Correfoc – a fire beast parade

One of the best moments of La Mercè. Gangs of demons (diables) around Barcelona participating in the great festival of fire and sound, which began with the spectacular fireworks of Gate of Hell (Porta de l’Infern), in open, gives way to Correfoc.

If you’re one of those who go in for traditional, family activities, don’t miss the “fire beast” parade, a spectacular, safe, night-time procession that lets you calmly observe dragons and beasts making their way through the old quarter up to Plaça Sant Jaume.

Recommendations.
Wear appropriate clothing: cotton clothing with closed neck, long sleeves, neck scarf, hat, shoes flexible, light and closed, and ear-plugs

Route: Porta Cambó, av. Cambó, pl Antoni Maura, Via Laietana, pl Antoni López
Saturday 26/09 from 20:30h to 22:30h

NN hotels: www.nnhotels.com

12th International Pyrotechnic Festival

The 12th International Pyrotechnic Festival, taking place over the nights of 25 and 26 September, will see two firework displays from the Valencia and France, which spectators will be able to see from Espigó del Gas, next to the Hospital del Mar.

On 25 September, Focs d’Artifici Europlá will be bringing light and colour from Valencia; and finally, on 26 September, the French ‘Fêtes et Feux’ will be combining fireworks with special effects.

NN Hotels: www.nnhotels.com

La Mercè: patron-saint-day Festivities

Six hundred activities for every kind of public await you at La Mercè 2009, some thirty venues  throughout the city and five days and nights of Festa Major (patron-saint-day festivities). You’ll have no excuse for being bored if you’re in Barcelona between 23 and 27 September!

40 years of human pyramids
Barcelona’s human-pyramid makers, the Castellers de Barcelona, are celebrating their 40th anniversary and to do this, along with other groups from the city, they’ll be turning up in their biggest number ever for the Diada Castellera, which takes place on Thursday 24 in Plaça Sant Jaume.

Traditional music and BAM
Music has always been one of La Mercè’s main attractions, both in terms of the more traditional kind and the more innovative events at BAM , a festival now in its 17th year with such big names as The Hives, Billie The Vision & The Dancers, Manel, La Kinky Beat and Calima taking part.

In addition to BAM, you can also go to concerts featuring James Hunter, The Pepper Pots, Tarrakota and Baba Zula.

Fire and fire music
As for the traditional part of the festival, its main features have always included the ‘Piromusical‘ – a fire, water and music spectacle – and the International Pyrotechnic Festival.

The former, in Avinguda Maria Cristina, will be held on Sunday 27 and pay tribute to composers of cinema music and the Catalan ‘Nova Cançó’, the new song wave now celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The latter will be taking place for the 12th time at Barceloneta beach with three firework spectaculars – Thursday, Friday and Saturday – which you can watch from the Espigó del Gas.

The fun run
This year’s traditional La Mercè 10k fun run is being dedicated to a worthy cause. And that’s because the five euros it costs to enrol will be earmarked for the UN project ‘Sport for development and peace’. What’s more, those joining in will receive a gift!

There will also be a 2k course for people with disabilities and the TMB Gymkhana (in connection with Cerdà Year).

More inf@ visiting: www.bcn.es | Web La Mercè

Next BAM 2009 Festival

The 17th BAM, which takes place between 23 and 26 September, will be offering over sixty concerts spread around various venues, like Plaça Reial, Parc del Fòrum and the new stage on Rambla del Raval. With little over a month remaining before the start of BAM, the festival line-up continues to grow as more artists confirm they will be taking part.

Just a few weeks ago we learnt the Swedish band The Hives, Catalan pop phenomenon Manel, The Vision & The Dancers, creators of the song of the summer, Billie, and home-grown folk group El Petit de Cal Eril will be setting foot on one of the BAM 2009 stages.

Now there are more confirmations. Musicians from around the world have a notable role in the festival programme, which this year includes Cui Jian, pioneer of rock&roll in China, DJ Shantel, who will be bringing his Balkan rhythms, and Terry Lynn, a Jamaican who is redefining reggae.

Like every year there will be a good representation from the Catalan and Spanish scenes, with the presence of Barcelona band Inspira, Pájaro Sunrise from Leon, with their lively pop, and post-punk band CatPeople.

The American indie scene is sending two big names to BAM: The Duke & The King, the band of Simone Felice from The Felice Brothers, and Dirty Projectors, one of the revelations of the year.

Completing the bill we have Estanislau Verdet, The Pepper Pots, Calima, La Kinky Beat and Rock de Souk, who will be presenting Nour, Speed Caravan and Rabah Donquishoot.

BAM Festival (myspace)  |  NN Hotels: www.nnhotels.com