English Comedy in Barcelona

Looking for a laugh in Barcelona? Head on down to Raval. Apart from a couple of sporadic nights in the odd Irish pub downtown throughout the year, there are actually 2 semi-permanent fixtures offering the best of English-Language Stand-Up comedy from across the water in the Raval neighbourhood.

First is the "Giggling Guiri" at the Llantiol Theatre located parallel to the Rambla del Raval, on Carrer Riereta number 7. This funky little venue plays host to some local Theatre events, but is a great venue for the comedy nights organised. Earlier this month saw 2008 If Comedy Winner David O'Doherty headlining, with other big names like Ardal O'Hanlon, Paul Tonkinson and Dan Antopolski having also shared the space on the boards, too. Prices have been slashed (I imagine due to the current financial "crisis") so there's no better time for some beer and belly laughs at Llantiol. For more details see the comedy in spain website


Just around the corner, on Reina Amalia number 3 literally 5 minutes walk away from the Llantiol Theatre is The Guinness Laughter Lounge at La Riereta Teatre which is a beautiful old Stone Theatre for around 100 people, and according to the laughter lounge website is "a cosy yet comfy arena for stand up comedy".



BBC 4's Adam Bloom is probably the most well known name to have performed at the lounge, but there have been some equally unknown comics bringing the house down according to the website, too. At the moment, there's no programme on the website, but sign up to their newsletter for more details of upcoming events.

If you're looking for accommodation close to the comedy events, you can try these old town apartments in Barcelona which are just around the corner. And for more information on the city in general, see this great Guide to Barcelona.

Barcelona Nightlife - Outdoor Clubbing Part 2.

After the arrival of the great weather, and Sonar has come and gone, everyone is still in the party mood, leading up to Sant Joan this week and the Midsummer Madness that accompanies the hedonistic Barcelona nightlife.

Earlier this month, I touched on an idea of wanting to dance under the stars in some of the open air clubs in Barcelona and headed the list with Atlantida, due to open shortly after the post. So I thought I'd hit you with another (and there may be more to come, so tune in or subscribe on RSS for more!). And where better to start than La Terrrazza.


No, that's not a typo, Mr Fish and the crowd up on the club up on Montjüic in Poble Espanyol have been partying (almost) non-stop for 14 years. This is the place Madonna hired out for her party after the Drowned World tour in 2001, and is another big ole house converted into a club. Due to complaints from neighbours up on Montjüic (I don't know where, as it's in the middle of nowhere, in a purpose built Spanish Village on the endge of a mountain...?!!?) La Terrrazza has has a few summers of nothing, and it's sister club Discoteque (now Club D) was forced to take the reins while things calmed down a bit.

Well, the good news is that La Terrrazza is still as good as the first couple of years it was rocking, and offers a completely unique night out in the hills of Barcelona. The official blurb of the club is an...ahem..."atmospherical fun club" but don't let that put you off making your way up (in a taxi) to Poble Espanyol with your glad rags on for a night of dancing until the sunrise. Bring your sunglasses - no seriously.

If you're coming to Barcelona with friends, you might want to consider apartments for groups in Barcelona as an alternative to hotel rooms. Also, see this great Barcelona Guide

Sonar Comes to Town.

Crisis? What Crisis? Barcelona is buzzing today, with loads of tourists in and around the old town and many of them have come not just for the sunshine, but for the biggest Electronic Music Festival of the early summer - Sonar.



An expected 80,000 revellers are due to hit the Catalan Capital to banish those end-of-term blues, and bring in the summer (if a little early) with a bang. This year's event has some of the usual big names, with Grace Jones, Orbital and Richie Hawtin amongst the relative unknowns that everyone will be talking about when they leave.

As well as sonar Radio via the Sonar website, awdio is broadcasting Sonar Live all weekend, too. This year's SonarMatica seesions include the great Sonar for Kids session, and the amazing-looking reactable - watch the video for an idea which is impossible to explain without having a few beers first! All in all, it looks to be another great year for Sonar - it's 16th edition - which keeps on surprising.

Check out these Old Town apartments, close to the Sonar by Day events and ideal for groups of friends or families. And for a heads up on the rest of the city, see this great Barcelona Guide.

Open Air Theatre in Barcelona - Grec 2009

This week sees the start of a culture boom with Music, Theatre and Dance all having pride of place in Barcelona. First up, it's the Festival called Grec which is based roughly around the Greek Theatre located up on Montjüic but in fact includes over 20 locations around the city, and spans a whopping 44 days, starting on Saturday and running all through July ending on the 2nd August.

The festival is heavily promoted in the city, and aimed as much at the locals as the visiting tourists. A varied Music, Dance, Circus and Theatre program of over 60 live performances means that this year's festival looks set to enjoy great success - the opening night is already sold out.

Variations on Classic Greek Theatre, Shakespeare and the modern comedy aspects see artists from all over the world participate in this year's Grec - with Italy being the "invited" country and the programme has a heavily Italian presence. The council announced that there would be more tickets at a cheaper price, making the performances more accessible for everyone.

For a full programme list, see here. Are you planning on going to any of the shows? Which ones are catching your eye? I'd love to hear from you, so leave a comment if you like.

Looking for accommodation for the summer? Check out these apartments for rent in Barcelona, as a great base for your stay. And for more information on visiting the city, see this Barcelona Guide.

Barcelona Nightlife - Outdoor Clubs

Spring is in full swing, and this month sees the party of all parties as the summer annouces it's arrival with la verbena de Sant Joan where anything goes and people dance under the stars till dawn. So what about if you fancy dancing under the stars on another night? Well, fear not, as there are a few places in and around Barcelona that are like open air clubs and not sweatpits like some of the other clubs!


Just outside of Barcelona, in nearby Sitges, is Atlantida - which is a club right on the beach and although it's maybe a little pricey, the location is fantastic. You can see from a Google map view below just where the club is located. It's also part of the well-respected Matinee Group - responsible for some of the best clubs in Barcelona. Many have come and gone (Discoteque, Space, etc.) but Matinee have been at the forefront of the best dance music in the city for the last 10 years, without a doubt.


The times I've been we always went in a car, as it's slightly outside of Sitges itself, so public transport might be a bit of a pain, but you can always catch the train to Sitges and then take a cab.

Matinee opens on Wednesday (despite what the above link says) and is sure to have a packed summer again...fancy going? Let me know if they've changed anything for this year.

If you're coming to party in Barcelona, you might want to check out the possibility of apartments for rent in Barcelona - an option which can save you some money in groups. Also, to get the party started, check out the top ten food in Barcelona for some great ideas for a meal!

Sala Montjüic - Cinema Under the Stars

June is a great month to be in Barcelona. If it's not enough for festivals galore, the Midsummer Solstice that is Sant Joan, the sunshine has finally arrived, and from the 29th of June, the Sala Montjüic returns.



After my recent post, guessing if people still do go to the cinema, what better way to see a decent film in original version than on a deckchair at Montjuic Castle?

For just 5 Euros (and 3 for a deckchair), you can join 2,500 other people on the lawns of the castle and enjoy some live music, a Catalan short film and then some great original version cinema. Screenings are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10pm, but get there early to avoid disappointment - tickets are also on sale in advance cia ticktackticket. This year's line up sees the show kick off with Martin Scorsese's excellent "The Departed" and follows with classics such as Hitchcock's "The Birds", 1923's "Safety Last", and the Cohen brothers' No Country for Old Men - which saw Spanish actor Javier Bardem pick up the best Oscar for a supporting role in 2008.



Other entries from Sweden, Iran, Germany/Turkey and of course Spain feature, with Pedro Almodovar's "Volver" screening on the 10th July. This year's programme seems to have an excellent choice with even Pixar's WALL·E making the grade. The last performance is even open to vote on the website - 3 musical films choosing from Joy Division's 2007 film, Neil Young's Déjà Vu and Leonard cohen's I'm your man. It's a great way to spend a mid week evening in summer, and easily accesible via public transport on the Funicular, and cable car.

Thinking of coming to Barcelona this summer? Check out this Barcelona Guide for a good introduction to the city's sights, and check out apartments for rent Barcelona for your accommodation needs.