Summer nights in Barcelona always hold a special magic when music spills out onto the streets and the squares are transformed into vast communal gathering spaces. With the arrival of warm weather, the city is gearing up to experience the opening stages of a major civic celebration with the atmosphere of a local festival, designed to let residents enjoy public spaces through culture. The reason is none other than to celebrate that the Catalan capital has been chosen to host the iconic starting gun—the Grand Départ—of the Tour de France.
Under the name La Fiesta del Tour, this completely public and free event will take place from June 26 through July 5, featuring a diverse range of cultural and family-friendly activities. However, the main musical highlights will be concentrated during the first weekend, from Friday, June 26, to Sunday, June 28. There will be a total of ten outdoor concerts spread between Cathedral Square and Margarida Xirgu Square—a perfect opportunity to share the celebration with the neighborhood and showcase the talent of our local bands to the world.
Friday, the 26th: comedy and festive pop music to kick things off
Plaza de la Catedral will kick off the festivities on Friday at 8:30 p.m. with an irreverent live performance by Ladilla Rusa. The project by Montcada i Reixach locals Tania Lozano and Víctor F. Clares will bring their humor and satirical take on local customs to transform the space into a massive street party, thanks to popular songs like “Macaulay Culkin ” and “KITT and the Cars of the Past.”
Two hours later, at 10:30 p.m., it will be Sexenni’s turn. Coming straight from Lleida, this festive pop group promises to get the crowd moving by blending guitars, rhymes, and good vibes with the lyrics from their album *Joc de nens*.
Saturday, the 27th: rumba, trap, and electronic music on two stages
On Saturday, the music will be split between two key locations in the city. At 8:30 p.m., Plaza de la Catedral will welcome Doctor Prats, the band from Terrassa that’s returning with renewed energy and new members Joan Palà and Maria Astallé. Their concert will be very special, as their latest track, “Energia!,” has become the official song for the Tour’s start. Later, at 10:30 p.m., the six members of 31 FAM will take the stage to showcase their leadership in trap and reggaeton with the presentation of their concept album R31.
Meanwhile, Margarida Xirgu Square will fill with traditional sounds at 8:30 p.m. with Joan Garriga. The founder of Dusminguet and the driving force behind La Troba Kung-Fú will take the stage with his diatonic accordion to offer an evening of “rúmbia vallesana”—a blend of rumba and cumbia perfect for lovers of traditional folk festivals. To close out the night in Montjuïc, at 10:00 p.m., DJ Trapella will offer a fresh and unpredictable set that combines electronic sounds with a strong social commitment.
Sunday, the 28th: intimate pop, rock in Catalan, and Jamaican rhythms
The final day of the weekend will keep the bar set very high. At 8:30 p.m., the Plaza de la Catedral will host Suu (Susana Ventura), one of the most beloved voices in contemporary Catalan pop, who will perform songs from her latest album, *Material sensible*. The grand finale on this stage will take place at 10:00 p.m. with Sidonie. The Barcelona-based trio—composed of Marc Ros, Jesús Senra, and Axel Pi—will offer a very special performance as they present Catalan Graffiti live, the twelfth album of their career and the first sung entirely in Catalan.
At the same time, in Margarida Xirgu Square, the music will kick off at 8:30 p.m. with the energy of Mercabanda, the group composed of Maria la Blanco, Magalí Datzira, Glòria Maurel, and Joina Canyet, which rose to fame on the television show *Zona Franca* and now brings its powerful fusion of pop, disco, and rumba to the city’s squares.
The final concert of this weekend’s series will take place at 10:00 p.m., headlined by Boom Boom Fighters. Led by Ampurdán-born vocalist Cookah P, this young band will bring the festival to a close by getting the crowd moving with the dancehall and reggae sounds of their second album, *Caliu*, filtering Jamaican dance music through a purely Mediterranean lens.
