Preview: FACT Pool Parties in Barcelona

Now the sunshine has finally ended (well it was a bloody good ten day run), temporarily we hope, we can’t help but look further ashore to places where it always pretty much roars with smiley heat. Barcelona is one of those very destinations, and this week there’s even more reason to get excited as it will be the centre of the electronic music universe as Sonar takes place.

The grandstanding conference and festival brings thousands of rave scholars to the city, but just as enthralling is the series of parties that exist on the periphery of the main attraction, with all and sundry descending on the Catalan region during the period. One of the strongest of the lot is the FACT pool parties, of which there will be four this year, starting on a daily basis from Thursday.

The first kicks off with a Mobilee showcase, headed up by Anja Schneider, Sebo K and Ray Okpara. One night later Guy Gerber, the new found talisman of Pacha, invites some of his friends over to party, the Israeli DJ’s chums including Ellen Allien, tINI and Martin Buttrich.

There doesn’t seem to be much of a theme to Saturday’s event other than getting the world’s best DJ down for a right old shindig, which to be honest is as good a reason as any to throw a party, particularly when that talent pool boasts Joris Voorn, Steve Lawler and Visonquest buddies Ryan Crosson and Shaun Reeves going back to back.

And then Flying Circus, the soirée of Audiofly, closes things off on Sunday with none other than the crown prince of techno, Carl Craig. Audiofly will be going head to head with M.A.N.D.Y to form MANfly, and Heidi, Benoit & Sergio and Hector are among the other acts.

Skiddle was in attendance at one of the FACT parties last year and take it from us, they’re something special. Sadly we won’t be there this time round and even if you can’t make it, remember there’s a one or two weeks left of parties on that island a few miles down the road too.