A Guide to some of Barcelona's Most Well-Known Music Gig Venues
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Barcelona is internationally renowned as a vibrant city with some of the best nightlife in Europe. For this reason, the major names in music make sure to stop here on their tour schedules. It is also home to some exciting and fresh local talent. If you get a chance, plan ahead and check whether there are any bands playing in Barcelona during your visit and book a ticket. It could prove to be a memorable night out.
Razzmatazz
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| Razzmatazz Façade |
This is one of Barcelona's best venues for live music and perhaps its most prolific. The venue is known, first and foremost, as an internationally renowned super-club. However, it is also an incredible venue for bands, with an impressive sound system and an electric atmosphere.
The venue is large, with five separate rooms of varying sizes, all offering various gig options. It is always open at the weekends for clubbers, sometimes offering live music in the larger spaces - Razzmatazz Club and The Loft. However, every night of the week there could be opportunities to see music in any of the rooms, including the smaller ones: Lolita, Pop Bar and Rex Club.
All genres of popular music are on offer, from rock through to hip hop and pop. The venue also offers a varied selection of acts- everyone from huge name international artists to up and coming local talent.
The location is quite out of the way in the industrial Poblenou, so if you go to a gig during the week, you might have to miss the encore to catch the last metro home.
Razzmatazz
Almogavers, 122
08018 Barcelona, España.
(for Razzclub, Pop Bar & Rex Room)
Carrer Pamplona, 88
08018 Barcelona, España.
(for The Loft & Lolita)
Metro: Marina or Bogatell (Yellow Line, L4)
Tickets:
Website: www.ticketmaster.es
Tel: +34 90 215 0025
Apolo
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| Apolo 1 Entrance |
The first thing to note about Apolo is that it has two spaces - Apolo 1 and 2. This can often be confusing as they are advertised differently and often called different names. Apolo 2 often appears on posters as [2] and Apolo 1 is called Nitsa Club at the weekends. It's worth battling through the confusion though, as these are both clubs worth visiting.
Apolo 1 is the largest of the two venues. It's main entrance is directly in front of you if you are approaching it from Paral.lel. It is a beautiful old 1940s dancehall with red lights, crushed velvet and old banquettes around the edge of the dance floor. This is a setting for a wide variety of bands each night of the week. Everything from rockabilly to electro is played to a varied and friendly crowd of all ages.
Apolo 2 is a more modern space that has recently been refurbished. It's entrance is slightly further down the street, at the front of the building. It is currently a fashionable venue for both live acts and DJs, so expect to find some of the more obscure and modern bands playing here.
Apolo
Sala Apolo
Carrer Nou de le Rambla, 113
08004 Barcelona, España.
Apolo [2]
Nou de la Rambla 111
08004 Barcelona, España.
Tel: +34 93 441 4001
Metro: Paral.lel (Green Line, L3)
Tickets:
Website: Apolo
(also available from other websites, but they vary depending on the gig - check Apolo's website for more details - www.sala-apolo.com)
Sidecar Factory Club
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| The Sign Outside Sidecar Factory Club |
Sidecar is a basement club located on the famous and central Plaça Reial, just off La Rambla. Despite its tourist-friendly location, it has an edgy vibe and is popular amongst the locals. This is down to its rock and roll edge, with dim lighting, a smoky atmosphere and cavernous corners. It is favoured by guitar bands, covering all things bluesy, rock and indie. It also hosts club nights following the gig, offering indie rock classics on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
It is worth noting that, in choosing a more central venue, sound quality may have to be sacrificed for convenience. There are heavy sound restrictions on city centre Barcelona venues. This is why the best sound is generally found in venues with less central locations.
Sidecar Club
Plaça Reial, 7
08002 Barcelona, España.
E-Mail: [email protected]
Metro: Jaume I (Yellow Line, L4), Liceu (Green Line, L3)
Tickets:
Website: www.sidecarfactoryclub.com
Bikini
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| Bikini Entrance |
Bikini comes as a pleasant surprise- hidden in the quiet streets of the Les Corts district, it rarely fails to provide a buzzing vibe, full to the brim with excited crowds. Do not become disheartened when looking for the club- you will walk past a huge shopping mall and find it tucked away in a courtyard at the back of the mall. It is a modern space, with two rooms separated by a wall that is rolled back when the concerts are over and the clubbing begins.
Often favoured by international hip hop, jazz and dance acts, it is well known for having one of the best sound systems in Barcelona. The drink prices are steep, but this is often to be expected in the more upmarket gig venues.
Bikini Club
Avenida Diagonal, 547
08029 Barcelona, España.
Tel: +34 93 322 0800
E-mail: [email protected]
Metro: Maria Christina, Les Corts (Green Line, L3)
Tickets:
Website: Bikini Club
Tel: +34 90 215 0025
Others Gig Venues in The City
This guide has picked some of the most well-known concert venues in Barcelona, so don't forget that there are many more. Venture to some more obscure venues and you will not be disappointed - Harlem Jazz Club for the jazz fans, Luz de Gas for lovers of blues and rock and Jamboree for latin and tropical vibes.
It's also worth checking some of the more established venues like Espacio Movistar for the stadium rock stars and Palau de la Musica, where the programme is beginning to feature some more modern acts.
Harlem Jazz Club
Carrer Comtessa de Sobradiel, 8
08002 Barcelona, España.
Metro: Jaume (Yellow Line, L4)
Luz de Gas
Carrer Muntaner, 246
08021 Barcelona, España.
Metro: Hospital Clinic (Blue Line, L5)
Jamboree Jazz Club
Plaça Reial, 17
08002 Barcelona, España.
Metro: Liceu (Green Line, L3)
Palau de la Música Catalana
Carrer Palau de la Música, 4 - 6
08003 Barcelona, España.
How to get to Palau de la Música Catalana
Metro: Urquinaona (Red Line, L1) and (Yellow Line, L4)Hop on hop off sightseeing tourist bus stop
Nearest stop for Palau de la Música Catalana is "Catedral - Gòtic" with the "hop on hop off" sightseeing bus
Public bus
Via Laietana / Comtal: 45, V15, V17Plaça Urquinaona: 39, 42, 55, H16
