Jackies Open Air Daytime - OFF BCN 2026

Kevin Saunderson

His influence runs deep, through both adopted hometown of Detroit, and music culture as a whole: as one of the Belleville Three, the high school trio which also includes Juan Atkins and Derrick May, he irreparably changed the face of electronic music; with Inner City, he gave it some of its most memorable tunes. The genesis of today’s enormous techno scene can be retraced straight to Kevin, Derrick and Juan, as their formative experiments on rudimentary hardware sketched a blueprint for a genre that was yet to exist. By absorbing Kraftwerk, cutting-edge funk, local radio stalwart The Electrifying Mojo’s electicism, and all manner of new synthesiser and drum machine-led pop music, the Belleville Three broke new ground as musicians and DJs in the 80s. Saunderson’s comparatively late start as a producer – kicking off in ’87 under the moniker of Kreem, with E-Dancer and Reese two of the more well-known names to follow – inadvertently gifted him a headstart. With the eruption of house music a few hours down the I-94 in Chicago, Saunderson married Detroit’s raw sound to more tactile, pop-leaning sensibilities. Inner City was born, and global success followed. Between “Big Fun”, “Good Life”, debut album Paradise and a number of follow-up singles, Inner City (Saunderson and vocalist Paris Grey) amassed 12 UK top 40 hits and over six million records sold worldwide during their peak. A dancefloor-dominating remix by Luciano in 2008, and a globetrotting reunion tour in 2012, underscores the longevity of Inner City’s classic sound. His nickname of ‘The Elevator’ is apt: for his role in transporting Detroit’s new sound to a wider audience; as anyone who has seen him perform live can attest, his high-energy, high-spirit and high-impact DJ sets; and for spending the past 35 years of his life progressing the culture he helped create. Operating in tandem to his golden run as a producer in the late 80s and early 90s, Saunderson’s own KMS record label – a remarkable 30 years strong in 2017 – has chronicled the early footsteps of R-Tyme, Blake Baxter, MK, Chez Damier, Derrick Carter, Bicep and even Saunderson’s son and regular DJ partner Dantiez more recently. A special 12” series in 2008 called History Elevate, released in tandem with fellow polymath Carl Craig’s Planet E label, brought contemporary names like Mathew Jonson, Simian Mobile Disco and Loco Dice into the fold, proving his nous for fostering relationships with each new wave to come through techno’s gates. 25th anniversary compilations and numerous reissues have followed suit. Saunderson has a behind-the-scenes role to play, too: he is intertwined with the history of Detroit’s flagship Movement (formerly Detroit Electronic Music Festival / Fuse-In). Having produced the event in the mid-2000s, the last handful of years have seen repeated invites from Movement to display his ORIGINS showcase at the festival, bringing acts like Delano Smith, Phuture and DJ Minx under his curatorial umbrella. And of course, with a stacked international touring schedule over the decades, playing in nearly every country and at nearly every festival or club worth mention, he has not stopped pushing the feeling of techno on and on. The Groove That Won’t Stop, indeed.

Felipe Gordon

Nesi

Nesi is a rising star in the world of house music hailing from Barcelona, Spain. With a passion for music that started at a young age, Nesi has quickly gained recognition for her talents as a DJ and producer. Her recent release on Toolroom Records, a highly respected label in the industry, has garnered critical acclaim and further established her as an up-and-coming artist to watch. In addition to her success in the studio, Nesi has also established herself as a sought-after DJ in her hometown of Barcelona. She currently holds a residency at the prestigious W Hotel Barcelona, where she delights crowds with her energetic and vibrant sets. Her love for house music is evident in her performances, as she expertly blends classic and contemporary tracks to create an unforgettable experience for her audience.

Piem

Rooted in Barcelona’s underground scene, PIEM is a DJ and producer with over two decades behind the decks and a strong presence in the city’s house music landscape. Known for groove driven selections and powerful vocals, his sound connects with dancefloors worldwide, supporting a career respected both locally and internationally. A resident at Jackies, one of Barcelona’s longest-running house institutions, PIEM is also a regular name on Europe’s festival circuit. He has shared the booth with artists such as Laurent Garnier, Moodymann, Seth Troxler, Chloé Caillet, Honey Dijon, Chris Stussy, and Folamour, strengthening his reputation as a reliable and well-respected selector within the international house community. As a producer, PIEM focuses on translating his musical knowledge into records made for the club and built to last. His productions show a clear understanding of structure and rhythm, leading to releases on respected labels including DFTD, Ministry of Sound, Three Six Zero, and Crosstown Rebels, with recent and upcoming material on Get Physical, PIV, and Factory 93. His music receives regular support from leading DJs and has been played on BBC Radio 1 by Pete Tong, Sarah Story, and Danny Howard, while frequently appearing in the Top 100 charts on Beatport and Traxsource. PIEM has performed at major clubs and events such as Amnesia, Hï Ibiza, Pacha Ibiza, Space Miami, Sónar, and Electric Love, among others. His sets combine solid grooves, engaging vocals, and hypnotic sounds, with a clear focus on keeping the dancefloor moving from start to finish. Today, PIEM stands as a key figure in Spain’s house music scene and one of Barcelona’s most representative artists. With a career built on consistency, strong industry relationships, and a clear club focused approach, he continues to play an important role in the country’s house music culture while maintaining an active and respected international presence.

Spencer Parker

The London-born, Berlin-based artist masterfully straddles a heady mix of house, techno and disco that has seen him become a regular at legendary spots like Panorama Bar/Berghain and Concrete while his output sits in the boxes of DJs like Ryan Elliott, The Black Madonna, DVS1 and Gerd Janson. With a record store background, it’s unsurprising that Parker’s instinct to dig is paired with an unapologetically high standard when it comes to track selection. As a result, he’s a DJ who draws on undiscovered classics as much as he does unreleased material during a typical set. This perfectionist stance spills into his production work too - taut, energetic and often relentless productions released through a select group of outlets including his own Work Them Records and Radio Slave’s Rekids, an imprint he very much considers a home away from home. With a constant desire to keep things fresh, Parker is no stranger to side projects though. Many Spencer Parker edits have graced record store shelves and DJ’s boxes while 2011 saw the initially uncredited itsnotover 12” series launch, becoming a bonafide cult classic before culminating in a CD album release (and critical acclaim) in 2014. 2018 sees Spencer Parker in rare form. His DJ diary continues to grow with the USA, South America and the antipodes adding to an ever evolving and enviable EU rotation. Work Them continues to grow, with Parker fostering new talent like P.Leone and Valya Kan as well as inviting established acts like Rising Sun, DJ Deep, Italojohnson and DJ Fettburger to contribute remixes to his own Different Shapes & Sizes series of 12s. Late 2018 will also see Parker drop his long awaited second LP, the follow up to 2011’s ‘A Gun For Hire’, via the imprint.

Sergio Cucalon