Ewan Samms takes a look at one of the European heavyweight festivals, Primavera Sound, and tells us their thoughts on what these summer stages will look like.
After a controversial reopening in 2022, post-covid, Primavera Sound returns in June with a promising presentation across two of Spain’s top cities. Madrid is a city rife with beauty; scenery, culture, food, and people… it doesn’t seem to end. This year’s line-up appears worthy of such a location, with legendary headliners, and a diverse range of acts throughout. It’s not that Primavera Sound aims to please everyone with a randomly arranged and madly diverse collection of artists, but instead presents the huge range of modern music across its impressive line-up. New Order, Blur, Kendrick, Keem, Rosalía… each day has highlights.
The festival’s first day is free, with the line-up pared back to a handful of heavy hitters. As far as I’m concerned, enjoying a Pet Shop Boys set post-Jake-Bugg sounds like good value for money, considering you don’t have to spend any. Thursday sees the festival kick-off in full, with the headliners being responsible for this year’s tagline; ‘I’ll be your mirror’. New Order challenge Blur, and a comparably underwhelming Halsey, to deliver an era-spanning set. A good day for Hip-Hop, NxWorries, Loyle Carner and Pusha T share the stage performing newly released and unreleased material. PinkPantheress, Sudan Archives and Turnstile promise to keep the range of genres diverse.
Friday boasts a Kendrick Lamar headline, a welcome contrast to Depeche Mode. If Lamar’s Glastonbury set from last year is any indication, him and his team are experts at delivering elaborate and theatrical festival sets. Depeche Mode should bring all the 80’s bangers necessary for a good jig. A Baby Keem inclusion makes me think he could join Lamar for a rendition of Family Ties, with the on-trend trio of Four Tet, Fred Again.. and Skrillex straddling the line between driving dance and white boy cringe. VTSS going B2B with LSDXOXO looks to be a curious highlight, with further variety from ALVVAYS, Japanese Breakfast and Yves Tumor.
Saturday night should be a lively one with Calvin Harris and Rosalía rocking the Spanish crowd. Admittedly, the Barcelona show could have a certain magic to it considering Rosalía’s Catalan heritage, but I’m excited to see her perform in a non-English crowd regardless. Death Grips, DOMI & DJ Beck and JPEGMAFIA continue a massive range of genres.
The festival ends with a day of dance sponsored by Brunch Electronik, a fitting afterglow for what appears to be a very promising Summer in Spain.
Ewan Samms
Edited by Roxann Yus
Cover image courtesy of Primavera Sound Festival via Facebook.
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