The Rough Guide to Barcelona 8 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

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Theatre and cabaret

The

Teatre Nacional de Catalunya

(Catalan National Theatre) was specifi-

cally conceived as a venue to promote Catalan productions, and features a

repertory programme of translated classics (such as Shakespeare in Catalan),

original works and productions by guest companies from Europe. The other

big local theatrical project is the

Ciutat del Teatre

(Theatre City) on

Montjuïc, which incorporates the fringe-style Mercat de les Flors, the progres-

sive Teatre Lliure and the Institut del Teatre theatre and dance school. The

centre for commercial theatre is on and off the Ramblas and along Avinguda

Paral.lel and the nearby streets. Some theatres draw on the city’s strong

cabaret

tradition – more music-hall entertainment than stand-up comedy, and thus a

The beat from the street

It may not have the global influence of 1980s Manchester or 1990s Seattle, but the

mestiza

sound of twenty-first-century Barcelona is causing quite a stir – a cross-

cultural fusion of rock, reggae, rap, hip-hop, rai, son, flamenco, rumba and

electronica. Its heartland is the immigrant melting-pot of the Raval district, whose

postcode –

08001

– lends a name to the sound’s hippest flagbearers. Also typically

“Raval” is the collective called

Cheb Balowski

, an Algerian-Catalan fusion band,

while

Macaco

draw on their South American heritage with their characteristic mix of

rumba, ragga and hip-hop. The biggest star on the scene is the Parisian-born,

Barcelona-resident

Manu Chao

, whose infectious, multi-million-selling album

Clandestino

(1998) kick-started the whole genre. He’s widely known abroad now, and

has influenced many Barcelona bands, including the world music festival favourites

Ojos de Brujo

(Eyes of the Wizard), who present a fusion reinvention of flamenco and

Catalan rumba. Other hot sounds are being hatched by the ska-tinged acoustic roots

outfit

Dusminguet

, the Latin American dub and reggae band

GoLem System

, the

Latin fusion merchants

Radio Malanga

and the rock-and-rumba duo,

Estopa

. Street

and hip-hop freestyle bands also have a loyal local following, with

Payo Malo

and

Kinky Beat

the names to check. There’s more information on the useful

mestiza

portal

www.radiochango.com,

while you can hear all the above – and more – on

three great samplers,

Barcelona Raval Sessions

2 and

Barcelona Zona Bastarda

. For new-wave Catalan rumba, get hold of the

Rambla

Rumble Rumba

compilation.

gigs in a small club and bar associated

with the music school. Every night from

around 8 or 9pm there’s something

different, from rock, blues, jazz and jam

sessions to the popular weekly Cuban

(Thurs) and flamenco (Fri) nights.

Luz de Gas

c/Muntaner 246, Esquerra de

l’Eixample

932 097 711,

www.luzdegas

.com;

Diagonal.

Live music (rock, blues,

soul, jazz and covers) every night around

midnight. Foreign acts appear regularly, too,

mainly jazz-blues types but also old soul

acts and up-and-coming rockers.

Sala BeCool

Pl. Joan Llongueras 5, Sant Gervasi

933 620 413,

www.salabecool.com;

Hospital Clinic/FGC Muntaner.

Thumping

uptown club venue for local and national

rock, indie and electro/techno bands and

DJs. Gigs currently Thurs–Sat nights,

followed by DJ sessions, with cover for

either running from €10 to €20, depending

on who’s appearing.

Sidecar

Pl. Reial 7, Barri Gótic

933 021

586,

www.sidecarfactoryclub.com

;

Liceu.

The hippest concert space in the

old town – pronounced “See-day-car” – has

nightly gigs and DJs that champion rock,

indie, roots and fusion acts. Admission for

most gigs around €7–10, though some gigs

up to €20. Tues–Sun 8pm–4.30am, gigs

usually at 10.30pm.

ENTERTAINMENT

Theatre and cabaret