Concerts by over a hundred artists and groups, new venues, music at the beach, the most classic and most modern sounds…All this forms part of the music programme for La Mercè, shared between Música Mercè and the concerts organised by radio stations, plus the BAM, which also brings together the concerts of Acció Cultura Viva. From 20 to 24 September, La Mercè means music.
This year’s event includes a new stage in Plaça Catalunya for BAM concerts on 20, 21 and 23, and the return of evening concerts in C/ Menéndez y Pelayo, in the district of Les Corts. The city will have fourteen stages with music in all, where we can see live performances from over 140 artists and groups.
The programme for Música Mercè reflects the diversity and cultural identity of the city and beyond: from the Barcelona Municipal Band to other options combining jazz and folk, such as Magalí Sãre + Manel Fortià; the singer-songwriter Marwan; the pop, rock and folk of La Ludwig Band; the hybrid electronic and traditional sounds of Galicia’s Mercedes Peón ; the boundless talents of Rita Payés and Javier Colina; the Mallorcan pop of Maria Jaume; the indie music of Cala Vento and the latest creations from Figa Flawas and from Oques Grasses, with their new disc Fruit del deliri.
Add to these the performances by talents with Moroccan roots, such as PINAN 450F; the grand Moroccan star OUM; Aïta Mon Amour (Widad Mjama) and Maalem Hassan Boussou, who will be performing with his group in a concert with Raúl Rodríguez, and you start to get the idea that this is a highly diverse programme, where you’ll also find rumba from Arrels de Gràcia, folk from Estonia from Puuluup and much more.
You can see it all around eight stages: Teatre Grec, Av. Catedral; Pl. Sant Jaume; Jardins del doctor Pla i Armengol; Passeig dels Til·lers in the Parc de la Ciutadella (as part of the sustainable food fair Terra i gust); Plaça Major in Nou Barris, in front of the district office, and C/ Menéndez y Pelayo, where there are concerts from radio stations, plus the Bogatell beach (Mediterràniament stage).
Two large-format concerts stand out in the Música Mercè programme: one paying homage to the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the Sala Zeleste in C/ Argenteria, and another exploring the history of roots music and dance through to the present day, with over fifty artists taking part, including Judit Neddermann, Raúl Rodríguez, Momi Maiga and Anna Ferrer.
Besides the new stage in Plaça Catalunya, BAM concerts will also be held in Rambla del Raval, Plaça Reial (with a tribute to the Jamboree) and the Antiga Fàbrica Estrella Damm, as well as in Plaça de Can Fabra and at the Fabra i Coats. Barcelona Acció Musical brings together some forty artists around various themes, including revisited tradition, the club and collectiveness, new urban music, contemporary music, other festive music and emergencies.
Guests at the BAM include some unmissable acts, such as the electronic music of Cheb Runner; the trap of Sodamantina and Chill Mafia; the pop of Los Ganglios and the indie jazz of Magalí Datzira, plus PUTOCHINOMARICÓN and Las Ninyas del Corro. Other performances of interest at the BAM include Lucia Fumero and the transvestite show from Futuroa.
Under the umbrella of BAM Acció Cultura Viva we find the concerts in Sant Andreu (in Plaça de Can Fabra and at the Fabra i Coats), in a programme with its own personality featuring various rhythms and talents from the Barcelona and Catalan scene. This is a chance to hear the likes of Cecé & The Soul Kitchen, Las Bajas Pasiones, the electronic sounds of Colombia’s Meli Perea, the Mexican and Barcelona techno of Øbsidiaän and more.
These are just some of the music options in store for La Mercè. Check out the Festa Major de Barcelona website for more information on the artists and groups in the programme.