11 March. Sonar will allocate to the Japanese Red Cross the profits from the box office and merchandising income and 25% of the sales of tickets for Sonar Barcelona and Sonar Galicia between 23th March and 1st April.

Sonar would sincerely like to thank everyone who made this special SonarSound Tokyo possible. Thank you very much to everyone.

Pls find more information of SonarSound Tokyo here.

The Canadian producer and dj, a key figure in techno over the last two decades, joins the Sonar Galicia line-up with one of his sets featuring the utmost in rhythmic and technological precision.

His eagerly awaited show at Sonar Galicia will be scheduled for Saturday 18th June.

Richie Hawtin, one of the most important investigators of electronic music of our time, will be restating his increasingly radical commitment to technology applied to the mix, in a session in which music, light and video converge in a striking show.


Richie Hawtin at Sonar Galicia

Richie Hawtin will be presenting an audiovisual show in which he will be mixing his own productions with other artists' tracks using the latest hardware and effects applications for djs. In a set that goes far beyond a mere dj session, Hawtin includes audiovisual elements as inseparable pieces of his live show and as a natural extension to his musical discourse.


A living legend of contemporary techno

Richie Hawtin's charisma and talent were obvious in the early nineties, when he produced his first releases as Cybersonik, F.U.S.E. and Plastikman, and his stature has not diminished with the passing of the years. He is now a consolidated living legend of contemporary techno and one of the most important artists of our time.

Artists who take things "one step further" –such as groups like Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk and Daft Punk– are a special breed who gain acceptance from mainstream audiences as well as changing the rules of their own genre in order to take it to a new level. Hawtin is undoubtedly one of these. The recent release of “Arkives”, a de luxe box set containing all his releases and audiovisual works as Plastikman, only confirms Hawtin as what he is: an essential figure for understanding the evolution and the future of techno music.


Back to the future of techno

Hawtin was born in Banbury (Oxfordshire, England) in 1970, and when he was nine years old he moved with his family to Windsor (Ontario, Canada), just across the border from Detroit, the birthplace of techno as we know it today. He was interested from a very young age in cutting edge art and technology, and the influence of Detroit was paramount in his first steps as a producer and dj, which were distinguished by a forceful acid sound. However, he very soon started to smooth the rough edges and to find a much more personal aesthetic and sonic discourse, in which minimalism (the famous motto of “less is more” applied to its logical conclusion) and an image free of any sophistry played a key role.
 
With the arrival of the new century, Richie Hawtin entered a second phase of creative ambition. With a perfectly moulded minimalist aesthetic (based on his new label, M_nus which he founded in 1998), he focused on the technology sector. He was one of the first to use a laptop computer in his sets, to investigate the possibilities of the mp3 format and to perfect and use new programmes for mixing and creating sound like Final Scratch and Ableton Live. In recent years, with the explosion of German minimal techno and his new residence in Berlin, Hawtin has alternated between massive party sessions and his tireless research into new technologies; he has explored the possibilities of the Twitter social network as a tool for communication between djs and audiences; and has created a new live concept for his return to the stage as Plastikman, with a tour on which Sónar 2010 was one of the high points.


Richie Hawtin :: SonarClub :: Sonar Galicia :: Saturday 18th June

Karl Hyde and Darren Price from Underworld are confirmed as an urgent last minute addition to SonarSound Tokyo 2011.

Due to the recent tragic events and suffering following the March 11 Tohoku Kanto earthquake and tsunami Karl Hyde and Darren Price have offered their services to the event which is raising money and awareness for the Japanese Red Cross. Both strongly wish to make a contribution in support of Japan in such trying times. Karl Hyde and Darren Price have worked together for many years and this will be a very rare one-off DJ set to close Saturday night, the 2nd of April.

Underworld will return to Japan with the full live show to headline Sonicmania on Friday 12th August, the night before Summer Sonic.
http://www.creativeman.co.jp/sonicmania/
http://trafficjpn.com/underworld

Karl’s comment: "No words could express our sorrow at seeing the enormous suffering experienced by a country we love.Though we know it will never be enough, Japan, our thoughts & prayers are with you every day."

For more information pls link to www.underworldlive.com


SonarSound Tokyo 2011

SonarSound Tokyo 2011 will take place in ageHa / Studio Coast on 2 and 3 April, as initially scheduled, with a line-up of the highest level which features several of the most important artists on the international scene, a strong contingent of Japanese musicians. SonarSound Tokyo is organised in collaboration with Red Bull Music Academy, which will stage its line-up in the smaller space at ageHa-Studio Coast.

UPDATED LINE UP:

Saturday the 2nd of April, 2011

SonarClub
Karl Hyde & Darren Price (Underworld DJs)
Flying Lotus
Y. Sunahara
DJ Krush
Ryoji Ikeda

SonarLab
Altz
Azzxsss
DJ Scotch Egg
Hiroshi Kawanabe

Red Bull Music Academy presents SonarDôme
Axel Boman
Daisuke Tanabe
Patrice Bäumel

SonarComplex
Masato TSUTSUI (Live visual) x Ametsub (Sound support)
Reiko Imanishi + Ken Furudate
Yousuke Fuyama
Qetic presents 'The Pineal Gland'

Sunday the 3rd of April, 2011

SonarClub
Battles
Rovo
Kode9
Takagi Masakatsu
DJ Baku
Seefeel
Open Reel Ensemble

SonarLab
dot i/o
De De Mouse
DJ Yogurt
Sabi
Bflecha

Red Bull Music Academy presents SonarDôme
Dorian Concept
DJ Kentaro
sauce81
Mwëslee
Hiroaki Oba
Kaito

SonarComplex
Shinro Ohtake x Minoru Hatanaka (ICC) talk session
Hideki Matsutake (Logic System/ Motion±) x Minoru Hatanaka (ICC) talk session
Shuta Hasunuma produced by Kenichi Aono (Beams)
Itaru Yasuda

and more artists to be confirmed.

Pls find more information of SonarSound Tokyo here.

The 4th SonarSound Tokyo is maintaining its schedule and hopes both to contribute to the recovery of normal life in the Japanese capital, and to pay tribute to the victims of the recent catastrophe.

Sonar will be donating 25% of the money from tickets sold for Sonar Barcelona and Sonar Galicia between 23 March and 1 April to the Japanese Red Cross.

Since we heard the first news about the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in north-eastern Japan on Friday, 11 March, at Sonar we have been in permanent contact with our Japanese partners and friends to ascertain the true extent of the situation as it has developed.

Today Sonar, in agreement with Beatink, its Japanese partner, has decided to go ahead with SonarSound Tokyo. We will continue to the monitor the situation closely and will make a immediate announcement should the circumstances change. We sincerely thank you for your support and once again wish to pass on our deepest sympathy to all of those who have suffered or been effected by these tragic events.

The close links between Sonar and Japan since the festival's early days have been vital in the decisions involved in managing the event at this delicate point in time. SonarSound Tokyo is a Japanese festival and in view of the country's efforts and desire to restore normality to life in Tokyo, Sonar feels that it should make a contribution by maintaining its scheduled dates.

On the basis that the festival should make a positive contribution for victims of the catastrophe, Sonar will be donating 25% of the money from tickets sold for Sonar Barcelona and Sonar Galicia between 23 March and 1 April to the Japanese Red Cross. We have also determined that profits from SonarSound Tokyo will be donated and that we will be collecting donations from artists, venue, suppliers and guests.

Sonar's relationship with Japan
In the words of Enric Palau, co-director of Sonar: Sonar's relationship with Japan, its culture and artists has been very fruitful since the very beginning of the festival. Over its 18-year history, Sonar has featured more than 80 Japanese artists, and since 2002 our relationship with the country has been even closer as a result of SonarSound Tokyo. But perhaps the most important thing in this relationship between Sonar and Japan is the strong links of friendship that we have established with many artists. That is why we are deeply concerned about the tragedy that the country is experiencing and we would like to express our sincere good wishes and solidarity with the Japanese artistic community and to all the country's citizens who have been affected by the tragedy, and we would also like to express our admiration and respect for the Japanese people's strength of character and courage in the face of this terrible situation.


SonarSound Tokyo 2011

SonarSound Tokyo 2011 will take place in ageHa-Studio Coast on 2 and 3 April, as initially scheduled, with a line-up of the highest level which features several of the most important artists on the international scene and strong contingent of Japanese musicians.

The performances by international artists include shows by American post-rock group Battles, Flying Lotus (a maestro of instrumental hip-hop) and Kode 9 and will also present some of the most important Japanese artists working today, such as the well-known names of Ryoji Ikeda and DJ Krush, as well as Y. Sunahara, Takagi Masakatsu, Rovo, Azzsssx, DJ Baku, Altz, Sabi, dot i/o, Daisuke Tanabe and Open Reel Ensemble, and the latter two will also be present in the line-up of Sonar 2011 in Barcelona, between 16 and 18 June.

SonarSound Tokyo is organised in collaboration with Red Bull Music Academy, which will stage its line-up in the smaller space at ageHa-Studio Coast.

Pls find more information of SonarSound Tokyo here.

1,200 people came to the Roundhouse on Saturday 19th March, in the British taster for the festival in Barcelona and A Coruña, in one of the best A Taste of Sonar editions ever.

Buraka Som Sistema and The Gaslamp Killer will be performing at Sonar Galicia's second edition.

All the photos of A Taste of Sonar in London are here.


The galician producer Noaipre, a big lover of UK urban rhythms, showed off his new UK Funky and electronic beats for the first time in front of the british audience.

Other acclaimed shows were those by the portuguese act Buraka Som Sistema, which premiered 3 tracks from their new album, in a show based on their characteristic syncopated rhythms designed specifically for the dancefloor; the set by North American dj and producer The Gaslamp Killer, one of the most iconoclastic and groundbreaking musical selectors today; and the performance by the godfather of UK garage MJ Cole, who breathed new life into his classics “Sincere” and “Crazy Love” and showed off some of his new gems of UK Funky.

The programme was rounded off with shows by DELS (the new talent in British hip-hop), sessions by Axel Boman (with an exquisite set of off-the-wall electronica), Benji B (displaying his well-known wisdom on the decks), Braiden (a master of dubstep language and its many ramifications) and Tiger & Woods (a mysterious duo fascinated by the spirit of cosmic disco).

More information on the artists at A Taste of Sonar London are here.


Chalk Farm Road
London NW1 8EH
www.roundhouse.org.uk

Ninja and Yo-Landi, the two members of the south african band Die Antwoord, star in the short movie "Umshini Wam", directed by Harmony Korine, north american film maker known for its sordid and freak taste, who directed iconoclastic movies such as "Gummo" and " Julien Donkey-Boy" and screenplayed Larry Clark's "Kids" and "Ken Park".

In the 15 minute short movie Ninja and Yo-Landi are two armed wheelchair-bound lovers who dream about a better life. A work in line with the band's provocative visual path not often seen on the pop scene.

Die Antwoord will play at Sonar Galicia on Saturday 18th June.

DELS, the new British hip hop sensation set to release his vibrant debut album Gob later this year, completes the line up of A Taste of Sonar in London.

Shows by the Los Angeles producer The Gaslamp Killer and the Spanish beatmaker Noaipre join the highly anticipated Buraka Som Sistema show in A Taste of Sonar, Sonar 2011 preview which will take place on the 19th of March in London's Roundhouse. The kings of 'kuduro' return to London after two years with their vibrant live show, one of the very best at Sonar's recent editions.

Red Bull Music Academy –repeating last year's experience– is in charge of programming Roundhouse's second stage, for which there are already five names confirmed: UK Garage godfather MJ Cole, DJ and BBC tastemaker Benji B, Rinse FM's Braiden, Pampa's Nordic house explorer Axel Boman and mysterious disco duo Tiger & Woods, taking part in a back to back that will keep them behind the decks all night long.

Press here to see all the artists' bios.


A Taste of Sonar. London. Roundhouse.
19th of March 2011

Tickets: £22.50 - Buy
Open doors: 7pm


Chalk Farm Road
London NW1 8EH
www.roundhouse.org.uk


A Taste of Sonar

Buraka Som Sistema (Fabric/PT)
The Gaslamp Killer (Brainfeeder/US)
DELS (Big Dada/UK)
Noaipre (Arkestra/ES)
MJ Cole (Prolific/UK)
Benji B (Deviation/UK)
Axel Boman (Pampa/SE)
Braiden (Rinse FM/UK)
Tiger & Woods (Editainment/EU)