Núria Graham in Jardins del Doctor Pla i Armengol (Thursday 22, 11 p.m.)
Nuria Graham is back. After a season accompanying external projects (Amaia, Maria Jaume), this young woman from Vic of Irish descent presents new material. The single At last/Ready to fool you, two songs in which the piano takes prominence over the guitar, opens new horizons for Graham, who with her previous full-length, the celebrated Marjorie, lucidly looked at works like Julia Jacklin's Crushing. Graham's anticipated live performance, who always plays at home when she performs in Barcelona, will have two well-known companions from the city's independent scene, pianist Marina Herlop (8:20 p.m.), who rose to fame after James Rhodes noticed her and signed her to his label, and Carlota Flâneur (9:40 p.m.).
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Los Enemigos in Teixonera (Friday 23, 11 p.m.)
The return of Los Enemigos to the Barcelona stages has been long-awaited, as bad luck caused their latest studio album, the colossal Bestieza, to coincide with the start of the pandemic. It seems incredible, but Josele Santiago and Fino Oyonarte still have things to say and are completely up-to-date thirty-five years later. Theirs is an album of seamless power pop and rock with choruses that could stop a truck. It's no coincidence that they were on all the lists of the best national albums of 2020, nor that they headline one of the nights of La Mercè, which this year returns to the classic Teixonera. The lineup is completed by Cristian de Moret (8:20 p.m.) and the indefatigable Valencians Sénior y el Cor Brutal (9:40 p.m.), a band we thought was lost and that, luckily, seems to be back.
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Hidrogenesse at Moll de la Fusta (Friday 24, 10:30 PM)
A Hidrogenesse concert is always a reason for celebration. The duo formed by Carlos Ballesteros and Genís Segarra has created an extravagant, intelligent, and ironic pop imaginary that has no comparison with any other local group. Untamable and unclassifiable, Hidrogenesse is a cult band that meticulously plans all its appearances: seeing them doesn't happen every day, and every occasion must be seized as if it were the last. The magical Barcelona duo is accompanied by one of the most brilliant proposals Spanish music has given in recent years, the young diva Cabiria (6:30 PM), halfway between all the genres that must be heard and an undeniable Italo-disco soul. Voice, synthesizer, and a magical result. Centauros (8:30 PM) will perform between them.
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Lidia Damunt at the Old Estrella Damm Factory (Saturday 25, 7 p.m.)
Accustomed to being in the catacombs, there will come a day when Lidia Damunt, one of the driving forces of independent state music of the last thirty years, will have to be recognized. First she exported riot grrrl with her sister, both leading Hello Cuca, and later moving from punk to folk with her solo project, setting up her base of operations in Sweden. Although it is worth seeing her in a one-woman-band format, at La Mercè she will perform with a band and showcase her latest album Nacer en Marte. The day will be long at the Old Estrella Damm Factory, with a good handful of groups with things to show, such as the debutantes Eterna Juventut (12 p.m.), with members of Papa Topo and Las Odio, and the always pleasant Herrero brothers and their lo-fi pop: Tronco (5:30 p.m.).
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Samantha Hudson at Moll de la Fusta (Saturday 25, 10:30 PM)
She is one of the great personalities of this year. Samantha Hudson, transvestite activist and absolute icon of freedom in the national queer scene, will be at La Mercè 2021 festivities presenting the songs from her new album, Liquidación total, released with the legendary Madrid label Subterfuge. A show that plays with gender and sex perspective without any taboo or barrier. The party is completed by two of the female voices with the most personality in the national scene: flamenco singer and C.Tangana collaborator, La Húngara (6:30 PM), and reggaeton artist Bea Pelea (8:30 PM), backed by La Vendición, the most real label of the new urban scene.
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Clara Peya at Teatre Grec (Saturday 25, 11 p.m.)
There is no torrent of energy equal to Clara Peya in this country. The depth, commitment, and originality of the pianist and composer from Palafrugell, awarded the Premi Nacional de Cultura in 2019, cannot be compared to anyone. On this occasion, she will continue to present Perifèria, the eleventh work of her career, which navigates the margins and limits in a space of absolute freedom and absolutely extraordinary talent. Before Peya, one can listen to the most historic guitar of Catalan song, that of Toti Soler (8:20 p.m.), and pop singer Judit Nedderman (9:40 p.m.).
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Oques Grasses at the Fòrum Mediterràniament (Saturday 25, 11:10 p.m.)
One of the best things Oques Grasses gives you is that, being the most absolute mainstream, and often pigeonholed into the (incomprehensibly pejorative) canon of being "fiesta mayor" music, they offer very interesting things. The key is not to stick only with the epic and saturated festive music in Catalan, but to go much further. They made a big change with their previous album Fans del sol and have continued it with A tope con la vida, now converted into shining stars of the national scene. Their live show is worth it if you decide to leave all prejudices at home.