And so it would seem we have come to the end of another bumper, seven-day extravaganza of watching some of the greatest artists on the planet, from the most diverse genres, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The reason? The top tier Primavera Sound 2024.
With over 260 concerts taking place across the city over the last seven days, Barcelona has been filled with music and music-lovers in an audio-orgy that has been another triumph. With acts as varied as Britpop legends Pulp, experimental kween Eartheater and conceptual saviours Stella Maris, Primavera Sound’s 22nd Edition pulled in an even more mixed crowd than normal, making this year’s festival extra special.
‘Ooh ooh ooh then you come down…’ predicted Jarvis on the Friday night. So before Loverboy fully enters emotional comedown mode from the highs of the last week, let’s look at what has made it so great…
The Talent
2024 once again proved that Primavera Sound is consistently able to get the mix just right for their line up. From having huge glossy pop productions like Lana Del Rey to the radical independent electronica of Montreal’s Pelada, there was truly something for everyone. Earlier this year we spoke with the festival’s Head of Press, Marta Pallarès, who told us, ‘Actually as festivals, we feel that we are the curators. We really enjoy putting a spotlight on the smaller artists in the fourth or fifth rows.’ Marta wasn’t lying.
One night we could mosh to the Drongo-Punk of Amyl & The Sniffers before basking in the presence of Beth Gibbons performing Portishead’s ‘Roads.’ Like what?! One minute we were seated in the darkness with Lankum’s drone-folk to ten minutes later standing in Boiler Room with Erika De Casier debuting her new Y2K Garage track. Even the weather joined in this year giving us torrential rain as PJ Harvey sang ‘Down By The Water’ and lightning-filled skies for Mitski‘s dramatic set.
Nobody is Normal
With Primavera Sound’s Anti-Sexual Assault Protocol ‘Nobody Is Normal’ in place there were rainbow flags all over the site as well as support workers moving between the stages and two additional stands to represent and successfully create a safe space. Across the weekend the queers were fully representing in the 268, 000 attendees, bringing home-made haute couture, streetwear and serving. We loved to see it.
There were Queers present on every stage too. Loverboy found ourselves enjoyably clutching our pearls as Troye Sivan’s hot dancer took the Aussie twink from behind during ‘One of Your Girls’. We swooned to the soul of Omar Apollo, 070 Shake made us her bitch (with girlfriend Lily-Rose Depp looking on from the wings) and we started our Pride month with Model/Actriz’s Cole screaming ‘Where are the gays?!’ Miss Alternative Americana Ethel Cain delivered an emotional mass to the masses and Romy brought everyone together for a love-in at her post-rain rave, with new single Donna Lewis-sampling ‘Always Forever.’
The stages
From the two main stages to our favourite, Cupra’s Amphitheatre, to the newly christened Steve Albini Stage, there were stages of all shapes and sizes. One of our highlights was taking time out and sitting in the comfort of the Auditori Rockdelux meditating to the ethereal flute of Shabaka. Every year Primavera Sound switches up the staging a little just to keep you guessing. For 2024 there was the reveal of the Red Sound Studio, where we caught a super intimate show from our favourite local, Alizzz. No space was missed with Maybelline and Aperol creating chic spaces literally out on the sea.
Primavera a la ciutat
Loverboy has yet to see a festival that incorporates the host city quite like Primavera Sound. Giving weekend ticketholders exclusive access to intimate shows in the days leading up with the festival, it meant you could have seven nights of live music. Loverboy saw Johnny Jewel create synth cinematic magic on Monday and Yo La Tengo’s unforgettable cover of ‘Heroin’ by The Velvet Underground is burned into our memory. Wednesday we caught British nu-ravers, Fat Dog, skank their way through Sala Apolo to a devoted crowd and we were totally under the spell of Italians Do It Better’s Desire previewing new material from the upcoming album Games People Play. Sunday’s Model/Actriz show was our set of the season. The energy was electric, you could tell it was only the harcore punks lasting until 1am on a Monday morning for a closing set. Shout out to Charli XCX for vroom-vrooming over to Barceloneta for a pop-up playback of her new unreleased album. Beers by the beach listening to Brat? Don’t mind if we do babes.
The 23rd edition of Primavera Sound Barcelona will celebrate its main days between 5th-7th June
Images from Eric Pamies, Sharon Lopez, Silvia Villar, Christian Bertrand.
