One of the advantages of Barcelona being a relatively small city compared to some is that it can be easier to get to know certain crowds. The live music scene in Barcelona is vibrant and multicultural, with everything from jazz-funk to indie-rock musicians playing regularly across the city. Here’s our pick of some of the coolest live music jams to visit in the city, regardless of whether you’re there to play or just to listen.
Blues & Early Jazz Jam Session at Harlem Jazz Club
This is one of the best-known jam sessions in the city, and that’s because it takes place in Barcelona’s famous Harlem Jazz Club. The club hosts performances by top blues and jazz musicians but also has an eye for local talent making it a great place to get some exposure. The Blues Jam Sessions take place every Tuesday and there’s usually a good crowd as well as a mix of amateur and semi-professional musicians to play along with.
Both a live music venue and nightclub, the Marula Café has one of the most diverse programs in the city, featuring everything from Catalan indie rock to samba music. The We Funk! jam session on a Sunday is never a dull night and is just as fun for those watching as those performing. The jam session starts at 11pm and the fun carries on well into the night with a live DJ session until 5am.
If you’re into jazz music then Soda Acústic is a jazz-centric live music venue located in the hip Gràcia neighbourhood of Barcelona. First and foremost a space for musicians and music-lovers to get together, exchange, and enjoy music, the venue hosts weekly jam sessions. The influences range from gypsy jazz to Latin jazz and even Balkan jazz as well as welcoming more experimental artists as well. Some of the best-known local jazz bands perform regularly at Soda Acústic, and it’s a great place to meet fellow musicians.
Jamboree is something of a musical institution in Barcelona. Located on the famous Plaça Reial, just off La Rambla, Jamboree is a live-music venue and nightclub that attracts big local and international acts. As well as hosting two live-music performances every night of the week, on Mondays the club organises the Jamboree Jam featuring different professional artists every week. The jam sessions here aren’t as informal as in some smaller clubs, but this can be an advantage for spectators, depending on what you’re looking for.
The JazzSí Club is a music school and musical workshop located in multicultural El Raval, not far from the Sant Antoni market. Open for over 25 years, it’s part of the Taller de Músic, a foundation dedicated to the promotion of live music. There are actually three weekly jam sessions at the JazzSí Club: a pop, rock and blues session on Tuesdays and Sundays, as well as a jazz jam session on Wednesdays. The sessions are attended by students of the music school and is a great place to pick up some tricks and refine more technical aspects of your music if you want to.
A play on words meaning roughly ‘doing whatever you fancy’, Loqueterroting at La Sonora de Gràcia is a a jam session and open mic night for musicians and singers to get together and have a good time. There’s no set style of music, and performers of all different backgrounds and influences converge on stage in this quirky live music bar and micro-theatre venue.
Craft Barcelona is a – you got it – craft beer and music venue located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, near the Plaça Sant Jaume. The venue functions as a bar and serves Basque-style pintxos – like tapas on a stick – which makes it as much a place to relax and enjoy some live music as a place to get creative. On Mondays nights, there’s an Acoustic Blues jam session, while on Thursdays there’s a more general jam session open to all musical styles.
