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ONLY BE BARCELONIAN
Only-Be Barcelonian
Primavera Sound 2013
Do you remember waiting for the Spring Festival when you were younger? And the illusion that came along with the flowers’ season? In Barcelona, everyone dreams of the Primavera Sound festival, which is about to begin. The most famous Groups and DJs from all continents, will gather in the capital of Catalunya at this huge concert from the 22nd to the 26th of May. Among the performers you’ll find Django Django, Phosphorescent, Sr. Chinarro and Dj Koze. More than a hundred concerts concentrated in just one week. © JasonParis The 13th edition This is the thirteenth edition of the festival, and despite the economic crisis, the event’s organizers were able to gather around 120 groups from all around the world. In the Barcelona edition I recommend you the performance of Aliment, The Bots and Delorean at the Parc del Forum and John Talabot, Veronica Falls and Poolside at the Apolo on the 22nd of May. On the 23rd, Animal Collective, Bob Mould, Four Tet, Degreaser, Fucked Up, Death Grips, Grizzly Bear and Dinosaur Jr. at Parc del Fòrum. On the 24th of May you can’t miss the performance of Barry Hogan Dj, Daughter, Daniel Johnston, Daughn Gibson, How To Dress Well, La Bien Querida, Matthew E. White, Disclosure, Shellac, The Knife, Titus Andronicus, Neurosis y Guardian Alien, at Parc del Fòrum. On the 25th of May at the same venue, we’ll enjoy the performance of Los Planetas, Adam Green y Binki Shapiro, Django Django, Dexys, Extraperlo, Dj Koze, Dead Can Dance, Camera Obscura, Phosphorescent, Betunizer, Crystal Castles and 2 or 3 dozens of other groups waiting to offer a...Who won our April Facebook Give-Away?
Last Friday was the last day to participate in our Facebook give-away for the chance to win a stay in Corfu, Greece. Today we picked the lucky winner! To prove that the selection of the winner was authentic and completely random (and let’s be honest to have a little fun on this grey and rainy day at the office) we recorded a video of the selection process. Sunsearcher Spirit (Sunsearcher) / CC BY-SA 3.0 In the name of Only-apartments we would like to congratulate Yolanda Cantarero López on winning our prize of a stay in Corfu,...
Saint George’s Day 2013
There is no better place in the world to celebrate the 23rd of April; the International Day of the Book. This is a very important celebration, not only because it commemorate the anniversary of the city’s protector St. George but also because the whole city becomes a great party. The International Day of the Book During Saint George´s Day, las Ramblas gets full of stalls full books and red roses. The tradition suggests that on this day, which is holiday in Barcelona and throughout Catalonia, it is required to give men a book and a red rose to the ladies. That´s what the custom dictates, but as we live in the postmodern times and the ladies read more than men you can disrupt the order. The tradition dates back to the fifteenth century and today the reality is quite different. During this day, as well as some days before and after de celebration, booksellers make a discount of 5% on the price marked on the label. Remember that in Spain the price of new books (unless they are antiques or second hand) is fixed for all establishments. Although the stalls will be filled with new releases, there is always a bold bookseller that temps the bibliophile to browse the shelves. There is always a classic, a great poem book and a novel that you´ve wanted to read or borrowed but never bought. Another excuse to enjoy this special day is in the sense of end of the paper books in the air. The advance of the ebooks, as well as the intangible information that now is being read on...
Rammstein, Made in Germany in Barcelona
Rammstein is a German band that has conquered the world of Industrial Metal music and never fail to seduce their audience with their amazing productions and of course, their powerful music, which is known all over the world. So much so, that since 2011 they have been on an impressive world tour, while performing the huge amount of hits they have played during their successful career. The band was founded in 1994, but its beginnings start a little further back, along with the reunification of Germany. All members of Rammstein were already making music in independent projects; when the German reunification took place, all except one of the members, lived in the former East Germany, or GDR, from where they fled, at an early age, in order to be able to make their musical projects in West Germany. After the reunification, fate brought them together in the musical circuit, which, led some members to even live together, Blessed destiny! Then the story is which we all know, the Rammstein project was born within the Neue Deutsche Härt, with the signature sound that led them to world fame. Rammstein is perhaps the most successful German band in history, as well as the fastest band in obtaining worldwide success. Their time performance as openers only lasted for just a couple of concerts, after which the filmmaker Gert Hof joined them, who lit up by the power of this musicians took over the live shows, we owe him all the impressive lighting performances the band assemblies. In 1997 their second album Sehnsucht was released, while reaching worldwide fame. This is the album...
The Best of the Barcelona Guitar Festival in April
The established Barcelona Guitar Festival will be presented under a new name for its 24th edition this year. Not only does it now have a more modern name, but the festival also aims to bring the most innovative musical ideas, with the guitar as the main focus, to Barcelona It is spread out over four months (from February to June 2013) with some 40 concerts by national and international performers, including young talents like Alessi´s Ark and established artists like Paco de Lucía. April is full of impressive concerts, but we’ve compiled a list for you here to ensure you don’t miss any of the must-see artists: Nacho Vegas (April 6 at Barts) This Spaniard hailing from Asturias is a veteran of his birthplace’s music scene and has remained true to himself throughout his long career. He’ll be in Barcelona with his band to present a new work, La vida es dulce, his unique tribute to British film director Mike Leigh. Tickets are 25 euros plus fees. Alfonso de Vilallonga (April 18 at Apolo) On a different note, we come to the composer Alfonso de Vilallonga. Known for his work on the film soundtracks for Isabel Coixet, Fernando de Aranoa and Brad Anderson, he’s enjoying great success at the moment with the music he composed for Blancanieves (Snow White), the undisputed winner at the Goya Awards. For this visit to the Catalan capital, he’ll present a new album. Tickets are 25 euros in advance and 29 euros at the door. Johnny Winter (April 24 at Barts) This veteran of the blues with a black soul and white skin began...We have a winner of our Facebook give away
Last week we announced our give away among our Facebook fans. You had until last Monday to participate for a chance to win a stay in Vodice, Croatia and 300€ prize money. The participation was overwhelming. More than 1000 of you participated. But as these things go, there can only be one winner. Among all participants we picked out a winner with the help of random.org Congratulations to Marian Kret!!! We hope he and his companion will have a great time. Since this give away was such a great success we want to thank everyone for their participation! Follow us on Facebook for more news on travel, great offers and other give aways and...
Manos de Topo Concert in Barcelona
In the biographical journey of Barcelona’s pop-rock quartet Manos de Topo, which will offer a concert at the iconic Apolo concert hall (2) in Poble Sec on Friday the 29th of March, there are a number of archetypal features that serve to define the bands of their musical genre. Manos de Topo is a band originally founded by two film students who, in their autodidact DIY (Do it Yourself) spirit, which comes from the prepunk supports lots of the most exciting bands in recent decades, wanted to allude to their lack of musical skills directly through their name, as a way to shake any failure complex assuming that traits a differential hallmark through their humor and irony. Humor and irony are indeed two of the most notable features of Manos de Topo, both permeating their, in appearance, romantic songs, in a parody to many of the most prominent Spanish indie-rock bands, particularly to the Catalan bands that play music in Spanish, in a broad spectrum that covers Love of Lesbian, Astrud and The New Raemon, who took care of the production of Escapar con el anticiclón, last album of Manos de Topo. Moreover, the very particular parodic deconstruction of romantic music, through songs that somehow seem to evoke the sound of some of the most representative bands of the eighties, which used lyrics inspired by heartbreak stories that provided the audience an excuse to cry and intentionally limit the overtly pushed tune under a theatrically and exaggerated emotion discovered through Myspace, while catching the attention of different music labels as well as indie critics, some of which came to...Travel Photos of the Month by Elia Locardi
On the hunt for a fresh cover photo for our Facebook page, we came across the amazing work of Elia Locardi. On his website with the catchy name “Blame the Monkey” he shares his photography and travel adventures with us. We couldn’t help, but fall in love with the beautiful images that his lens caught and wanted to know more about him and his work. Read our interview with Elia here: How long have you been a photographer? I started getting serious about photography in 2010 and turned pro in 2011. Since then I’ve flown nearly 1 million miles and have photographed 37 countries and counting. Did you study photography or did you start it as a hobby? I went to school for Visual Effects and Motion Graphics so photography was always encouraged but I never took any formal classes. Fortunately, I started working with Adobe Photoshop in 1999, so by the time I picked up a camera, I was already very knowledgeable in post-processing techniques. It only took a short amount of time — and a few fun travel destinations — experimenting with camera settings, before things started to click (so to speak). What in your personal (and professional if applicable) life inspires you to take your pictures? Well, there’s a very special feeling that occurs when elements come together and blend seamlessly to produce a beautiful moment in time. When that happens, I feel very connected to my surroundings as everything else around me seems to melt away. There’s nothing else like being able to capture a perfect moment and the first time I...
Poble Sec Is All the Rage in Barcelona
One of the must-see spots for all travelers who seek to get to know the real Barcelona is to visit the city’s Poble Sec neighborhood, an area full of charm and authenticity where the bohemian past is still present. Poble Sec is located halfway between Mount Montjuic and Las Ramblas. It is the ideal choice for those who want to be away from the crowds of tourists that flood other areas of Barcelona but near the city center and other landmarks such as the Gothic Quarter or the multicultural Raval. What can you do? As a neighborhood of contrasts, where a quiet residential environment coexists with some of the liveliest nightlife in Barcelona, there are entertainment options for all tastes and no shortage of possiblities Here are our suggestions: Walk around Montjuic The Monte de Montjuic offers spectacular views of the Catalan capital, splendid parks and gardens to spend a day outdoors, and some of the most interesting artistic institutions in the city: the Joan Miró Foundation, the Caixa Forum Museum and the National Museum of Catalan Art. A night at the theater The Poble Sec’s relationship with theater and culture is long-standing. Since the early 20th century it has been home to the best theaters, concert cafés and cabarets of the capital, whose decadent air and popularity attracted Barcelona artists. Today, the Avinguda del Parallel has the most cultural activity in the neighborhood. There, you’ll find the legendary Apollo, El Molino, Condal and Victoria theaters, which are perfect for spending a night out. La Ciudad del Teatro, which is home to the old Flower Market and the...
The 2013 Barcelona Marathon
The Barcelona Marathon is one of the events that the city has reserved for the arrival of spring. Taking place since 1980, this event has become important Europe-wide and adds more participants seeking to set new records and, above all, to enjoy the fun atmosphere and camaraderie that reigns during the celebration. This year´s edition will take place on Sunday, March 17, and a total of 20,000 participants are expected. To register, one must be at least 18 years old, regardless of nationality, and do it up to 48 hours before the race. At8:30 amthe race of 42 kilometers, which are entirely urban, begins and runners must complete the course in a maximum of 6 hours. The current record, however, is well below that; the Kenyan Jackson Kotut won the 2010Marathonwith a time of 2 hours and 7 minutes. Pasta Party It has become a custom for the participants to gather on the day before the marathon to share a free meal that has pasta as the main ingredient. The idea is that this way the runners will have the nutrients needed for the race but also have a time to interact with each other. It will take place at the Sports Pavilion of the Expo from 12 to 4 pm. Points of Animation If you’re not a long distance runner and would prefer to observe theMarathonfrom afar, everything has been designed so that the viewers will enjoy the most from the event and there are many activities that take place in conjunction to the race. The organization has set more than 40 points along the...Promotions
