Primavera Sound never disappoint’s. The Barcelona festival’s 2016 lineup was stellar, and it lived up to its potential in person. The 2017 lineup arrived overnight, and it might be even stronger. The big-font topline includes Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Frank Ocean, the xx, Aphex Twin, Grace Jones, Slayer, Solange, and Van Morrison, and the quality hardly drops off from there, with Run The Jewels, Mac DeMarco, Miguel, Flying Lotus, the Magnetic Fields, Angel Olsen, Grandaddy, Sampha, Swans, Broken Social Scene, Mitski, the Afghan Whigs, Against Me!, the Damned, the Descendents, Priests, King Krule, Gordi, Pinegrove, Mannequin Pussy, Cymbals Eat Guitars, and so many more impressive names.
!!! (Chk Chk Chk) · 7 Notas 7 Colores · Abdullah Rashim · About Leaving · The Afghan Whigs · Against Me! · Agorazein · Alex Cameron · Alexandra Savior · Alien Tango · Âme · Angel Olsen · Anímic · Annette Peacock · Aphex Twin · Arcade Fire · Aries · Aurora Halal · Autarkic · Avalon Emerson · BADBADNOTGOOD · Barbott · Belako · Ben UFO · Berri Txarrak · Bicep · The Black Angels · Bon Iver · Broken Social Scene · Cigarettes After Sex · CLUBZ · Dj Coco · Conttra · Converge · Cymbal Eat Guitars · The Damned · Dave P. · Death Grips · Descendents · Discos Paradiso Crew · Dixon · Don’t DJ · Dj Dustin · El Petit de Cal Eril · Elmini · Elza Soares · Fatima Yamaha · Ferenc · Flying Lotus · Formation · Frank Ocean · Front 242 · Gas · Glass Animals · Gojira · Gordi · Grace Jones · Grandaddy · The Growlers · Hamilton Leithauser · Henrik Schwarz · Her Little Donkey · Huerco S. · HVOB · InnerCut · Iosonouncane · It’s Not Not · Japandroids · Jardín de la Croix · Jeremy Jay · JMII · Joey Purp · John Talabot Disco Set · Joy Orbison · Julia Jacklin · Julie Doiron · Junun featuring Shye Ben Tzur & The Rajasthan Express · Kelly Lee Owens · Kepa Junkera & Los Hermanos Cubero · Kevin Morby · Khidja · King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard · King Krule · King Sunny Adé · KiNK · Kokoshca · Kornél Kovács · Lady Wray · Lauer · Les Cruet · Les Sueques · Let’s Eat Grandma · Local Natives · Lord Of The Isles · Lvl Up · Mac DeMarco · The Magnetic Fields · The Make-Up · Mannequin Pussy · Màquina Total · Maresme · Marie Davidson · Marta Delmont · Matrixxman · Medalla · Melange · Metronomy · Michael Mayer · Miguel · Mishima · Mitski · The Molochs · Moscoman · Muñeco · Murdoc · Museless · The Mystery Lights · Nikki Lane · No Zu · Noga Erez · Nots · Odina · Operators · PAVVLA · Pearson Sound · Pedro Vian · Pender Street Steppers · Phurpa · Pinegrove · Playback Maracas · Polar Inertia · Pond · Preoccupations · Priests · Rebuig · Recondite · Retirada! · Romare · Rosalía & Raül Refree · Royal Trux · Run The Jewels · S U R V I V E · Saint Etienne · Salfumán · Sampha · Sau Poler · Seu Jorge plays The Life Aquatic. A Tribute to David Bowie · Shelby Grey · Shellac · Sinkane · Skepta · Skinny Puppy · Slayer · Sleaford Mods · Sleep · Slim Cessna’s Auto Club · Solange · Soledad Vélez · Sorry Kate · Swans · Swet Shop Boys · Talaboman · Teenage Fanclub · Dj Tennis · This Is Not This Heat · Triángulo de Amor Bizarro · Tuff City Kids · Tycho · Vaadat Charigim · Van Morrison · Vladimir Ivkovic · Vox Low · Wand · The Waterparties · The Wave Pictures · The Wedding Present · Weval · Weyes Blood · The Wheels · Whitney · Wild Beasts · William Tyler · The xx · Youandewan · The Zombies perform “Odessey & Oracle” 50th Anniversary
The headliners are obviously brilliant: Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Frank Ocean, Aphex Twin, The xx, Grace Jones, Solange and Slayer, oh, and Van Morrison, coming this year. But the bill also boasts a number of beautiful hidden secrets, for those willing to cast their eyes beyond the big names. Such as…
Year after year, Primavera Sound continues to offer the most varied and well-stacked line up in the world. With its beautiful backdrop of the Parc del Forum in Barcelona and its diverse venues it is easy to understand why established talent, rapidly ascending acts, and hidden gems continue to flock to this festival. There is something for everyone at this festival. Primavera is four days of genre-hopping paradise in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Glass Animals – 8:55 @ Pitchfork Stage
This electronic quartet wavers between electro-tinged pop, indie rock, and more experimental pieces. Catch them at the Pitchfork stage for a sunset performance with intricate melodies and exciting crescendos.
Solange – 9:10 @ Mango Stage
Solange Knowles is one of the best voices working in pop and R&B today, and her last album A Seat At The Table made her the undisputed queen of neo soul. The early evening environment will be the perfect backdrop for her performance.
Bon Iver – 10:20 @ Heineken Stage
Last year Bon Iver completed his fourth album 22, A Millon, another drastic mutation of his sound that received glowing reviews. Expect his live performance to be a maze of pop synth, electronic foundations and distorted voices.
BADBADNOTGOOD – 10:35 @ Pitchfork Stage
Canadian jazz quartet BADBADNOTGOOD are known for their modern approach to jazz and their collaborations with some of the biggest names in rap, pop, and indie rock. Whether you like Jazz, hip-hop, electronic or just appreciate incredible musicianship, this set is a must see.
Death Grips – 11:50 @ Primavera Stage
Any attempt at a description of this experimental rap duo would not do it justice. If you want experimental induced mania, look no further.
Aphex Twin – 1:20 @ Heineken Stage
Aphex Twin has sustained a chaotic and exceptional career for almost four decades continually pushing the boundaries of what electronic music is and can be. Seeing this legend close down the Heineken Stage is a perfect ending to the first night of Primavera.
King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard – 2:00 @ Primavera Stage
The prolific Australian septet is touring yet again with a new and even stranger sound. If you want to end your night moshing into obscurity then the Primavera stage is your closer for the night.
Mitski – 7:15 @ Pitchfork Stage
Mitski, the untamable folk-rocker, breaks all conventions of what a singer songwriter can be. Her performance will be a raucous set with songs from her newest album Puberty 2.
Whitney – 7:50 @ Mango Stage
Back again this year; Whitney will give a sunset performance at the Mango stage offering an evening of their signature melancholic classical pop.
The Growlers – 8:45 @ Heineken Stage
If at the end of your day you are looking to kickback, relax and enjoy the last bits of the Barcelona sun, check out the Growlers. Their 70s psychedelic influenced garage rock will definitely hit the spot.
Mac DeMarco – 9:50 @ Mango Stage
Once known for his more lewd behaivour on stage Mac DeMarco has mellowed out a bit, but still continues to put on shows full of energy and charisma. His new album This Old Dog is the epitome of relaxing summer music.
The xx – 11:10 @ Heineken Stage
The xx will be playing a set right before Jamie xx will take the stage. This performance will allow for a deep dive into Jamie xx’s discography and a night full of downtempo dance music.
Jamie xx – 2:00 @ Heineken Stage
The greatest upset of Primavera has probably already happened with Frank Ocean cancelling his set. Jamie xx has stepped in for Frank; he will be a welcomed addition to this night’s line up. The London producer’s vibrant, downtempo dance music will be a great way to end day at the Heineken stage.
Van Morrison – 7:45 @ Heineken Stage
If you need to ask, then you’ll never know.
Angel Olsen – 8:25 @ Ray Ban Stage
With her new album My Woman, Angel Olsen will offer a multilayered performance with songs that range from indie rock to folk. Her performance will conflict with Van Morrison’s set, a heart wrenching decision for many.
Seu Jorge Plays The Life Aquatic – 10:35 @ Ray Ban Stage
Bowie, Wes Anderson and Bill Murray were not the only reasons why the Life Aquatic was the movie it was; Seu Jorge’s renditions of Bowie’s music showed our favorite songs in a softer, calmer essence. His tribute to Bowie is not for the faint of heart, queue the waterworks.
Grace Jones – 10:35 @ Heineken Stage
Where to start with Grace Jones, she’s a fashion icon, a postmodern diva, Andy Warhol’s muse, a powerhouse actress, and many more. Celebrate her comeback with an evening performance at the Henieken stage.
Arcade Fire – 12:00 @ Mango Stage
With a new album finished and soon to be released, it is likely that Arcade Fire will be playing some new songs along with past favorites from the bands legendary catalogue. With a two hour closing set at Mango stage, this performance is a must see.
King Krule – 12:20 @ Pitchfork Stage
Archy Ivan Marshall, the precocious British artist will offer a set full of folk, soul, and electronic music with a punk spirit driving the whole performance forward. Marshall is preparing for a 2017 comeback so some new songs could be in the mix.
Preoccupations – 2:30 @ Pitchfork Stage
This post-punk band hits full force with its dark and unforgiving lyrics. With numerous moniker changes, Preoccupations have consistently put out top-tier material.
Mannequin Pussy – 7:40 @ Sala Theatre
With a mixture of punk, shoegaze, and death metal this band will deliver a near lethal dose of mania. This is the perfect wake up call to get you going on your last night of the festival.
!!! (chk, chk, chk) – 9:00 @ Seat
Playing numerous sets throughout the festival will give fans a chance to see their favoruite band play multiple times and newcomers a chance to discover this band on their own terms. If you missed !!! (chk, chk, chk) the first couple times try to see them close down the entire festival in the ultimate challenge of stamina.
Japandroids – 2:30 @ Apolo Venue
Touring off the release of their new album Near to the Wild Heart of Life, you can expect the Japandroids to give an energetic, revved up rock performance with punk ferocity.
The Fat Angel Sings 