Things to Do in Barcelona: Artist Atlas feat. Teana

We headed to Spain for our latest edition of the Sunset Sessions performance series, where we watched Teana tear it up on a Barcelona rooftop. We also took some time to ask for tips about where to watch live music, drink wine, catch the sunset and more. We call it an Artist Atlas.

 

Read more below about Teana’s favorite things to do in Barcelona. 

At Mackie, music is our priority. So when we go somewhere, our first question is always the same: Where can we catch a great show? We asked Teana bassist Alex Gofas about his favorite music venues in town—after all, who would know the scene better than a local musician? If you’re looking to catch the hottest Barcelona concerts, check out his answers.

Gofas and his band Teana have a special love for the concert hall Sala Upload, for its deep connection with the thriving psychedelic music scene in Barcelona. In addition to psych pop bands performing there regularly, Sala Upload also holds an annual Barcelona Psych Fest, bringing together psych-minded artists and fans for a multi-day festival. If you like Teana as much as we do, you’ll love other Barcelona bands of the genre—so catch a show at Sala Upload and dance the night away on their checkered floor. (There are also electronic club nights, punk shows and all kinds of underground music, if those are more your bag.)

Gofas loves Apolo especially for its status as a hotspot for international bands who come to Barcelona. He’s also a big fan of Apolo’s high-quality sound system, something we at Mackie care deeply about. If the band themselves say the sound is good, you know it’s the truth—they’d be the first to tell you if it wasn’t. In addition to one-off shows, Apolo is something of a hotspot for just about everything creative in Barcelona. They have their own curated collection of performance series they call Cycles. They hold regularly scheduled club nights that specialize in different genres of electronic music, reggaeton, techno, house, hip hop and more. They also have an in-house recording studio (we love that) and even an art exhibition.

For the best bar in Barcelona, our source is Teana guitarist and vocalist Alex Ruiz, who directed us to a spot in the neighborhood of Gràcia. Tucked away from some of the busier parts of town, Gràcia is a local gem packed with beautiful boulevards, arthouse cinemas and an real indie vibe. It’s probably most famous for the sprawling Park Güell, but Ruiz guided us to a much more hidden spot: a classic Barcelona wine bar with a vintage twist.

Your perfect vision of a Barcelona bar might be a cheap glass of delicious wine, a cozy atmosphere, a cheese plate, friendly strangers and maybe some nice tunes. Your vision is absolutely correct at Alex’s favorite Barcelona bar: Bar Vinil. The place is all about authenticity, from the lack of tourists to the real vintage decor. Also, as the name suggests, the place loves everything vinyl and lo-fi—giving it a musical touch that we here at Mackie can appreciate. If you’re looking to ditch the glitzy nightclubs and enjoy a slice of relaxed Spanish life, then grab a glass of wine (or if you’re Alex, vermouth) and hit up Bar Vinil during your visit.

Some of the best things in life are free, but finding them can be a challenge. In Barcelona, there are plenty of places to visit for free—cathedrals, public parks, those iconic boulevards, etc. Barcelona is also supremely walkable, especially since there’s so much to see along the way. But what if you’re looking for something a little, uh, faster paced than walking? What if you’re an adventurous spirit who wants to feel the wind in your hair? Alex from Teana has the perfect answer for you, and yes, it’s absolutely free. Freeing, too.

When he’s not psyching out with his band, Alex’s favorite thing to do in Barcelona is skate—rollerblade, specifically. Alex considers it the best and most fun way to see the city, and he enthusiastically invites you to come give it a try. In addition to being fun, skating also happens to be free. You’ll find a huge skating culture in Barcelona, including inline skaters, rollerbladers and of course, skateboarders (many famous skateboarding videos have been shot there). If you want to take a tour of the city in roller skates while meeting some locals, there’s even a local meetup on Fridays that will take you on a route around the city.

During the sunset in Barcelona, the many colors of the city get warmer, the air cools off and the night life starts heating up. At the height of the summer, it might be your first chance to get outside without sweating through your clothes. For the best view of a Barcelona sunset, Teana drummer Ferran Alemany says to just look up. His recommendation is the highest point in Barcelona, offering a great view of the sunset, the city and the Mediterranean.

Overlooking Barcelona is the mountain called Tibidabo—you can’t miss it. Ferran considers Tibidabo the best place to enjoy the sunset, while taking in a panoramic view of the entire city and the sea beyond. That's not the only reason to check it out, though. This stunning hilltop is also home to two Barcelona attractions: the Sagrat Cor church and the Tibidabo amusement park. Sagrat Cor is worth seeing for the building itself and also the very cool (and Gothic) crypt carved into the hillside underneath it. If you decide to visit the amusement park at sunset, hop on the ferris wheel for an even higher vantage point. Tell them Ferran sent you.

Trust us, you don’t want to miss Barcelona. It’s everything you’ve heard and more, and we were grateful to hold our latest Sunset Sessions there with Teana. We hope you get the chance to visit the band’s favorite spots and find some new ones of your own. And if you’re looking for a signal to break the routine, get up and go somewhere, consider yourself signaled.

 

At Mackie, we believe music has an indescribable ability to bring people together. That’s why everywhere you go, you’ll always find music and the musicians who make it. Our growing collection of battery-powered gear is designed to encourage exploration, by making it possible to sound great anywhere, anytime. All you have to do is choose a destination.