# Sound for town councils and festivals in Catalonia

> At Alquiaudio we have provided sound for town councils and festivals across Catalonia since 2015: opening speeches, concerts in the square, open-air dances, civic ceremonies and neighbourhood festivals.

- URL: https://www.alquiaudio.es/en/town-council-festival-sound/
- Last updated: October 2026

Before founding Alquiaudio, Sindy spent six seasons working town festivals with bands from the Vallès and the Maresme. We know how a square, a festival committee and a council file work.

- Outdoor audience: up to ~500 people
- System: 6,000 W
- Bands: up to 7 musicians
- Paperwork: Minor contract
- Invoice: With VAT

## Which council events does Alquiaudio provide sound for?

**We provide sound for any council or community event in Catalonia that needs voice, music or live bands, from an opening speech on the town hall balcony to a concert in the main square.**

What sets a town festival apart from any other event is that the audience isn’t seated or controlled: people come, go and move around. So we place the sound with the whole square in mind, not just the front rows, and protect cables and structures in walkways.

- Town festivals (festes majors) and neighbourhood festivals
- Opening speeches, award ceremonies and civic events
- Concerts and open-air dances in the square
- Sant Joan, Carnival, Castanyada and traditional festivals
- Fairs, markets and sports events
- Events by local associations, parents’ associations and residents’ groups

## How does a town council hire sound through a minor contract?

**Most festival sound services are processed as a minor contract, which under the Spanish Public Sector Contracts Act applies to services with an estimated value below €15,000, excluding VAT.** Alquiaudio prepares the documents the file usually requires.

In short:

- **Formal quote** with breakdown and validity.
- **Tax details** and bank account certificate.
- **Declarations** requested by the council secretary.
- **Electronic invoice** through the council’s chosen channel.

The legal reference is [Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2017-12902). Each council has its own procedures, so the most practical approach is to tell us what the finance department needs and we prepare it in the required format. We can talk you through it by phone if it is your first town festival as an officer or councillor.

## Council-hired sound or the band’s own production?

**Quick answer: if the headline band brings its own production, there is no need to duplicate; for events without a band, local groups or several stages, a council sound supplier makes sense.**

In many towns we combine both: the headline band on the big night brings its own production and Alquiaudio covers the opening speech, local band concerts and afternoon events. For bands, see [live band sound](https://www.alquiaudio.es/en/live-band-sound/).

*Council-hired sound versus the band’s own sound*

| Criterion | Sound hired by the council | Sound brought by the band |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coverage | Every event on the programme | Only the band’s performance |
| Local groups and associations | Yes, on the same system | Usually not |
| Opening speech and civic events | Yes | No |
| Control of volume and curfew | Council and technician | The band |
| When to choose | Programme with several events and groups | A single big show with its own production |

## What does the square need for the sound set-up?

**We need one or two 230 V sockets on separate circuits near the stage, van access and the street-closure times.**

If the square has no power, we can work with a generator, which must be suitable for audio to avoid hum. We also ask the council maintenance team to show us where cables can run and whether barriers are planned. With staging, we coordinate so the stage is level before the sound goes on; we explain it on [stage and platform hire](https://www.alquiaudio.es/en/stage-platform-hire/).

## Which other services can you combine?

- [Live band sound](https://www.alquiaudio.es/en/live-band-sound/)
- [Stage and platform hire](https://www.alquiaudio.es/en/stage-platform-hire/)
- [LED event lighting](https://www.alquiaudio.es/en/led-event-lighting/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Alquiaudio work with small town councils?

Yes, much of our council work is for small and medium-sized towns in Catalonia. We adapt to the festival programme budget and its procedures. We work in Catalan, Spanish and English.

### Can you invoice a council electronically?

Yes, we issue electronic invoices through the channel the council specifies. You need to give us the relevant administrative unit codes. We also send a formal quote for the file.

### What audience size does your system cover in a square?

With the full 6,000 W system we comfortably cover outdoor events of up to about 500 people. For larger squares we tell you from the start and advise accordingly. Placement matters as much as power.

### Do you respect the town’s noise limits and curfews?

Yes, we work within the curfews and limits set by the council and the event licence. We adjust speaker direction and bass to reduce disturbance in nearby streets. If there is a limiter, we factor it in from the quote.

### Do you cover local bands and associations at the same festival?

Yes, with the same system and technician we cover the opening speech, local bands, choirs and community events. The 32-channel desk allows quick changeovers. The programme flows without waits between acts.


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**Alquiaudio** — Alquiaudio is a sound and lighting hire company with technicians, based in the province of Barcelona and serving all of Catalonia since 2015. Its own 6,000 W system covers weddings, corporate events, town councils, town festivals, private parties and live bands of up to 7 musicians.

- Tel. / WhatsApp: +34 722 538 833 (https://wa.me/34722538833)
- Email: info@alquiaudio.es
- Open 24/7, 365 days a year, holidays included
- Based in the province of Barcelona · Serving all of Catalonia
- Web: https://www.alquiaudio.es/