Punk and sardana collide in new live show

Flavià Boleda, a musician and designer from Verdú, will bring his experimental performance 'Bolo 02 – Sardanistic Crossings' to Barcelona's Parc de l'Estació del Nord on 25 and 26 September as part of the city's annual La Mercè festival. The show merges traditional Catalan sardana music with punk rock, featuring a 23-member ensemble and the punk band Ruïnosa y las Strippers de Rahola. The performance aims to disrupt expectations by layering punk vocals over sardana melodies played by a cobla, the traditional sardana band. Boleda describes the project as an extension of his earlier work 'Bolo 01', which began as a filmed domestic meal and evolved into vinyl and photographic art. 'Bolo 02' marks his first large-scale live artistic direction outside of design.

Two-part performance blends tradition and disruption

The concert is structured in two parts. The first follows a conventional format with classic sardanas including 'Aplec de Tardor', 'Volèran', 'Sant Martí del Canigó' and 'L'àvia centenària'. The second half becomes more theatrical and experimental, introducing punk elements and performance art. It will also feature the premiere of a new sardana composed by Ramon Andreu, weaving together two personal melodies: one sung by Boleda’s grandfather and another composed by project participant Frederica Silva as a graduation piece dedicated to her grandmother.

“The idea is to create a space of encounter, play and experimentation where musicians can make mistakes and take risks,” said Boleda.

He added: “Now I’m looking for the opposite, something that doesn’t fit immediately. I want to alter the sardana and create sonic discomfort that makes people question what they’re hearing.”

Shows scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights

Bolo 02 will take place at 21:15 on Friday 25 September and at 21:30 on Saturday 26 September at Parc de l'Estació del Nord in Barcelona. The event is free as part of the city’s official La Mercè programme. Residents and visitors can attend without tickets. The nearest metro stations are Estació de França (L4) and Arc de Triomf (L1), with accessible routes into the park from both.

Reported by SOM Sardana, Somsardana, Eina, Nova Tàrrega.