Sonar 2008

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Sonar 2008

Beatportal's coverage and live blog of the Sonar festival in Barcelona, Spain.

Latest from Sonar 2008

Dubfire closes Sonar 2008

23 June, 2008 | 2.46PM

Section: Music News Topics: Industry Boy Blog, Sonar 2008
Written by: Industry Boy

We thought as the perfect wrap up to Sonar 2008 we’d do an exposé on US DJ and producer Dubfire, who closed out one of big stages at Sonar By Night on Saturday.

Dubfire is something of a controversial artist (just check out the incendiary user comments on this recent Dubfire post), having made the transition from his progressive house days with Deep Dish, to producing underground techno and minimal for labels such as Minus and Desolat.

Many people have criticised Dubfire for making the move into techno—some even believe he only did it because the music is in vogue—but the organisers of Sonar clearly disagree, otherwise they wouldn’t have booked Dubfire for a two-hour headlining slot.

Out of all the large-scale electronic music events in the world, Sonar is probably the most cutting-edge, so the last thing the organisers would do is sponsor an artist who has no credibility.

Beatportal meets Dubfire at his hotel in Barcelona prior to his set, and he seems slightly busy.

Sonar 2008: Beatport Party

23 June, 2008 | 10.54AM

Section: Videos Topics: Beatport Blog, Sonar 2008
Written by: Sarah O

For those of us who couldn’t make it to Sonar, here’s a taste of what we missed.

This video was shot Friday, June 20th at the Beatport rooftop party where Ajna Schneider and Claude Vonstroke DJed.

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Sonar 2008: Matt Tolfrey’s big record

21 June, 2008 | 3.33PM

Section: Music News Topics: DJ Gossip, Sonar 2008
Written by: Zack Rico

Britain’s Matt Tolfrey runs Leftroom Records [check out the label’s releases in the player after the break] and is a rising star of the techno underground.

He plays at London’s Fabric club, which gives him some real kudos.

Last night Beatportal bumped into Matt at Club Liquid in Barcelona and we begged him to reveal his current biggest tune.

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Check out Leftroom Recordings on Beatport

Video: Loco Dice Vs. Luciano at Raum! Open Air

21 June, 2008 | 2.58PM

Section: Videos Topics: Sonar 2008
Written by: Christen Reutens

Here’s a video of Loco Dice and Luciano tearing up Raum! Open Air party last night at Barcelona Velodrome.

The DJs were wearing matching black ‘n’ white stripey t-shirts, the kind that pirates wear.

Pirate fashion seems to be in vogue at the moment - the theme of Minus’ Sunday Adventure Club party in Berlin last weekend was pirates.

Sonar 2008 review: Raum! Open Air party

21 June, 2008 | 1.33PM

Section: Music News Topics: Sonar 2008
Written by: Zack Rico

On paper, the Raum! Open Air Party at Barcelona’s Velodrome looked set to be one of the best events of Sonar 2008.

With Luciano, Loco Dice, Reboot, Craig Richards, M.A.N.D.Y., DJ T, and Martin Buttrich on the line-up and Desolat, Cadenza, Monza Ibiza and Get Physical having joined forces for it, the party would surely be off the hook.

But in reality, the Raum! Open Air Party was a bitter disappointment.

Sonar 2008: Funk D’Void / Francois Dubois interview

21 June, 2008 | 10.45AM

Section: Music News Topics: Sonar 2008
Written by: Terry Church

Funk D’Void aka Lars Sandberg relocated from his hometown of Glasgow to Barcelona over 10 years ago and he has witnessed the city’s electronic music scene develop.

But beyond Sonar, “Barcelona still has a long way to go,” says Lars.

Beatportal caught up with Funk D’Void during Sonar 2008 for a quick interview.

Sonar 2008: Claude VonStroke interview

21 June, 2008 | 8.19AM

Section: Music News Topics: Sonar 2008
Written by: Zack Rico

San Francisco-based DJ, producer and record label owner Claude VonStroke showed off his producer prowess at the Beatport/Mobilee/Mothership rooftop party yesterday, impressing British DJ Jesse Rose.

“Last night at about 4 AM we were at this club in Barcelona where they were playing pop and hip hop, and the DJ dropped Damian Marley’s ‘Welcome to Jamrock’ - the reggae track with the vocal that goes ‘Up in the streets they call it muuuuuurrrdderr!’,” Claude VonStroke told Beatportal.

“I turned to Jesse and said, ‘I’m going to remix that track into a house version and it’ll be the biggest track at the rooftop party tomorrow’,” he said.

He was right, check out the video after the jump!

Sonar 2008: D’Julz top track

20 June, 2008 | 9.53PM

Section: Music News Topics: Sonar 2008
Written by: Christen Reutens

French DJ and producer D’Julz is currently one of the hot names of the underground - his track ‘Just So You Know’ has been praised by John Digweed and Luciano, and during Sonar 2008 we’ve heard it in plenty of sets.

I bumped into D’Julz at the Beatport/Mothership/Mobilee private rooftop party in Barcelona.

“Yeah it’s crazy for me to hear that John Digweed played it in every set during his and Sasha’s Spring Club Tour of North America,” said D’Julz, in his thick French accent.

Apart from ‘Just So You Know’, what track is big for D’Julz right now?

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Get Matthias Tanzmann 'Keep On' (Boris Werner Keeps On Truckin' Mix)

The alternative take on Sonar: how to mug it in the sun

20 June, 2008 | 3.22PM

Section: Music News Topics: Sonar 2008
Written by: Ben Raven

If you’re not at Sonar this week you’re no doubt crouched in front of your computer currently trying to eat your fist in anger at all the partying and amazing music you’re missing out on.

But its not all sun and fun, says a tense Ben Raven.

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Sonar 2008: Meet Memek, Minimoo’s resident DJ

20 June, 2008 | 9.17AM

Section: Music News Topics: DJ Gossip, Sonar 2008
Written by: Zack Rico

New York City’s Minimoo has become one of the city’s best club nights by bringing in some of the world’s top techno and minimal talent over the last couple of years.

In September the crew behind Minimoo are organising a three-day techno festival called Minitek in Brooklyn, which is a rather ambitious project.

Memek [pictured] is Minimoo’s resident DJ, and Beatportal grabbed a few seconds with Memek at Sonar 2008 to find out what track is doing it for him currently.

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Get Daniel Steinberg 'Pay For Me' on Beatport

Sonar 2008: Italoboyz interview

20 June, 2008 | 7.07AM

Section: Music News Topics: Sonar 2008
Written by: Zack Rico

The Italoboyz smashed their way into the minimal scene last year with the opera-sampling track ‘Viktor Casonova’ [check it on page 3 of the player below] which Ricardo Villalobos caned for many months.

Last night the Italoyboyz were spinning at Club Liquid in Barcelona and really impressed Beatportal with their animated and fun take on minimal and tech house.

We grabbed Federico Marton from the Italoboyz after their set for a quick chat.

Sonar 2008: Radioslave interview

20 June, 2008 | 4.11AM

Section: Music News Topics: Sonar 2008
Written by: Zack Rico

Radioslave is one of techno’s most prolific producers - just check out all the excellent tunes he’s made in the player after the break.

Beatportal caught up with Radio Slave aka Matt Edwards for a quick interview in Barcelona during Sonar 2008.

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Get Mlle Caro, Franck Garcia 'Dead Souls' (Radio Slave remix)

Sonar survival tips

20 June, 2008 | 3.51AM

Section: Music News Topics: Beatport Blog, Sonar 2008
Written by: Ben Raven

“Sonar is a jungle,” says Ben Raven, and if you’re going to make it home alive you best follow Beatport’s guide to getting the best out of Barcelona during its biggest rave of the year.