Now in its 11th year, Sónar continues to be an amazing International festival that manages to do things differently. The ad campaigns are still more indie than corporate (years past include pics of a family pissing themselves) and the line-ups, although stacked with big-wigs, still have room for innovative no-names.

All in all, Sónar is still very, very good. The only difference now is, it knows it is. Trend reporters from all over the world are here to snap trends (which is why you'll see a lot of over-styled try-hards) and familiar mags are all here to host soirees and push their brands. (Do we really want to go to a DJ mag party in Barcelona?) You'll have to stay pretty lo-pro if you don't want to recognise anyone from the homeland and if you were hoping for an alternative festival, sorry to say, I think you missed the boat.

But, if top beats, a great setting, an interesting crowd and guaranteed weather sounds like your thing, it's still definitely worth a visit. And I'd really recommend you do so soon, cause like all things good, pretty soon, it may be too big for its britches. Or is it already?

Sónar 2004 - Barcelona, Spain June 17-19
Get a taste of Sónar at SonarClub London at Ocean this Friday June 4

TR