The end of September in our city always smells of gunpowder, saltpeter, and, above all, live music vibrating among the buildings.From September 23 to 27, Barcelona is getting ready to host another edition of La Mercè, reaffirming its identity as an open, pluralistic, and diverse city. In total, the city’s main festival will treat residents to 109 free concerts spread across 16 stages, bringing together artists from some thirty countries in a program that aims to perfectly reflect the rich tapestry of voices that characterizes the streets of Barcelona today.
The presence of China’s great capital will capture much of the attention.Shanghai will arrive in the city with three acts that showcase the vitality of its music scene: the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Jazz Ensemble, which reinterprets jazz through academic excellence; the Shanghai Restoration Project, a sonic experiment blending electronic music, hip-hop, dance, and traditional roots; and the majestic Shanghai Chinese Orchestra. Their performances will build a direct bridge between traditional wood and silk instruments and contemporary sounds.
The Best Concerts of the BAM or Música Mercè
The 34 Música Mercè concerts will create a dialogue between our musical heritage and experimentation. The lineup ranges from the Catalan rumba of Sabor de Gràcia and the flamenco of María Terremoto and La Barcelona Flamenca to the singer-songwriter styles of Luísa Sobral and Nacho Vegas. There will also be room for the rock of Aterciopelados, the uniqueness of Maika Makovski, the festive pop of La Pegatina, and fresh perspectives from artists such as La Paloma, Pol Batlle, and the avant-garde jazz of Fuensanta.
At the same time, the BAM will present 39 performances to cement its status as the leading barometer of new trends. The festival will host the Barcelona debuts of projects such as La 126, La Valentina, Islandman, I AM ROZE, Imarhan, and Daoud. A journey through post-punk, electronic music, and roots music will coincide with the tenth anniversary of BAM – Acció Cultura Viva, which will maintain its hub of community creation at Fabra i Coats.
A map of 16 stages to explore the city
This entire soundscape will take over iconic locations. The Teatre Grec will host major singer-songwriter concerts, Nou Barris will serve as the massive symphonic stage, and Avenida de la Catedral will be the setting for flamenco and traditional music. Emerging talent and intimate performances will find a home in the Doctor Pla i Armengol Gardens or Plaza de Sant Jaume, while large-scale events drawing massive crowds will take over Bogatell Beach and Avenida de Maria Cristina. The guitars and urban rhythms of BAM will take over Plaça de Catalunya, Moll de la Fusta, Rambla del Raval, and the Antiga Fàbrica Estrella Damm.
Wednesday, September 23
Plaza de Cataluña (BAM)
- Sona9 Contest at 7:00 p.m.
- Bia Ferreira at 10:30 p.m.
Moll de la Fusta (BAM)
- KIW & Mourad Belouadi at 10:30 p.m.
- La 126 at 12:00 a.m.
- Juventude at 1:30 a.m.
Rambla del Raval (BAM)
- Humana Taranja (Portugal Alive) at 9:30 p.m.
- Sunflowers (Portugal Alive) at 11:00 p.m.
- Maria Reis (Portugal Alive) at 12:30 a.m.
Teatre Grec (Música Mercè)
- Pol Batlle at 9:30 p.m.
- Luísa Sobral at 11:30 p.m.
Jardins del Doctor Pla i Armengol (Música Mercè)
- Shanghai Conservatory of Music Jazz Ensemble at 9:00 p.m.
- Shanghai Restoration Project at 11:00 p.m.
Avenida de la Catedral (Música Mercè)
- Sabor de Gràcia at 10:00 p.m.
- Arp Frique & The Perpetual Singers at 12:00 a.m.
Thursday, September 24
Jardins del Doctor Pla i Armengol (Música Mercè)
- ESMUC at 12:00 p.m.
- Xamfrà at 7:00 p.m.
Nou Barris District Headquarters (Música Mercè)
- Orquestra i Cor del Gran Teatre del Liceu at 8:45 p.m.
Avenida de la Catedral (Música Mercè)
- María Terremoto at 9:00 p.m.
- La Barcelona Flamenca at 10:15 p.m.
Friday, September 25
Plaza de Cataluña (BAM)
- Daoud at 10:30 p.m.
- The Slates at 12:00 a.m.
- Sandré at 1:30 a.m.
Moll de la Fusta (BAM)
- Les Testarudes at 10:30 p.m.
- Isla Kume at 12:00 a.m.
- Islandman at 1:30 a.m.
Rambla del Raval (BAM)
- Restinga at 9:30 p.m.
- Uzi Freyja at 11:00 p.m.
- Queer Falafel x Mad Monkey at 12:30 a.m.
Teatre Grec (Música Mercè)
- Nacho Vegas at 9:30 p.m.
- La Paloma at 11:30 p.m.
Jardins del Doctor Pla i Armengol (Música Mercè)
- Fuensanta at 9:00 p.m.
- Marina y su Melao at 11:00 p.m.
Nou Barris District Headquarters (Música Mercè)
- Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and National Orchestra of Catalonia (OBC) at 8:45 p.m.
Bogatell Beach (Música Mercè – ELS40)
- Aina Machuca at 7:30 p.m.
- Enol at 7:55 p.m.
- Sexenni at 8:30 p.m.
- Miki Núñez at 10:00 p.m.
- Buhos at 1:15 a.m.
Avenida de Maria Cristina (Música Mercè – RAC105)
- Maria Jaume at 8:30 p.m.
- Markos at 9:30 p.m.
- Els Amics de les Arts at 10:00 p.m.
- Els Catarres at 11:45 p.m.
- Teràpia de Shock at 1:30 a.m.
Avenida de la Catedral (Música Mercè)
- Shanghai Chinese Orchestra (“The Colors of China”) at 11:00 p.m.
Passeig dels Til·lers (Música Mercè)
- Azucarillo Kings at 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 26
Plaza de Cataluña (BAM)
- Intergalàctic Minibus at 10:30 p.m.
- Ypnosi at 12:00 a.m.
- Sandra Monfort at 1:30 a.m.
Moll de la Fusta (BAM)
- Gala and Ovidio at 10:30 p.m.
- Post at 12:00 a.m.
- La Valentina at 1:30 a.m.
Rambla del Raval (BAM)
- I AM ROZE at 9:30 p.m.
- TĀRA at 11:00 p.m.
- TootArd at 12:30 a.m.
Former Estrella Damm Factory (BAM)
- Carmen Aciar at 1:15 p.m.
- Angela Blackburn at 2:15 p.m.
- Jovedry at 4:30 p.m.
- Admire at 5:40 p.m.
- Cristina Len at 6:50 p.m.
- Bofirax at 8:15 p.m.
L’Harmonia Stage (BAM ACV)
- Peperina from 5:00 p.m. to 5:50 p.m.
- Grup de Ties from 6:40 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- LECOCQ from 8:20 p.m. to 9:10 p.m.
Fabra i Coats Stage (BAM ACV)
- María Cielos from 5:50 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.
- AGOST from 7:30 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.
Plaza Can Fabra Stage (BAM ACV)
- Jester from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Revolución Guapachosa from 10:50 p.m. to 11:40 p.m.
- STA from 12:10 a.m. to 1:10 a.m.
Teatre Grec (Música Mercè)
- Ana Rossi + Joana Queiroz at 9:30 p.m.
- Def Mama Def at 11:30 p.m.
- Brama at 12:00 a.m.
- Imarhan at 1:30 a.m.
Jardins del Doctor Pla i Armengol (Música Mercè)
- Jam Nation at 12:00 p.m.
- Marc Vilajuana at 9:30 p.m.
- El Extintor + La Torre at 11:00 p.m.
Nou Barris District Headquarters (Música Mercè)
- Roquetes de Nou Barris Symphonic Band at 12:00 p.m.
- Barcelona Municipal Band at 8:45 p.m.
Avenida de Maria Cristina (Música Mercè – Europa FM)
- Ivan Herzog at 9:00 p.m.
- Banda Neón at 9:45 p.m.
- Paula Koops at 11:00 p.m.
- Surprise artist at 12:15 a.m.
- Leire Martínez at 1:15 a.m.
Bogatell Beach (Música Mercè – Damm)
- Al·lèrgiques al Pol·len at 8:00 p.m.
- La Pegatina at 9:30 p.m.
- Group to be announced at 11:00 p.m.
- Svetlana at 1:30 a.m.
Avenida de la Catedral (Música Mercè)
- Aterciopelados at 10:00 p.m.
- Maika Makovski at 12:00 a.m.
Passeig dels Til·lers (Música Mercè)
- Marco de Ana at 12:30 p.m.
- Sorvina at 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 27
Former Estrella Damm Factory (BAM)
- Arar at 1:15 p.m.
- Mala Freixura at 2:15 p.m.
- AL-V at 4:30 p.m.
- Asra3 at 5:40 p.m.
- MERCÈ at 6:50 p.m.
- Maig at 8:15 p.m.
Plaza Can Fabra Stage (BAM ACV)
- De Gairó from 1:10 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Brisa Nunjo from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Quintal Delas from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- La Llorería from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Jardins del Doctor Pla i Armengol (Música Mercè)
- Liceu Blam Collective at 12:00 p.m.
Passeig dels Til·lers (Música Mercè)
- Tumbakin at 1:00 p.m.
- Giulia Valle at 7:30 p.m.
Plaza de Sant Jaume (Música Mercè)
- Carola Ortiz (Havaneres) at 7:00 p.m.
Waterfront
- La Mercè Fireworks and Music Show at 10:00 p.m.
