11th of Setember:  Diada de Catalunya (Catalonia Festivity)

24th of Setember: La Merçè (Barcelona’s festivity)

Merçè is the female catalan name that corresponds with the [...]]]> The month of Setember is usually a very hard month as it comes just after summer holidays. In Barcelona, to make a softer and more pleasant return there are the 2 main festivities:

11th of Setember:  Diada de Catalunya (Catalonia Festivity)

24th of Setember: La Merçè (Barcelona’s festivity)

Merçè is the female catalan name that corresponds with the Patron Saint of the city. The festivity is celebrated for over a week and it holds a large number of activities for everyone.

A large number of events are organized for La Merçè Festivity:

• 10km run Solidarity race taking place on Sunday 26th and going through main Barcelona areas.

• Theatre performances, shows with fireworks and giants and heady characters are performed every day along the whole city.

• Museums in Barcelona are free on the 24th of September.

• Castellers (human towers) on the 26th of September at Plaça Sant Jaume.

• Piromusical (fireworks) the 26th at Av. Reina Maria Cristina (Plaça Espanya – Metro map):

• Concerts from the 23rd of September among the main groups are:

• Thrusday 23rd: Belle and Sebastian, Loquillo, Quimi Portet, La Pegatina, Groove Juice, Obrint Pas i Balkatalan Experience, Suckafish P. Jones, …

• Friday 24th: Goldfrapp, San Leon, Crystal Fighters, La Unión i El sueño de Morfeo, las Flores Azules, Black Baudelaire …

• Saturday 25th: Gespa, Susan’s Red Nipples i Toundra, Maika Makovski, I Blame Coco, Ash i Vinila Von Bismark & The Lucky Dados, Fundación Tony Manero
  

Institutions and political [...]]]> Catalonia Festivity is known as “Diada de Catalunya” and it is celebrated the 11th of Setember. With this festivity, Catalonia celebrates the the fall of Barcelona in the hands of the Bourbon troops under the Duke of Berwick during the War of Spanish Succession on September 11th, 1714, after fourteen months of siege.

Institutions and political parties traditionally made floral offerings to the monuments of Rafael Casanova (Ronda Sant Pere 51, metro Urquinaona, check Barcelona Metro map here) and Josep Moragues, both in Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia.

Since 2003, the main festivity is holded in Ciutadella Park (click here for Public transportation information in Barcelona). On this festivity, music, catalan personalities and thousands of citizens meet to celebrate and enjoy this very special date.

During the celebration, the most relevant icons: la Senyera (Catalan flag) can be usually seen everywhere and specially hanging from balconies and the Catalonian National anthem “Els Segadors” can be usually heard as it is commonly played to exalt the Catalan feeling.

First of all, we should start with a brief introduction to what Castellers are and the basic terminology. As this is a catalan tradition, all the terminology is in Catalan, although I will include the English transaction between brackets.

Basically a castell (castle) consists of a human tower with can have up to ten levels high. [...]]]>

First of all, we should start with a brief introduction to what Castellers are and the basic terminology. As this is a catalan tradition, all the terminology is in Catalan, although I will include the English transaction between brackets.

Basically a castell (castle) consists of a human tower with can have up to ten levels high. These castells (castle) are built during town festivals. At these festivals, different colles castelleres (teams) compete to build the most impressive castell. These colles castelleres dress up in traditional catalan costumes.

Barcelona’s colla castellera (team of castle builders) is Castellers de Barcelona and this year they celebrate their 40th anniversary. In order to celebrate such an important event, they have organized two diades castelleres (days where these castles are built, normally on a sunday).

First diada castellera:

Date: 20th of June
Venue: Plaça de Sant Jaume (city centre)
Time: 20h
Metro: Jaume I (L4 – yellow line)

Second diada castellera:

Date: 21st of June
Venue: Plaça de Sant Jaume (city centre)
Time: 12h
Metro: Jaume I (L4 – yellow line)

This is one of the most important catalan traditions so if you are in town on the 20th or 21st of June, I strongly recommend that you don’t miss it as it is a great event and you will definitely enjoy it.

For third year in a row, the Portuguese Consulate General in Barcelona is organizing a Portuguese Cultural week in Barcelona. This is a great oportunity to get to know all what Portugal has to offer.

This event is called “Portugal Convida” (Portugal invites you) and will take place from the 8th to the 14th of June. [...]]]>

For third year in a row, the Portuguese Consulate General in Barcelona is organizing a Portuguese Cultural week in Barcelona. This is a great oportunity to get to know all what Portugal has to offer.

This event is called “Portugal Convida” (Portugal invites you) and will take place from the 8th to the 14th of June. This year’s event includes cinema, wine tasting, live music, debates, …

Click here for details regarding events and timetable. The only problem is that the website is just in Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese, no English, although you can only use the Google translation tool to translate the website into English.

SANTI PICÓ & ADRIÀ GRANDIA Thursday 7 May (21.00h) – Luz de Gas €15 ELEFTHERIA ARVANITAKI Thursday 7 May (21.00h) – Palau de la Música Catalana from 20 to €48 MADELEINE PEYROUX Friday 8 May (21.00h) – Palau de la Música [...]]]>
The 20 Barcelona Guitar Festival will take place from March 29th to June 27th. Here is the programme for May:

SANTI PICÓ & ADRIÀ GRANDIA
Thursday 7 May (21.00h) – Luz de Gas
€15
ELEFTHERIA ARVANITAKI
Thursday 7 May (21.00h) – Palau de la Música Catalana
from 20 to €48
MADELEINE PEYROUX
Friday 8 May (21.00h) – Palau de la Música Catalana
from 20 to €48
LOVE OF LESBIAN + Suite Momo
Saturday 9 May (21.00h) – Apolo
€18
LUCIANA SOUZA & ROMERO LUAMBO
Sunday 10 May (21.00 h) – Luz de Gas
€8
JACKSON BROWNE
Wednesday 13 May (21.00h) – Palau de la Música Catalana
from 18 to €45
ALEX GARROBÉ
Thursday 14 May (20.00h) – L´Auditori Sala 2
€15
IVÁN FERREIRO
Friday 15 May (21.30h) – Palau de la Música Catalana
from 18 to €42
JOSEP SOTO GRUP
Saturday, 16 May (21.00h) – Luz de Gas
€15
VI MOSTRA DE JOVES GUITARRISTES
Sunday 17 May (19.00h) – Luz de Gas
€6
SABOR DE GRACIA
Wednesday 20 May ( 21.00 h) – Apolo
from 15 to €18
GARY MOORE
Friday 21 May ( 20.45 h) – Sant Jordi Club
from 32 to €48
MANEL
Friday 22 May ( 21.30 h) – Apolo
€16
JULIAN LAGE
Friday 22 May ( 21.30 h) – Luz de Gas
€24
JOSEP THIÓ
Saturday 23 May ( 21.00 h) – Auditori Can Roig i Torres ( Santa Coloma de Gramanet
€15
JAVIER RIBA
Saturday 23 May ( 21.00 h) – Esglèsia de Sant Felip Neri
€16
MENAIX A TRUÀ
Saturday 23 May ( 21.00 h) – L´Auditori Sala 2
€16
SHUARMA
Thursday 28 May ( 21.30h) – Centre Cultural Barradas ( L´Hospitalet Llobregat)
€15

Click here for full programme and further details.

* Many thanks to Robin Mitchell for this fantastic picture.

Here is the programme for April:

AMARAL Thursday 2 April (21.00h) – Palau de la Música Catalana from 20 to €48 PAT MARTINO Wednesday 15 April (21.00h) – Luz de Gas €28 JUAN PERRO Friday 17 April (21.30h) – Bikini €20 ANDY McKEE Saturday 28 April (21.00h) – Luz [...]]]>
The 20 Barcelona Guitar Festival will take place from March 29th to June 27th.

Here is the programme for April:

AMARAL
Thursday 2 April (21.00h) – Palau de la Música Catalana
from 20 to €48
PAT MARTINO
Wednesday 15 April (21.00h) – Luz de Gas
€28
JUAN PERRO
Friday 17 April (21.30h) – Bikini
€20
ANDY McKEE
Saturday 28 April (21.00h) – Luz de Gas
€28
KURT ROSENWINKEL
Thursday 23 April (21.30h) – L´Auditori Sala 2
€24
DAVID BYRNE
Friday 24 April (21.00h) – Palau de la Música Catalana
from 25 to €54
ROGER MAS
Saturday 25 April (21.00h) – L´Auditori Sala 2
€16
TOTI SOLER
Sunday 26 April (20.00h) – Luz de Gas
€15
JOAN MIQUEL OLIVER
Thursday 30 April (21.00h) – Casino L´Aliança de Poblenou
€18

Click here for full programme and further details.

* Many thanks to Robin Mitchell for this fantastic picture.