Dance music isn’t just about DJs – live acts have played a huge part in its growth as a global phenomenon. In fact, Underworld, Faithless, The Chemical Brothers and others are at the forefront and major festival headliners. Electronic music performed live is also increasingly popular on the club scene and many dance producers have created live shows perfectly suited to the club environment, including Carl Craig, Maceo Plex and Glimpse to name a few.

Mathew Jonson is another producer known for his live sets and he’ll be coming to Barcelona in January to headline BeCool. Originally from Canada and now based in Berlin, Jonson has released on labels like Minus, Crosstown Rebels, Kompakt and his own Wagon Repair imprint. His album, Agents of Time, released on his own label in 2010, brought his sound to a wider audience; “When Love Feels Like Crying” is surely one of the outstanding tracks of the last few years.

When Jonson plays live it’s the real deal. This is no computer-programmed affair; he plays live keyboards in real time. He’s also part of Cobblestone Jazz, famed for their improvised live sets, and his early exposure to classical music and jazz can be heard in the records he makes today. Jonson’s sound may sit somewhere between techno, minimal and ambient, but it has a unique warmth and subtlety that sweeps the listener along. When he’s in full flow, it can tear the dancefloor apart too.

Jonson will be performing a one-hour set at BeCool with support from resident DJohnston and other Barcelona DJs, with indie, rock and pop in the second room. January may be a quiet month for some clubs but not at BeCool. They also have Sandwell District on January 7^th and Solomun on January 21^st, so there’s no excuse for staying at home.

€15 (includes drink)

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