“You’ve come here in a good mood!”
Affronted by a crowd radiating the late Spring heat, The Last Dinner Party beam a reciprocated glow in the midst of this year’s edition of Primavera Sound Barcelona. At a time when festival ticket sales are flailing more than ever, Primavera fares better than ever with its focally gender-balanced lineup: welcoming ¼ million people from 168 countries for yet another scintillating experience in the proud Catalan capital.
Ignited by the 15-year anniversary of one of indie-rock’s most beloved late-00’s offerings, Phoenix’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, the French act initiated Primavera’s Jornada Inaugural to resounding applause. With Australia’s Tropical Fuck Storm in tow, further recitals of once-ubiquitous sounds reigned supreme throughout the festival: Deftones’ alt-metal; Pulp’s Britpop; PJ Harvey’s legendary rock status fared best above all amidst the cantankerous thunderstorm which gripped the final day of festivities.
Familiar sounds emanated elsewhere as The Lemon Twigs breezily inflected 70’s glam rock, Silica Gel fortified modern psych-rock, Amyl and the Sniffers emblazoned traditional punk rock, and Militarie Gun writhed amongst hardcore punk. The festival’s truly rock-inspired stand-outs came from the acclaimed art-rock theatrics of The Last Dinner Party hoisted amongst the summery outdoors, as well as the gothic noise-rock of Chelsea Wolfe, enclosed within the intimate confines of the Auditori.
Beneath Primavera's monolithic main stages, the thunderous climate of Mitski’s abstract set audibly drew breath from the audience, whilst Vampire Weekend’s impressively expansive soundscapes on their latest LP, Only God Was Above Us, offered an upbeat evolution in the ever-growing modern indie-rock cult. Ultimately, it was Lana Del Rey’s own cult and fame which caught the last gasp from the largest-amassed crowd on the eagerly-anticipated Friday night, graced by stunning vocals, breathing boundless life into her distinctly-dramatic hits from recent years.
Commemorating another anniversary, Freddie Gibbs & Madlib appraised the 10-year mark of their seminal Piñata, basking within the warm-weathered evening alongside relative newcomer 070 Shake’s more introverted (and inauspicious) hip-hop aura. Other such undercard recluses, predominantly within the electronic spheres, helped birth the newly-formed Warehouse and honorary-Steve Albini stage with a diverse range of showings from Aya, Snow Strippers, Pelada, Tirzah, Woody92 and the legendary Mica Levi.
Transcending the larger spaces, the more notorious likes of Arca, Peggy Gou, Jai Paul and DJ Playero each offered their own brimming brands of flared personas with a healthy arsenal of hits to their name. Surging through the late tidal wave of disco-revival, however, few could withstand against force-of-nature disco-pop stalwarts Justice, hosting an entrancing world of frenetic lights and dance-infused landscapes for an indelible Thursday night.
Lastly, each of the outright pop stars seldom ceased to entertain: Troye Sivan’s sensually-vivacious vibrations, SZA’s sumptuously-softened headline set; Charli XCX triumphantly-topped over all, armed with (timely) one of the year’s highest-acclaimed LPs, Brat, gorged upon by the insatiably rave-infested crowd: the final overspill of Primavera's “good mood” ravaging us all.
Aligned with Primavera’s statement of gender equality reflected in this lineup, this festival has undoubtedly reaped the rewards - showcasing the true power in diversity and inclusion amongst global arts. Continually positioning themselves as the flag-bearer of cutting-edge music to date, Primavera Sound has ultimately stamped the vibrant city of Barcelona at the heart of it all: a monolithic, celebratory force in all of Spain. With such a composition, it’s no wonder the festival attracts droves from around the world, hosting a captivating environment of music and gifting us with an infectious optimism ahead of summer's abound inception.
Primavera Sound Barcelona will next take place on 5-7th June 2025 - for more info and the latest updates please visit here.
Photos are courtesy of Eric Pamies, Sharon López, Sergio Albert, Gisela Jané, Silvia Villar Carot, and Christian Bertrand whose work can be found at their respective links.