Irvine Welsh and Neville Brody headline Brit Under Fest, celebrating British underground culture

Irvine Welsh and Neville Brody will headline the first edition of Brit Under Fest, a new festival celebrating new trends in British music and art in Barcelona, which will be held on May 15-16 in Poble Espanyol. 

In fact, legendary Scottish author Irvine Welsh will perform twice on Saturday. The 'Trainspotting' writer will give a highly-anticipated talk before bringing the spirit of Trainspotting to the DJ booth.

Meanwhile, a talk from iconic designer Neville Brody, the satirical comedy of The Comedy Clubhouse, and an exquisite selection of cutting-edge music complete a multidisciplinary lineup.

The independent festival, born with the motto "Made in Barcelona," boasts an eclectic lineup that celebrates the heritage and future of the British and Irish alternative scene. 

From cult literature to dancefloor ecstasy

Irvine Welsh comes to Barcelona not only to share his raw vision of contemporary literature, but the author will close out the festival on Saturday, May 16, with an exclusive DJ set.

This addition completes a vital circle for understanding Welsh's work, intimately linked to club culture and the birth of the acid house scene.

His set at Brit Under Fest will be a rhythmic homage to the culture of the gritty underground resistance he has documented for decades, transforming his literary talk and subsequent DJ set into an immersive and indivisible experience.

Design as a tool for social change

On the visual front, the festival boasts the stellar presence of Neville Brody, a key figure in understanding the visual grammar of the last four decades.

Recently awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Brody has been the driving force behind transforming publications like The Face into aesthetic manifestos.

Responsible for legendary album covers for bands like Depeche Mode and Cabaret Voltaire, his participation in the festival represents a necessary exploration of design as a tool for social change and radical experimentation.

From Dublin's art-rock to UK garage

The musical program unfolds over two days, offering a comprehensive overview of the current alternative music scene in Britain and Ireland.

On Friday, May 15, the stage will host the avant-garde post-punk of Scotland's Bikini Body, backed by Glasgow's Optimo Music institution, alongside the fury and fun of Manchester's Hungry.

The opening day will be rounded out by Dublin sextet Silverbacks, masters of art-rock with interwoven guitars who update the indie legacy of the 90s.

On Saturday, May 16, the festival will ramp up the intensity with Pynch's motorik beats and lo-fi guitars, produced by Andy Ramsay of Stereolab, and Cooper T's incendiary fusion of UK garage, jungle, and punk.

King No-One, standard-bearers of emotional and dynamic indie rock, will close out the live performances, just before handing the baton to Irvine Welsh's DJ set.

Artistic experiences

In the visual arts arena, the festival boasts an exhibition that comprises a carefully curated selection of 25 works that capture the essence of the working class and the evolution of youth movements such as mods, punks, and ravers from the post-war era to the present day.

The exhibition's structure centers on 10 colour works by photographer Rob Bremner, which will engage in dialogue with an ambitious group presentation of 15 black and white images, each by a different photographer.

At the other end of the spectrum, the avant-garde will arrive with the performance of Sylvester, an enigmatic creature that will fuse fashion and fetishism, showcasing designs by creators such as Jivomir Domoustchiev.

Tickets to Brit Under Fest are on sale already from the festival's website.