Imagine stepping through the threshold of a space where the outside world gradually fades away. As you enter, the street loses its significance and the building seems to vibrate at a different frequency. The lights cease to merely illuminate, while psychedelic projections display saturated colours and patterns that emerge and dissolve in hypnotic sequences. At the Barcelona Psych Fest, an architectural experience is provided, and a meticulously curated event is presented where sound is placed at the centre and the visuals act as an organic extension of the space. It’s an event that the city eagerly looks forward to year after year..
This year’s diverse line-up cements the festival’s reputation as an infallible barometer of the genre. On Friday, enjoy performances from Magic Brother & Mystic Sister, Glyders, Michael Rother, New Candys and Deadletter. On Saturday, catch Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek, Salvana, Altin Gün, Nothing, Gift, Fomies and Hollow Ship. Spread over two days, explore the many facets of contemporary psychedelic music, ranging from krautrock and fuzz to post-punk and its electronic and experimental offshoots..
As a prelude, Psych Cult at the Zumzeig cinema offers an immersion into psychedelic culture. This year’s event features screenings and talks. Michael Rother is one of the guests. During the intervals, DJs will take the audience on a musical journey through 1970s psychedelia, expansive rock and krautrock, helping to shape the festival’s atmosphere. This sense of continuity sustains the atmosphere: glances, smiles and a shared sense of discovery that grows as the night wears on. There is a constant energy of good vibes. The Magic Cave at the Paral·lel Club is a real find: an intimate and enveloping parallel world of rugs and cushions where vinyl and analogue projections create a psychedelic living room right in the heart of the festival.
The progressive journey of Magick Brother & Mystic Sister kicks off Friday night. Led by Eva Muntada, the band fuses psychedelic rock and jazz to create a “cosmic sound“, as they describe it themselves. Drawing on elements of the Canterbury sound, their music references Soft Machine or Caravan, and has a certain cinematic aesthetic reminiscent of the late 1960s. At Psych Fest, they created a natural atmosphere in which the flute and vintage keyboards guide listeners through changing textures, setting the scene perfectly for what is to come.
Next up, Glyders take to the stage with a different kind of energy, one that is rawer and more direct. Backed by the legendary Drag City label, the Chicago trio – Joshua Condon, Eliza Weber and Joe Seger – demonstrate why they are one of the most authentic voices on the current scene. While other bands overload their sound with ornamentation, Glyders opt for repetitive patterns, creating a gritty boogie rock sound with flashes of garage and Japanese psychedelia. With tracks from Maria’s Hunt (2023) and their recent Forever (2025), the band eschews technical showmanship in favour of a magnetic groove. Their live performance perfectly embodies Drag City’s philosophy: unique music that draws listeners into a hypnotic trance. The result is a live show that provides constant enjoyment.
Michael Rother‘s arrival adds a whole new dimension. A central figure in the history of European experimental rock, he is a guitarist and composer, as well as being one of the key figures of krautrock. His time with Kraftwerk marked the beginning of a career that culminated in the cult band Neu!, formed alongside Klaus Dinger, which defined the motorik pattern – that mechanical beat that transformed modern music. Put simply, artists such as David Bowie, Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, Sonic Youth and Radiohead have been directly influenced by his work. Taking to the stage at the Barcelona Psych Fest, Rother draws on his heritage of mechanical rhythms and linear melodies to create a sense of absolute continuity. Showmanship has no place here; instead, the focus is on the activation of a sound system that remains astonishingly relevant. Accompanied by a flawless band, the performance evokes a feeling of infinite progression. When classics like ‘Hallogallo‘ are played, the motorik rhythm takes hold of the room, with each instrument occupying its own space with absolute clarity. Thanks to its technical precision and the authority of the performance, the set stands out as the most compelling of the night. It is a total immersive experience, leaving the audience in a state of reverent awe.
Following a legend like Rother is no easy task, but New Candys perform admirably. The Italian band — Fernando Nuti (vocals and guitar), Dario Lucchesi (bass), Emanuele Zanardo (guitar) and Stefano Bidoggia (drums) — delivered a live performance blending psychedelia with dark post-punk. They have come to describe this sound as ‘dream-dark‘. The first three tracks burst onto the scene with energy, blending new and old material. These are followed by more introspective moments that avoid stark contrasts or obvious shifts in dynamics; the focus is on how the elements accumulate and reorganise. This evolution becomes clearer with albums such as Vyvyd (2021), where electronic elements are more prominent, a trend that continues in The Uncanny Extravaganza (2025), released by Fuzz Club Records. When performed live, this material translates into a blend of dense guitars, synthesisers and rhythmic programming. The sound alternates between tension and a sense of drifting without ever breaking into distinct sections. The aquatic and surreal imagery associated with Venice is translated into a soundscape in which elements naturally overlap and dissolve, culminating in a performance that confirms the enviable health of European psychedelia.
Deadletter will bring the night to a close with a visceral and highly physical live performance. Led by Zac Lawrence, the English band features Sam Jones on bass, Alfie Husband on saxophone, George Ullyott on guitar, and Poppy Richler on drums. They have forged their post-punk identity through satirical and socially conscious commentary on the present day. This approach translates into a physical, up-close live performance. Since the release of their debut album, Hysterical Strength (2024), the band has developed a distinctive sound characterised by rhythmic urgency and the saxophone playing of Alfie Husband. Their lyrics serve as a critical commentary and reference a range of artists, including The Fall, Joy Division and Can. At Psych Fest, the setlist features a combination of tracks from the band’s debut album and new songs from Existence Is Bliss (2026). This brave album sees the band experimenting with new sounds while moving away from the edgy rhythms of post-punk, all while maintaining their core identity. The new and old tracks blend seamlessly together within the same set. Lawrence’s voice shifts between spoken delivery and singing, which reinforces the narrative quality of the lyrics. Meanwhile, on the dance floor, people are constantly moving as mosh pits form and break up non-stop. Being in the thick of it is overwhelming thanks to the immediacy and energy it generates. Zac Lawrence has a very physical presence on stage: he moves restlessly and almost spasmodically, making tense gestures that, at times, are reminiscent of Ian Curtis. However, he has his own unique style. At various points in the performance, the lead singer jumps down from the stage and mingles with the crowd, singing surrounded by people. The performance maintains this intensity until the very end, when the lead singer seals a total connection with the audience by stage-diving and bringing the catharsis to a climax. It’s a high-energy finale that leaves the audience completely exhausted and utterly captivated.
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