SÓNAR 2023. Festival’s 30th anniversary kicks off in Lisboa.

The second edition of Sónar Lisboa takes place on Friday 31st of March, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd of April. The final lineup includes over 50 concerts and DJ sets, featuring some of the biggest names in global electronic music and the hottest artists from the Portuguese scene.

The festival acts showcases the sound of dance music in 2023: from DJ sets by Peggy Gou, Amelie Lens, Folamour, Major League DJZ, Anfisa Letyago, Chet Faker, Patrick Mason, and Mochakk; to live shows by Max Cooper, WhoMadeWho, Héctor Oaks; and sensational local artists Sensible Soccers, DJ Nigga Fox, Rui Vargas, and Yen Sung.

Sónar Lisboa 2023 will be spread across four stages, this year all within Parque Eduardo VII, one of the city’s biggest green spaces. The second edition of Sónar Lisboa, which takes place in the heart of the Portuguese capital from 31st March to 2nd April, is a unique opportunity to experience the multiplicity and diversity of electronic music in 2023.

This renewed version of Sónar Lisboa features four interior and exterior stages, which will host a wide-ranging lineup both during the day and throughout the night. Three of the stages are located within Pavilhão Carlos Lopes and the fourth is just five minutes away on foot, still inside Parque Eduardo VII.

Today the lineup is finalised with the addition of some of the biggest stars in global club music, names who’ve helped turn house and techno into a worldwide phenomenon. Disco-tinted house from Peggy Gou; amapiano from South Africa’s Major League DJZ; and a soul-influenced DJ set from Australian indietronica star Chet Faker join already announced artists and icons of electronic music Folamour, Mochakk, KiNK live, Acid Pauli and Astra Club (DJ Tennis b2b Carlita).

Big-room techno is also well represented, with some of the biggest names on the circuit: superstar Belgian producer and DJ Amelie Lens; live acid techno maestro Reinier Zonneveld; rising Napolitan star Anfisa Letyago; and Enrico Sangiuliano, currently one of the genre’s most acclaimed producers.

Joining them is Patrick Mason, who epitomises Berlin’s current-day underground club scene. He headlines a series of artists who explore high-tempo and acidic techno, electro and rave music: with Italian duo 999999999 live joining already announced artists VTSS; Héctor Oaks live; Vil; and I Hate Models, who’ll present a show exclusively prepared for the festival.

In 2023, the sound of electronic and dance music continues to diversify. Sónar Lisboa features various artists, both international and Portuguese, who are finding new ways to move dancefloors. DJ MELL G, Sofia Kourtesis, King Kami, Lady Shaka, Cormac b2b fka.m4a represent these new currents, together with already announced back-to-backs from SHERELLE x Kode9 and Skream b2b Mala, and Portuguese artists DJ Nigga Fox live and Shaka Lion.

As always at Sónar, live shows are a key part of the equation. Highlights include an already announced Max Cooper live audiovisual show; and performances by WhoMadeWho, Cinthie; plus local heroes Sensible Soccers. They’re joined by new announcements James Holden, who’ll present his new album live; Colin Benders; and Portuguese group Throes + The Shine.

Finally, Sónar Lisboa 2023 also includes a roster of DJs known for their wide-ranging and exquisite musical selections. As well as international artists Or:la and Bawrut, there’s plenty of talent from the fertile Portuguese scene, with legends like Rui Vargas b2b Gusta-vo, Yen Sung, and Violet b2b Photonz joined by rising artists Ana Pacheco, Francisca Urbano and Catarina Silva, amongst others.

SonarPasses and VIP SonarPasses – which offer access to all of the festival – are now available, as well as individual tickets to attend any of the four available sessions. All tickets at sonarlisboa.pt.

The 30th anniversary celebrations will continue on the 28th and 29th April at the 7th edition of Sónar Istanbul, once again taking place on the banks of the Bosphorus, in the spectacular Zorlu PSM Performing Arts Centre. Artists announced so far include Max Cooper (who’ll play a 3D live show) ANNA, Blawan, Richie Hawtin, VTSS, Sofia Kourtesis and TSHA. To date, Sónar has organised over 100 festivals in 35 cities across the world.

Very shortly the full lineup will be announced for the 30th edition of Sónar Barcelona, which takes place on the 15th, 16th and 17th of June 2023. In total, there’ll be over 100 performances that showcase the breadth and depth of global electronic music in 2023, highlighted by already announced artists like BICEP, Fever Ray, Peggy Gou, Solomun, Amelie Lens, Laurent Garnier, The Blessed Madonna, Richie Hawtin, and Oneohtrix Point Never. More information at sonar.es.

Programme by Day and by Night.

All tickets are now on sale for Sónar Lisboa 2023. SonarPasses and VIP SonarPasses – which offer access to all of the festival – are now available, as well as individual tickets to attend any of the four sessions. All tickets at sonarlisboa.pt

H/T Sónar festival.