Shaquille O'Neal brought the crowd at Opium Barcelona to its feet last July 9 to inaugurate WeDJ’s Opium Barcelona, a summer seriespresented by Costa Este that runs throughout August.
Some of the biggest names in electronic music such as Dimitri Vegas, DJ Snake, and Steve Aoki, American rap, or urban music will take over the decks and turn every night into a festival-like experience.
Shaquille O'Neal in the booth
Last July 9, DJ Diesel arrived in Barcelona, the stage name used by Shaquille O'Neal, the NBA legend, performs. His session generated enormous anticipation, but reality surpassed all expectations: O'Neal demonstrated from the first minute that his musical project is of high quality. He has performed on major festivals such as Tomorrowland or Lollapalooza, and in our country, he opted for a set based on dubstep, tech house, and hard techno, mixed with new takes on classic tracks.
DJ Diesel spent much of the set singing, joking with the audience, and offering a very interactive show. The highlight of the night came when he invited several fans to come up to the booth. At the end, the NBA legend himself confessed to the club's team that he had felt extraordinarily comfortable, and left one of those stories that will be remembered for a long time.
WeDJ’s: big headliners of electronic music in Barcelona
WeDJ’s is the flagship series of the season at Opium Barcelona, a line-up that bring the most prominent names in international electronic music to the city. July started strong with Levi's session and gained even more momentum on July 22 with a Bob Sinclar show in top form. Now, the calendar is gaining even more momentum.
Today, July 30, the spotlight is on Dimitri Vegas. The Belgian is a regular on major European stages and is a regular fixture at the top of the world's DJ rankings. On this occasion, he brings his large-format show and his festival-sized energy to the dance floor.
And the rhythm doesn't slow down in August. On August 5, DJ Snake takes over the decks. The French producer behind hits such as Turn Down for What and Lean On is expected to draw another sell-out crowd. On August 12, Robin Schulz will arrive at Opium, the master of German electro-pop and deep house will bring his characteristic sound to enjoy by the beach.
Morten will perform on August 19, the Danish DJ and producer, co-creator together with David Guetta of the Future Rave concept, will showcasehis forward-thinking take on electronic music. The season closing will be led by one of the most well-known DJs in the industry: Steve Aoki on August 26. His sessions are synonymous with party, rhythm, and a show where music and visual production go hand in hand.
CRIB and WAA!!!: Opium Barcelona's most urban bet
Barcelona's nightlife isn't just about commercial electronic music, and Opium knows it well. That's why they have two dedicated club nights for the audience looking for other sounds. On the one hand, the CRIB residency has become the go-to destination for lovers of hip hop, rap and international urban music.
This summer's lineup includes top-tier figures from the American and European scene such as Swae Lee (half of the duo Rae Sremmurd), the controversial DaBaby, or the Californian Tyga leading a line-up that also includes reggaeton icons like Ñengo Flow and successful artists in European urban music like Dystinct, Soolking, Lacrim or Triangle des Bermudes.
On the other hand, the WAA!!! cycle is aimed at club-goers looking for an experience more focused on contemporary house music and the most underground sound. In this line, the venue has already confirmed performances by great artists such as the American producer MK (Marc Kinchen), one of the key names to understand the evolution of house from the 90s to today, and Gordo (the alias of producer Diamanté Blackmon).
A beachfront nightlife landmark
Putting together a lineup of this level night after night doesn't happen by chance. Opium has been the most well-known club in Barcelona since 2007 and one of the strong points of nightlife in Europe. More than ten years later, the recipe continues to work: being on the beachfront and programming some of the best-ranked DJs in the DJ Mag ranking every season.
In addition, behind it is the Costa Este group, which has spent more than three decades operating in the nightlife and restaurant sector in Barcelona, but also in Madrid and Marbella with more than 15 venues. Its experience shows in every detail.
With the sea in the background and a list of top-level artists, Opium Barcelona once again presents one of the most ambitious seasons in the city. With plenty of summer still to come and the party is only just getting started.