Top 10 must see acts at Sónar Festival 2019

With this year's edition of Sónar festival Barcelona getting ever closer, happening from the 18th-20th of July, we wanted to help you get organized by listing the top 10 acts you really can't miss this year. From some of the biggest hip-hop acts on the planet to the most bangin DJ's, below is our list of the Top 10 must-see acts.

Skepta

Saturday 20th - Sónar by Night

Joseph Adenuga aka. Skepta doesn’t need to publish an EP every three months to hang on to his sceptre as the King of Grime. Not only have his charisma and influence determined the evolution of the genre in recent years, but he's also largely responsible (thanks to his close collaboration with Drake) for its conquest of the American mainstream. The London MC and producer returns to Sónar with a new show and new (and highly anticipated) songs, currently cooking in his studio.

Sheck Wes

Saturday 20th - Sónar by Night

His hit song dedicated to an NBA player has reached now more than 240 million views on YouTube. With Mo Bamba young Sheck Wes brought back under the spotlight the rap scene of the East Coast, which was missing new interesting talents. The style of the Senegalese artist reminds the ones of legends of the New York rap scene, such as Nas and Ghostface Killah. Sheck has just released his first album, Mudboy, and his performance at Sónar marks his debut in Spain.

Bad Gyal

Saturday 20th - Sónar by Day

It’s hard to believe that only a couple of years ago Alba Farelo aka. Bad Gyal was working in a neighbourhood bakery, given how thoroughly she’s revolutionized the scene in the short time since hanging up her apron and picking up the microphone. The international face of ‘digital dancehall’, the singer and rapper has opened up new territory for a Spanish artist, becoming the darling of the underground across Europe and beyond. And the future is only looking brighter.

Bad Bunny

Saturday 20th - Sónar by Night

Bad Bunny, the artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio will make his Sónar debut in 2019, in what will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the 26th edition of the festival. On the heels of one of the most assured, and rightfully celebrated debuts in recent memory - the extraordinary X100PRE - the Puerto Rican rapper has risen to the top of the international scene, bringing a dose of Latin American warmth, humour and attitude to the charts.

Disclosure

Friday 19th - Sónar by Night

They are the most famous brothers of the British house scene. Howard and Guy Lawrence arrive at Sónar with some brand new music, four years after the success of the album Caracal, which saw collaborations with the likes of Lorde, Sam Smith, The Weeknd, Jordan Rakei and many others. Lawrence brothers are ready to make the crowd dance with their unique mix of dubstep, house and British 2 step garage.

Peggy Gou

Friday 19th - Sónar by Night

Peggy Gou was for many the sound of summer 2018. On the heels of her infectious, instant classic "It makes you forget (Itgehane)" on Ninja Tune, the DJ racked up an impressive number of dates around the world, winning over crowds with her selections of classic house and funky rarities with tropical flourishes. Closing Friday night’s exceptional line up at the Resident Advisor SonarLab; South Korea’s Peggy Gou and Berlin-based producer Palms Trax team up together for the first time. Between them, this odd couple span the defining trends in club music over the past few years; from the melodic, sun-kissed house, through to percussive post-acid, making for one of the most anticipated sets of the festival.

Octavian

Friday 19th - Sónar by Night

Everyone is talking about Octavian. With one foot in Grime and the other in the spaciest reaches of the rap world, this young French-born, London based artist has quickly found his own sound, impossible to categorize but unquestionably unique. This virtuosity is on display in his early hits - Party Here (with more than a million views on youtube), 100 Degrees or Little - as well as across his two mixtapes to date: Essie World and Spaceman, both of which were critically lauded for their intelligence, authenticity, range and profound sense of rhythm.

Kaytranada

Saturday 20th - Sónar by Night

2019 sees Kaytranada build on the glow up of 99.9%, returning to the international stage with an yet-untitled LP, which will refine and update his signature blend of off-beat drums, machine funk, and world-beat samples. A set from Kaytranada is always a treat for lovers of the groove, and his return to Sónar is one of the most eagerly awaited sets of the festival.

Rejjie Snow

Thursday 18th - Sónar by Day

the artist born Alex Anyaebunam is a true anomaly in the contemporary hip hop scene - not only for being the only Irish rapper to cross over to a global audience but also for his stylistic risk-taking. Citing inspirations as diverse as George Michael and Charles Bukowski, the 23-year-old artist flits between summery R&B and soul, twisted vocal samples and cartoony skits on his debut LP Dear Annie. This catholic approach has gained him accolades from the likes of Zane Lowe and Annie Mac, as well as a record deal with 300 Entertainment.

Mall Grab

Friday 19th - Sónar by Night

Cheekily named for “the wrong way to hold a skateboard”, the young Australian producer Mall Grab, has carved a line through the crowded club music scene in recent years thanks to his crisp productions that inject a wistful sense of suburban longing over crunchy 808’s, pitch-perfect acid bass and rap samples. Such is his status amongst his peers, that his SonarClub set, nestled between Underworld and Disclosure’s DJ set makes perfect sense for Sónar 2019.