With just about every musical genre dutifully represented within its stately concert halls, dance clubs and cozy neighborhood bars, Barcelona offers a multitude of options for music lovers of all walks and wants.
Whether you’re craving rock, pop, alternative, jazz or classical, or simply seeking new things to do in this dynamic cosmopolitan city, here are a few top venues featuring up-close-and-personal live music entertainment.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Heliogàbal
Situated in Barcelona’s boho-cool Gracia district, this alternative venue doubles as a cultural association showcasing an assortment of artistic platforms, including photography, literature, video, poetry and music — often combined to create unique presentations. Inaugurated in 1995, Heliogàbal remains a popular hot spot for those seeking original sounds a beat away from the mainstream.
Razzmatazz
A fit for all flavors, Razzmatazz is the Catalan capital’s ultimate dance club, featuring five distinctive floors of varied musical genres.
While spaces vary in size and capacity, excellent acoustics throughout have afforded this prolific live music venue with a constant flow of international headliners and worthy up-and-comers from the worlds of hip-hop, pop, rock, reggae, funk and a slew of other musical styles.
L’Auditori
Home to Barcelona’s prestigious Symphony and National Catalan Orchestras, L’Auditori is the local leader for all things classical music. For nearly 20 years, this vast and decidedly modern space has featured amazing acoustics for its regular lineup of elite chamber, traditional, jazz and folk musical concerts.
And for true aficionados, the in-house Museu de la Música offers related workshops, children’s programs and exhibitions.
Sidecar Factory Club
Fans of the underground music scene will enjoy a night out at Sidecar; the subterranean night spot promoting rock-infused pop, electro and indie beats for a youngish, urban, cool crowd.
Red-lit and compact, this hip cellar club is complemented by a ground-level outdoor lounge space situated on the bustling Plaça Reial square.
Jamboree Jazz Club
Considered one of the city’s most notable jazz clubs, this intimate mainstay also covers everything from R&B to soul and funk within its two stories of performance space.
Offering nightly live musical acts of varying skill sets in a relaxed setting, Jamboree’s Monday night jam sessions are the place to drop by for some of the best emerging talent around.
Big Bang
For live entertainment at its rip-roaring best, pop into Big Bang, a whimsical, checkered-floor and red-curtained bar known for rambunctious Thursday night jams and Friday eve open-mic sessions.
Open five days a week, Big Bang has eclectic programming; jazz, funk, rock and soul all pay tribute to its previous inceptions as a winery, gypsy hangout and hard-rock club.
Sala Apolo
Popular with locals of all ages for its varied selection of musical genres and themed party nights, Sala Apolo is currently celebrated for its live indie acts and after-hours international DJ sets.
The one-time ballroom boasts a couple of spacious yet laid-back areas, with performing acts ranging in styles from techno to fusion to funk.
Luz de Gas
Attracting a sophisticated crowd with a penchant for nostalgic sounds, this former music hall entertains visitors with a rotating lineup of vintage cover bands.
Draped with dramatic velvet curtains, glistening chandeliers and mood lighting, Luz de Gas features memorable music from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s both live and via DJ-infused after-concert dancing.
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