Brunch Electronik in Barcelona

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  • The concept of electronic music events on Sundays that finish early enough to allow some semblance of productivity come Monday morning has gained traction in Barcelona of late. The major proponent of this has been Piknic Electronik, which started out on a smallish scale in 2012 before expanding last year to become a cornerstone of summer in the Catalan capital. INSERT tried to move the idea indoors during the winter months, with mixed results. The people behind Piknic Electronik, however, seem to have realised that, in this city at least, the daytime clubbing idea is a great deal more attractive if it comes with picturesque, al-fresco surroundings and a good chance of sunshine. It might be great fun to subvert the norm by diving headlong into Berghain's pitch-black hurt locker at 2 PM on a Sunday, but a weak facsimile of that experience is, quite understandably, not something that most people will switch off Curb Your Enthusiasm and get out of bed for. Hence Brunch Electronik, a three-date party series in the courtyard of the centrally located CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona) timed to coincide with the arrival of spring, and with lineups reflecting Piknic's fast-growing stature in the city. With a running time of 11 AM to 8 PM, stands selling everything from records and vintage clothes to artisan breads and eggs benedict—not to mention a dedicated children's play area—these events look more like a village fête than an outdoor rave. Security was unusually tight and prominent, both at the entrance and in the courtyard, but then, as a friend pointed out, this is a daytime event at a venue slap-bang in the middle of town, "and you can't really have a bunch of zombies tumbling out onto the streets at eight o'clock in the evening." The lineup was as impressive as you'd expect from Piknic Electronik, who hosted heavyweights like Michael Mayer, Motor City Drum Ensemble and Carl Craig last summer, but here it felt like more of a side-attraction than a focal point. We let Crazy P's slinky, soulful disco wash over us as we drank sangria in the afternoon sunshine, cocked an ear towards Danton Eeprom's rangy electro over a teatime crêpe, and danced a little sleepily, glasses of cava in hand, to Matias Aguayo's characteristically tight closing DJ set. This description may make the whole thing sound slightly boring, but the general consensus was that, in creating such an atmosphere, the organisers had nicely tapped in to the city's current mood. At heart, Brunch Electronik feels like an ever-so-gentle warm-up session for Barcelona's summer. And, given the full-throttle haze of excess that descends on this place during its hottest months, that's probably a mercy for which we should all be thankful.
RA