With groups like Black Devil Disco Club, Justice, Sunn 0))), and Matthew Dear scheduled, the 2007 edition of Barcelona’s Sonar Festival, to be held June 14 – 16, looks to be the most diverse in years. Festival organizers have even brought a few mainstream acts into the mix, throwing The Beastie Boys and Devo on the bill alongside Richie Hawtin and Miss Kitten.

June 14 holds China’s experimentalists FM3 performing an all Buddha Machine Set (a small device the band invented that has garnered extreme praise from ambient producers and drone masters), alongside special guest, Einsturzende Neubauten member Blixa Bargeld, and a separate performance from James Holden. By night, the Beastie Boys will provide an all-instrumental engagement with support from Narod Niki–not exactly a typical line-up, even for Sonar.

June 15 by day sees Sunn 0))) bumming people out with its doomy wall of noise, while Clark keeps things banging, and melodic minimalists Tristano & Murcof prep the crowd for ensuing nighttime performances from Digitalism, Dizzee Rascal, Simian Mobile Disco, Richie Hawtin, Modeselektor, and BBC’s dubstep team Skream, Mary Anne Hobbes, and Kode 9. Half the Ed Banger roster (do we really have to name those kids at this point?) will also be present.

June 16 will witness a North American takeover by day with the Junior Boys, Hey Will Power, and Wolf Eyes ripping it up, while Devo, Mogwai, Jeff Mills, and Radio Slave invade the evening festivities.

By the end of this hedonistic celebration of the arts, hangovers will become exhaustion and dancing may not be the same–at least until next year.

Fred Miketa

Justice, Digitalism, and Sunn 0))), slated for appearances.