Primavera Sound 2014 Preview

In a time where the greatest of alt-music festivals have either gone mainstream (Coachella, Lollapalooza) or disappeared (All Tomorrow’s Parties), Barcelona’s Primavera Sound still stands tall. Stretching all the way from Monday, May 26th to Wednesday, June 4th, but focused on the three-day weekend the Parc del Forum, Primavera draws the best from around the world and close to home, mega alt-stars to no-name that will become mega alt-stars, from the up-and-coming youngsters to influential icons, and much more:

(and if you’re Atlantic than Mediterranean, more June than May, more Portuguese than Catalan, most of these acts also play sister festival NOS Primavera Sound – formerly Optimus Primavera Sound – on the other side of Iberia in Oporto, June 5th to 7th – QRO NOS Primavera 2014 preview]

MONDAY, MAY 26th

Sala Apolo

Darren Hayman & The Trial Separation, 22:00

The Free Fall Band, 21:00

Tigercats, 20:00

La Botinga

Grushenka, 17:00

TUESDAY, MAY 27th

Apolo Venue Antibalas, 22:00 Fusing the afrobeat sounds of percussion, trumpets, and clavinet, Antibalas the Afrobeat Orchestra (QRO photos outdoors) are known for their funkified confections. They have been touring in support of their 2012 self-titled album, Antibalas. Also: Chicha Libre, 20:50 La Botinga Tigercats, 17:00

Teatre Principal Digitalism, 03:00 Hamburg electronic duo Digitalism (QRO photos) knows how to spin it (QRO photos doing a DJ set at a festival) – and I Love You Dude (QRO review).

Hot Chip (DJ set), 01:00 Maybe the first band to hit it big in this century/millennium’s electronic indie-dance scene was LCD Soundsystem (QRO live review) – but the second was close friend Hot Chip (QRO photos). The Warning and “Over and Over” lifted the band (QRO photos) to the big time in 2006, and they’ve kept it going (QRO live review) with Made In the Dark (QRO review), One Life Stand (QRO review), and most recently 2012’s In Our Heads. They play a late night DJ set at Primavera Sound, after a live performance at the festival last year.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28th

Apolo Holy Ghost! DJs, 03:00 Electro-pop duo Alex Frankel & Nick Millhiser (QRO photos) forms the up-and-coming Holy Ghost! (QRO live review), who have toured with LCD Soundsystem (QRO live review, on tour with Holy Ghost!) and Cut Copy (see below), and put out their self-titled debut (QRO review) in 2011. They come to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) for a live show (QRO live review) earlier (see below) and a late night DJ set.

Har Mar Superstar, 02:00 Somewhere between solo singer/songwriter, pop-star diva, and Ron Jeremy lies Har Mar Superstar (QRO photos). Sean Tillmann (QRO photos at a festival) adopted the persona to underground acclaim, especially in Great Britain, as well as becoming spokesman for Vladivar Vodka and Lynx Deodorant. He’s also written songs for the likes of Jennifer Lopez & Kelly Osbourne, and Britney Spears’ management’s rejection of “Tall Boys” only brought him to make his own version, for 2009’s Dark Touches.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre, 00:40 One of the best psychedelic bands of the last thirty years, The Brian Jonestown Massacre (QRO photos) emerged out of San Francisco (where else?) have endured a tumultuous history (including rivalry with The Dandy Warhols in celebrated music documentary, Dig!) for a prolific and consistent output. Also: Niña Coyote eta Chico Tornado, 23:40

ATP Stage Holy Ghost!, 22:25 Electro-pop duo Alex Frankel & Nick Millhiser (QRO photos) forms the up-and-coming Holy Ghost! (QRO live review), who have toured with LCD Soundsystem (QRO live review, on tour with Holy Ghost!) and Cut Copy (see below), and put out their self-titled debut (QRO review) in 2011. They come to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) for a live show (QRO live review) and a late night DJ set (see above).

Sky Ferreira, 21:15 Sky Tonia Ferreira (QRO photos at a festival) grabbed eyes & ears by just uploading videos of her songs onto MySpace, but shifted from her electro-pop into incorporating more experimental sounds on her delayed debut full-length, Night Time, My Time. She comes to Primavera Sound after opening for Miley-twerkin’-Cyrus…

Stromae, 20:10 While not known in America, Brussels’ Stromae has hit number one in numerous European countries with his electro/hip-hop “Alors on danse”.

Temples, 19:00 Despite only starting two years ago, Temples (QRO live review) have received press attention in their native England after being called the best new band in Britain (QRO photos at a U.K. festival) by the likes of Noel Gallagher (QRO live review) and Johnny Marr (QRO live review). They come to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) hot on the heels of that heat and February’s debut full-length, Sun Structures (QRO review). Also: Él Mató A Un Policía Motorizado, 17:55 Fira Fem, 17:00

BARTS Shellac, 22:50 Famed producer Steve Albini started in eighties punk act Big Black, and keeps him hand in the performing side of the game fronting Shellac – who are coming off five years in a row at Primavera Sound Barcelona (QRO photos at Primavera Barcelona ’11).

The Ex, 21:30 The Dutch punk veterans The Ex started way back when punk started, the late seventies, before some Primavera Sound artists were even born. Like fellow punk originators who are still around, Wire (QRO live review), The Ex have never limited themselves to punk, drawing from a wide range of sounds & influences. They’ve also endured line-up changes, including the departure of charter Ex G.W. Sok in 2009, after three decades in the band. Also: Full Blast, 20:25 Paus, 19:15

El Teatro Latino Ecos del Gueto, 03:30 Uproot Andy, 02:00 Geko Jones, 00:30 Ecos del Gueto, 00:00

La [2] de Apolo Me and The Bees, 22:30 Beach Beach, 21:30 Aries, 20:30 La Botinga Joe La Reina, 17:00

Teatre Principal John Talabot, 00:00 Have you ever checked out an artist from the Spanish Electronic genre? No? Then Barcelona’s own John Talabot would be a good place to start. Having released only one album so far (2012’s Fin), he shows much promise in the way of longevity – this will be his third year in a row at Primavera!

Jamie xx & Friends, 00:00 One-third of The xx (QRO live review), Jamie xx has also been making his own (first) name in DJing & production circles, like at Primavera ’12 (QRO photos at Primavera ’12). Also: Rodaidh McDonald, 00:00

THURSDAY, MAY 28th

Apolo Venue Volcano Choir, 16:00 We all know Justin Vernon as Bon Iver (QRO live review) – though QRO knew him when he was the touring guitarist for The Rosebuds (QRO photos), but the man has a million other projects, like funky GAYNGS (QRO album review), rock Shouting Matches (QRO album review), and his more ambient Volcano Choir (QRO live review), who come to Primavera Sound behind last year’s Repave (QRO review).

ATP Stage Moderat, 02:15 Berlin’s Sascha Ring, a.k.a. Apparat (QRO live review), has already had success (including appearing at Primavera Sound last year – QRO photos), but gets even better when teamed up with Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary, a.k.a. Modeselektor, as electronic super-group Moderat (QRO live review). They come to Primavera Sound (QRO live review in Europe) for a second time.

Shellac, 00:00 Famed producer Steve Albini started in eighties punk act Big Black, and keeps him hand in the performing side of the game fronting Shellac – who are coming off five years in a row at Primavera Sound Barcelona (QRO photos at Primavera Barcelona ’11).

Neutral Milk Hotel, 21:40 Jeff Mangum formed Neutral Milk Hotel around him in the late nineties, released In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, and the rest was history. One of the most critically acclaimed records of the past twenty years, NMH still disbanded before the decade/century/millennium was over, thanks to Mangum’s growing disillusionment (and later nervous breakdown). It all seemed to be the story of a candle that burned too bright for too short a time, but then Mangum began touring a few years ago (QRO live review), including Primavera Sound ’12, and then came a full-fledged reunion (with the line-up that played on Aeroplane) last fall, which comes to Primavera Sound. [note: put your cell phones and cameras away for this performance, as Magnum notoriously hates photographing at his performances…]

The Ex, 19:30 The Dutch punk veterans The Ex started way back when punk started, the late seventies, before some Primavera Sound artists were even born. Like fellow punk originators who are still around, Wire (QRO live review), The Ex have never limited themselves to punk, drawing from a wide range of sounds & influences. They’ve also endured line-up changes, including the departure of charter Ex G.W. Sok in 2009, after three decades in the band. Also: Föllakzoid, 17:45

Auditori Rockdelux Sun Ra Arkestra, 20:45 Modern music wouldn’t be where it is today without Sun Ra. Born before the start of the Great War, Sun Ra took the jazz of the fifties into the future & farther, including outer space. From paving the interstellar highway for everyone from Spiritualized (QRO photos at Primavera ’12) to Parliament/Funkadelic (QRO live review) to afrofuturism to being one of the first musicians in any genre to use electronic keyboards, there might not be anyone as singular & influential as Sun Ra. Ra passed away in 1993, but his Arkestra has continued, now under the leadership of the sprightly 90-year-old alto saxophonist Marshall Allen.

Also: A Winged Victory For The Sullen, 19:15 Julian Cope, 17:30 Colin Stetson, 16:00

Bowers & Wilkins + Boiler Room Lunice, 03:30 William Dafoe, 02:30 Andy Stott, 01:30 For Romeau, 00:00 Shelby Grey, 23:00 Kosmos, 22:00 Jamie xx, 21:00

Heineken Stage Disclosure, 02:20 British electronic duo Disclosure (QRO photos at a festival) spin beats at Primavera Sound for a second year in a row.

Queens of the Stone Age, 23:00 After the dissolution of the hard rock Kyuss, singer/guitarist Josh Homme formed what today might be the biggest ‘stoner rock’ band in the world, The Queens of the Stone Age (QRO photos at a festival). This is the kind of band that can put Foo Fighters (QRO album review) frontman Dave Grohl back on skins, get contributions from Screaming Trees’ Mark Lanegan (QRO live review) & Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top (QRO live review), and more. Maybe no record has matched Songs For the Deaf, but last year’s …Like Clockwork (QRO review) has come the closest.

Warpaint, 20:40 The experimental, even psychedelic rock of the four ladies that make up Warpaint (QRO photos) has taken a while to take hold, but is really starting to by now (QRO photos), and they come back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos) behind this year’s self-titled full-length.

Real Estate, 18:40 Pitchfork has long loved Ridgewood, New Jersey’s Real Estate (QRO live review), including 2012’s sophomore release Days (QRO review) and this year’s relaxed Atlas (QRO review), so see for yourself if they’re right as the band comes to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) for a third time.

Heineken Hidden Stage Peter Hook & The Light, 21:30 Three years ago, Peter Hook recruited a new band, The Light, and toured first the U.K. (QRO live review) and then America (QRO live review), performing the two records from his seminal original band, Joy Division, in Unknown Pleasures and Closer. Those two early eighties albums basically defined New Wave, a sound that has more than come back around in today’s acts (think Interpol, think Editors…). They have also always been shadowed by tragedy, in the suicide of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, which brought that seminal band to its end. Last year, Peter Hook & The Light (QRO photos in a cathedral) toured the first two records from the band that came out of the ashes of Joy Division, and which basically defined electronic dance music in the eighties, New Order, Movement and Power, Corruption & Lies. The shows (QRO live review) included both records, in full – and singles & b-sides (such as the early, post-Division “Ceremony” and “In a Lonely Place”, as well as the breakthrough hits that came between the two albums, “Temptation” and “Blue Monday”). After a few select dates in his native Britain (QRO review), Hook & co. came to North America (QRO photos from start of U.S. tour) last fall (QRO photos at a festival last fall). Now he’s back in Europe, touring all of his material (QRO photos at a festival).

La Botiga Sean Carlson, 12:00 La Seca – Espai Brossa Fuckin’ Bollocks, 16:00 El Último Vecino, 15:15

Pitchfork Stage Julio Bashmore, 03:00 The Range, 01:50 John Wizards, 00:40

CHVRCHES, 23:15 Scottish electro-pop outfit CHVRCHES (QRO live review) have gotten very big very fast on the back of last year’s debut The Bones of What You Believe (QRO review) – but are fronted by the tiny Lauren Mayberry (QRO photos at a festival).

Future Islands, 22:05 Baltimore’s Future Islands (QRO photos) play a darker form of synth-pop.

Majical Cloudz, 20:55 Grimes (QRO live review) collaborator Devon Welsh has been making his own name in his Montreal duo with Matthew Otto, Majical Cloudz.

Pond, 19:45 The new wave of psychedelic rock comes to Primavera Sound from the other side of the globe in Perth’s Pond (QRO photos at home in Perth).

Glasser, 18:35 Cameron Mesirow’s Glasser (QRO photos outdoors) is the daughter of a member of the Blue Man Group and a member of minor New Wave hit Human Sexual Response, with a musical style somewhere between prog-rock and krautrock (QRO photos at Primavera ’11), if you can picture that (QRO photos at a festival). Also: Wind Atlas, 17:30

Ray-Ban Stage Jamie xx, 04:20 One-third of The xx (QRO live review), Jamie xx has also been making his own (first) name in DJing & production circles, like at Primavera ’12 (QRO photos at Primavera ’12).

Metronomy, 03:15 From an NME Awards Tour (QRO review) to their own big headline dates (QRO live review outdoors), London’s electro-pop Metronomy (QRO photos at a festival) bring it, most recently with March’s Love Letters.

Charles Bradley, 01:10 The ‘Screaming Eagle of Soul’, Charles Bradley is one of the many great soul singers to emerge from Brooklyn’s DapTone Records, which also brought the world Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (QRO album review) and Budos Band (QRO album review), but Bradley more than stands on his own, from festivals (QRO photos at a festival) to topping the bill at the one-and-only Apollo Theater (QRO photos)!

Standstill, 22:50 Barcelona post-hardcore act Standstill play Primavera Sound for a third time.

Antibalas, 20:35 Fusing the afrobeat sounds of percussion, trumpets, and clavinet, Antibalas the Afrobeat Orchestra (QRO photos outdoors) are known for their funkified confections. They have been touring in support of their 2012 self-titled album, Antibalas. Also: Rodrigo Amarante, 18:40 El Petit de Cal Eril, 17:00

Ray-Ban Unplugged Stage El Último Vecino, 23:30 Föllakzoid, 22:30 Caveman, 18:00 – QRO album review

Sony Stage Arcade Fire, 00:30 After making the biggest indie-smash since The Strokes (QRO album review) with the already-seminal Funeral back in 2004/2005, and leading the charge of the ‘Canadian Invasion’, Montreal’s own Arcade Fire (QRO live review) followed that up in 2007 with the excellent-even-if-it-couldn’t-be-Funeral Neon Bible (QRO review). But after playing to bigger-and-bigger-and-bigger venues (QRO live review outdoors), the massive ensemble took a much-needed break, yet they returned in 2010 (QRO photos of first U.S. show in three years), and as one of the biggest bands in indie-rock (QRO photos at a festival), with The Suburbs (QRO review), which managed to win the Grammy for Record of the Year. Of course, that meant hipsters were obligated to hate the band (QRO photos headlining Madison Square Garden), and unfortunately some of that came true last fall with Reflektor (QRO review). A double-album where the band now follows the trend of indie going disco-dance, it divided critics, and coupled with a massive promotional push that included not only the season premiere of Saturday Night Live but a special afterwards (QRO Music On Late Night TV), not to mention Kimmel on top of the Capitol Records building and similarly divisive intimate shows (where they required the crowd to dress up, fooled on where the stage was, and did no encores) grabbing attention during the new music fest CMJ (QRO recap), it all almost seemed designed to jump the shark. However, not only is the music still great, but so is the live show, so catch them at Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival).

St. Vincent, 21:50 After the one-and-only Annie Clark (QRO interview) made 2007 her break-out year, both as part of The Polyphonic Spree on The Fragile Army (QRO review) and with her own debut as St. Vincent (QRO photos), Marry Me (QRO review), she followed that up with even-better years (QRO spotlight on), gracing festivals (QRO photos at a festival), charming and surprising crowds with winning humor live (QRO live review), and bringing a stable of new songs (QRO live review). Those new songs, like “Laughing With a Mouth of Blood” (QRO video) and “Actor Out of Work” (QRO video) formed into 2009’s Actor (QRO review), which vaunted her into the even bigger time (QRO photos at a festival), including playing Lincoln Center (QRO live review) and other storied concert halls (QRO photos at a festival) & venues (QRO photos at Royal Albert Hall). Admittedly, 2011’s Strange Mercy (QRO review) wasn’t quite as good, but then she teamed up with the one-and-only David Byrne (QRO photos at a festival together) for 2012’s Love This Giant (QRO review), and now the holy St. Vincent (QRO photos) comes back with a vengeance this year on St. Vincent (QRO review), and an absolutely stellar live show (QRO photos in Europe), with her platinum grey hair and mannequin moves shining at festivals (QRO photos at a festival) and in the Old World (QRO photos in Europe). A must-see at Primavera Sound ‘14 (QRO photos at a festival).

Midlake, 19:35 Denton, Texas’ Midlake (QRO photos outdoors) have swerved around a bit in the indie-rock realm, most recently into the sweet-sounding Americana with last year’s Antiphone and 2010’s The Courage of Others (QRO review), but have stayed true to Texas (QRO photos). Also: Grupo de Expertos Solynieve, 17:45

Sony Club PS14 Los Ganglios, 20:45 Aries, 20:00 Joan Colomo, 19:15 Tórtel, 18:30 Lost Fills, 17:45 Barcelona 82, 17:00

VICE Stage Lasers, 03:00 Touché Amoré, 01:45 Post-hardcore outfit Touché Amoré (QRO photos at a festival) come to Primavera Sound behind last year’s …Is Survived By.

Bo Ningen, 00:20 Catch the Japanese-born (QRO photos at an Asian festival), London-based (QRO photos at a festival) acid-punk of four-piece Bo Ningen.

Chrome, 22:55 Formed all the way back in 1975, San Francisco’s Chrome mix of synthesized noise and rock instrumentation made them the forerunner of industrial music.

SVPER, 21:45 Mix breathy vocals with hyperactive eighties synth-pop and you get Spanish duo SVPER (who are the second all-caps, ‘V’ instead of ‘U’ band at Primavera Sound – see CHVRCHES above).

Caveman, 20:35 Caveman (QRO photos at a festival) emerged out of one-half of the tricky to pigeonhole Subjects (QRO spotlight on) with last year’s similarly tough to categorize CoCo Beware (QRO review), but have settled down into an interesting haunt with last year’s self-titled follow-up (QRO review). Also: Girl Band, 19:25 El Último Vecino, 18:25 Gang of Youths, 17:25

FRIDAY, MAY 16th

ATP Stage SBTRKT, 02:05 London DJ/producer Aaron Jerome, a.k.a. SBTRKT, has been impressing with his post-dubstep work, which he brings back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival).

Slint, 23:55 Louisville’s Slint broke up after the second album, Spiderland, way back in 1990, with sporadic reunions before this year’s more substantial one (QRO 2014 photos) behind the deluxe box set of Spiderland.

Sharon Van Etten, 21:45 While there’s a ton of stripped songstresses out there, one of the nicer ones is Sharon Van Etten (QRO photos at a festival), who evoked the sad strains of Appalachia on her debut, Because I Was In Love (QRO review), while 2011’s Epic (QRO review) made her the Brooklyn ‘it girl’ (QRO photos in New York), and 2012’s Tramp (QRO review) has gotten her get even more acclaim – and attention (QRO photos). She’s even had a star-studded show in NYC (QRO photos), where she had special guests like Thurston Moore (QRO live review) of Sonic Youth (QRO live review) & Aaron Dessner of The National (see below). She comes back to Primavera Sound behind her latest, Are We There.

Loop, 19:40 These days, computers and synthesizers make it easy for anyone to do electronic loops, but back in the long, long ago of the nineteen-eighties, London’s Loop did their loops the old fashioned way. The group broke up in 1991, but saw their legacy and influence only grow bigger as circuits grew smaller, and last year they reunited to co-curate the final holiday camp edition of All Tomorrow’s Parties. Now they hit the festival circuit proper (QRO photos at a festival), and are a fitting act for the ATP Stage at Primavera.

Also: Yamantaka//Sonic Titan, 17:50 – QRO photos

Auditori Rockdelux Body/Head, 20:45 Body/Head is Kim Gordon’s post-Sonic Youth (QRO live review), post-Thurston team-up with Bill Nice.

Mick Harvey, 19:15 While long-term Bad Seed/Nick Cave collaborator Mick Harvey ended that thirty-six year-long collaboration before Push the Sky Away (QRO review), he’s worked with many, many others (including PJ Harvey – no relation) on a wide variety of projects, most recently last year’s solo Four (Acts of Love). He comes to Primavera Sound performing the music of France’s famed Serge Gainsbourg, who music he translated into English on two solo CDs – but who knows what language he’ll be in at Barcelona (Catalan? Provencal?…).

Also: Linda Perhacs, 17:30 Julia Holter, 16:00 – QRO photos

Bowers & Wilkins + Boiler Room Vatican Shadow, 04:00 DJ Zero, 03:00 Demdike Stare, 02:15 Dominick Fernow, 01:14 The Haxan Cloak, 00:30 Prurient, 23:00 DJ Fra, 23:30 Angel Molina, 22:00 Pional, 21:00 Ciutadella (Els vermuts del Primavera) John Wizards, 15:00

Heineken Stage !!!, 02:00 Sacramento dance-punk act !!! (QRO photos) – pronounced “chk chk chk” – were seriously blowing people away a few years ago (QRO live review) with Myth Takes (QRO review), then seemingly disappeared, only to come back (QRO live review) in 2010 with the somewhat derivative Strange Weather, Isn’t It (QRO review). But the now-New York outfit (QRO live review in New York) came back in force with last year’s great TH!!!ER (QRO review), and the band still knows how to liven it up live & outdoors (QRO live review outdoors), even at festivals (QRO photos at a festival).

Pixies, 22:50 Primavera Sound 2014 has had many reunions of eighties and nineties greats, but the band that set the alt-reunion standard was the Pixies (QRO live review). The group had some of the strongest records of those two decades, like 1989’s Doolittle (QRO twentieth anniversary live review) and songs such as “Gouge Away” (QRO video) & “Nimrod’s Son” (QRO video), but broke up just before alternative music got successful. The members went on to various other projects, most notably singer/guitarist Black Francis reversing & Anglicizing his name into ‘Frank Black’ (real name: Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV) for his solo career, and singer/bassist Kim Deal teaming up with her sister as The Breeders for the very successful Last Splash (QRO twentieth anniversary live review). But the hatchet between those two was buried in 2004, when Frank/Francis, Deal, guitarist Joey Santiago, and drummer David Lovering reunited at Coachella – and began this century/millennium’s alt-reunion tradition. Admittedly, the reunion was strictly a nostalgia one (QRO live review), as the Pixies didn’t make new music, just toured the old (QRO live review), while Frank continued to put out solo work (albeit back under his Francis name – QRO live review) and Deal reunited with her sister for the unimpressive Mountain Battles (QRO review). But eventually both dams burst: out came the new song “Bagboy”, and out went Deal (again), to spend full-time in Breeders (including Primavera last year – QRO photos). The Pixies recruited first Kim Shattuck to pick up the bass & female vocals for tour (QRO live review), then Paz Lenchantin, and come back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) behind their first new album in over twenty years, Indie Cindy.

HAIM, 20:30 Sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim, along with drummer Dash Hutton (QRO photos at a festival), only started putting out music last year, but have already been turning heads (QRO photos), thanks to great single “Don’t Save Me” – and come to Primavera (QRO photos earlier in 2014) after last year’s debut full-length, Days Are Gone (QRO review).

Also: John Grant, 18:30 – QRO photos

Heineken Hidden Stage Hamilton Leithauser, 21:30 The ‘wise old men’ of the Brooklyn indie scene have long been The Walkmen (QRO live review), who virtually invented it. They were such staples that, of course, they had to go on a “extreme hiatus” last year, with various members starting various other projects. Frontman/singer Hamilton Leithauser has stepped into solo shoes with May solo release Black Hours (QRO mp3 review). He’s no stranger to Primavera Sound, having played it with The Walkmen in 2011 (QRO photos).

The Wedding Present, 19:15 An Anglo-punk band (QRO photos at a festival) that’s never quite got its due, The Wedding Present (QRO live review) released Valentina (QRO review) in 2012. They come back to Primavera Sound with their full discography, after playing 1991’s Seamonsters at Primavera ’12 (QRO photos), and having played it & prior album Bizarro (QRO live review) around the world (QRO live review). La Botiga Modelo de Respuesta Polar, 12:00

Martini (Els vermuts del Primavera) Majical Cloudz, 20:55 Grimes (QRO live review) collaborator Devon Welsh has been making his own name in his Montreal duo with Matthew Otto, Majical Cloudz. Also: La Sera, 14:30 Coriolá, 13:30

Pitchfork Stage Pional, 04:00 Madrid producer/remixer Miguel Barros, a.k.a. Pional, comes to Primavera Sound for the second time in three years.

Factory Floor, 03:00 The U.K. noise-core outfit Factory Floor (QRO photos at a festival) supposedly rewards on further listens, if you can get that far.

Oso Leone, 01:40 From just off the shore in the Mediterranean island of Mallorca comes Oso Leone.

Deafheaven, 00:10 Deafheaven expand on the black metal sound with elements of post-metal and even shoegaze.

The War On Drugs, 22:40 Claimed to be “Best New Music” by Pitchfork for their 2011 album, Slave Ambient, The War On Drugs are often known for the jauntily confections of atmospheric guitars and rolling drums (QRO live review). The Philly outfit (QRO photos) later saw member Kurt Vile spin-off for his own successful career (QRO live review), and just followed up Slave with March’s Lost In the Dream (QRO mp3 review). They come back to Primavera Sound for a second time.

Also: FKA Twigs, 21:30 Speedy Ortiz, 20:15 Joana Serrat, 19:00 Mas Ysa, 17:45

Ray-Ban Stage Laurent Garnier, 04:00 Jagwar Ma, 03:05 At the wee hours of the morning is the perfect time for the psych-dance of Jagwar Ma (QRO live review).

Darkside, 01:00 Electronic musician Nicolas Jaar & multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington (QRO photos) combine as Darkside.

Dr. John and The Nite Trippers, 20:40 The doctor is in the house at New Orleans’ own master of the boogie woogie rock ‘n’ roll, Dr. John (QRO photos), comes to Primavera Sound, who’s done everything from bring Madri Gras and medicine shows to the psychedelic stage in the seventies to last May’s receiving of an honorary doctorate of in fine arts from Tulane (making him, as the university president joked, “Dr. Dr. John”).

Drive-By Truckers, 18:40 The Suthron, ‘three-axe attack’ of Drive-By Truckers (QRO photos at a festival) comes from the backcountry of Alabama & Georgia to Spain. They’ve kept strong since the 2007 departure of Jason Isbell (QRO photos at a festival), in 2008 with the charting Brighter Than Creation’s Dark, and even higher with 2010’s The Big To-Do and the following year’s Go-Go Boots (QRO review). Also: The Last 3 Lines, 17:00

Ray-Ban Unplugged Stage Astro, 23:30 Wolf Eyes, 22:30 Folavril, 19:30

Sony Stage The National, 00:20 Cincinnati-by-way-of-Brooklyn’s The National (QRO photos outdoors) hit it big in 2007 with Boxer (QRO review) and tracks like “Fake Empire”, “Mistaken For Strangers”, and “Apartment Story” (QRO video) – and again in 2008 with the Virginia EP (QRO review), but that just presaged 2011’s High Violet (QRO review), which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts (QRO expanded edition review). An impressive and much-in-demand act (QRO live review), they’re fitting in nicely as even festival headliner (QRO photos headlining a festival) or curator (QRO photos curating a festival), like at London’s All Tomorrow’s Parties in 2012 (QRO photos). Blown up to the point that New York Times Magazine ran a feature on them (QRO spotlight on) & Obama used (a family-friendly) bit of “Mr. November” (QRO video at a festival) as a campaign song, The National (QRO photos at a festival) returned from an hiatus last year to take North America by storm (QRO photos headlining a festival) behind Trouble Will Find Me (QRO review), after having done so in Europe (QRO photos in Europe), the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival), the European festival circuit (QRO photos at a European festival), Canada (QRO photos at a festival in Canada), Boston (QRO photos at a festival in Boston) & their own Brooklyn (QRO photos in Brooklyn). They look to keep it going (QRO photos in 2014), headlining Primavera Sound again (QRO photos at Primavera ‘11).

Slowdive, 21:40 Shoegaze was always at its biggest in Britain in acts like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive, whose members spun off into various other projects in the nineties (including Mojave 3 – QRO photos), but this year announced a reunion.

Jenny Lewis, 19:25 If you like alternative music in the twenty-first century, chances are you already know Jenny Lewis (QRO photos). The former child star came to the music scene co-fronting Los Angeles’ Rilo Kiley (QRO album review) in the prior decade (QRO photos), before going solo with Rabbit Fur Coat and 2008’s Acid Tongue (QRO review). In 2010 she teamed up with boyfriend Jonathan Rice as Jenny & Johnny (QRO photos at a festival) for I’m Having Fun Now (QRO review). Last year, she reprised one of her many guest vocalist roles (others have included with Elvis Costello & Conor Oberst – QRO live review together) on the reunion tour of indietronica all-stars Postal Service (QRO photos – who played Primavera last year) behind the tenth anniversary edition of the ultra-acclaimed Give Up (QRO review). For Primavera Sound, however, she comes to shine all on her own (QRO photos solo at a festival), in the run-up to July’s The Voyager. Also: León Benavente, 17:40

Sony Club PS14 Templeton, 20:00 Kokoshca, 20:45 M a j e s t a d, 19:15 Animic, 18:30 SEÑORES, 17:45 Murciano Total, 17:00

Vice Stage Wolf Eyes, 04:00 From post-industrial Detroit comes the post-industrial sound of Wolf Eyes.

Jesu, 02:35 Following the break-up of his metal act Godflesh, Justin Broadrick took the name of the last song of the last Godflesh record and forged the post-metal act Jesu, who come to Primavera Sound for a second time.

Kvelertak, 01:15 Kvelertak leaven their Norwegian black metal with punk and rock.

The Growlers, 23:45 From Dana Point in California, The Growlers (QRO photos at a festival) mix major effects with sixties psychedelic rock to make ‘Beach Goth’.

Lee Ranaldo & The Dust, 22:25 Widely regarded as one of, if not the greatest guitarist in indie-rock, Lee Ranaldo has been perhaps the greatest member of one of, if not the great bands in indie-rock, Sonic Youth (QRO live review). From the group’s start in New York’s no-wave sub-culture in the early eighties, late eighties acclaim on Daydream Nation (QRO live review), through grunge-era breakthrough a decade later, from their wildly experimental outings, like last year’s soundtrack to the film Simon Werner a Disparu (QRO soundtrack review), to 2009’s last studio record, The Eternal (QRO review), Ranaldo has been maestro of Sonic Youth. In 2011, Youth singer/guitarist Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon announced they were divorcing after twenty-seven years of marriage, and Sonic Youth’s future remains uncertain, with no new material or concerts planned – but Ranaldo hasn’t stayed still, releasing his latest solo record, Between the Times and Tides, in 2012, and playing Primavera Sound that year & this.

The Twilight Sad, 21:05 Another less-than-cheery band at Primavera, this four-piece from Glasgow plays a dark, moody, but also restrained and powerful, post-rock (QRO live review). But the sad summer break tones of albums No One Can Ever Know (QRO review), Forget the Night Ahead (QRO review), and Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters (QRO review) is sure to reach fans even on the sunny shores of the Mediterranean (QRO photos outdoors at a festival).

Also: Refree, 19:55 Astro, 18:40

SATURDAY, MAY 16th

ATP Stage Cut Copy, 03:30 The international electro-dance scene has seriously touched Down Under, and one of the biggest acts coming out of Australia these days is Melbourne’s Cut Copy (QRO live review). Breaking through in 2007 with the acclaimed In Ghost Colours (QRO review), Cut Copy (QRO photos outdoors) followed that up in 2011 with Zonoscope (QRO review). While some think it was a step down, no one can argue that their live show is anything less than electric (QRO live review). They come to Primavera behind last year’s Free Your Mind.

Mogwai, 01:00 There are a few icons in post-rock, such as Explosions In the Sky (QRO live review) and Mogwai. The Scottish outfit has done everything from a live DVD, Burning (QRO photos at a festival) to soundtracking Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (QRO review – though that was before the French football star did his illegal head-butt in the World Cup). 2011 awesomely titled Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will (QRO review) was a major comeback after the disappointing The Hawk Is Howling (QRO review), though this year’s Rave Tapes (QRO review) seemed overdone. But it’s still a much in-demand tour (QRO live review) that comes back to Primavera (QRO photos at Primavera ‘11) for a third time (QRO photos from earlier in May).

Godspeed You! Black Emperor, 21:50 Post-rock is littered with seminal acts, but none, none is more important and acclaimed as Godspeed You! Black Emperor. The Montreal ensemble have done everything from curate numerous All Tomorrow’s Parties festivals around the world (QRO photo at an ATP) to working with Grant Hart (QRO interview) on Hot Wax (QRO review). They come back to Primavera off of 2012’s ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend.

Superchunk, 19:20 At this point, Superchunk (QRO live review) are better known for what they did when not playing – founding the little indie label-made-big Merge Records, home to artists such as The Arcade Fire (QRO live review), Spoon (see below) and She & Him (QRO live review). But the North Carolina natives started Merge for their work as influential nineties alt-punk act Superchunk (QRO photos at Merge showcase), and have come back as good as ever, both on the road (QRO live review), including festivals (QRO photos at a festival), and with 2010’s Majesty Shredding (QRO review) & “Learned To Surf” (QRO video), not to mention oldies-and-goodies like “Slack Motherfucker” (QRO video), evoking the time when indie-rock could be fun & skilled, not either/or (QRO photos at a festival). The band (QRO live review) comes back to Primavera behind last year’s I Hate Music (QRO review) – how’s everything at the “Front of the House” (QRO video)? Also: Hebronix, 17:40

Auditori Rockdelux The Mark Eitzel Ordeal, 20:50 Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld, 19:25 Kronos Quartet, 17:30 – QRO live review Sílvia Pérez Cruz & Raül Fernandez Miró, 16:00

Bowers & Wilkins + Boiler Room Dani R. Baughman, 03:30 Mistakes are OK, 02:30 Mattis With, 01:30 Genius Of Time, 00:30 Marc Piñol, 23:30 New Jackson, 22:45 Dani R. Baughman, 22:00 John Talabot, 21:00

Ciutadella (Els vermuts del Primavera) Speedy Ortiz, 15:30 Beezewax, 14:30 Flamaradas, 13:30

Heineken Stage Foals, 02:10 Oxford, England’s Foals (QRO photos) still haven’t quite shaken off the backhanded compliment label of ‘internet buzz band’, even with 2010’s well-received sophomore release Total Life Forever (QRO review) or last year’s follow-up Holy Fire, but you should really see & judge for yourself (QRO live review) as they come to Primavera Sound on tour (QRO photos from May).

Kendrick Lamar, 23:00 Primavera welcomes a newer hip-hop hit, Kendrick Lamar (QRO photos at a festival), who got notice with his 2010 mixtape, Overly Dedicated, and lived up to the hype (QRO photos at a festival) in 2012 with debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city – he’s got no “Fuckin’ Problems” (QRO video).

Spoon, 20:40 As The Tick would shout, “Spoon!!!” Austin’s Spoon (QRO live review outdoors) has been turning heads in the indie-sphere for a while with their trademark indie-rock, but with 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (QRO review) & 2010’s Transference (QRO review), the group (QRO photos at a festival) has launched into the stratosphere, including headlining at New York’s own ultra-upscale Radio City Music Hall (QRO live review). A festival veteran (QRO photos at a festival), including headlining fests (QRO photos headlining a festival), they come back to Primavera behind word of a new album this year. Three cheers for “The Underdog” (QRO video)!

Also: Jonathan Wilson, 18:30 – QRO photos at a festival

Heineken Hidden Stage The Pizza Underground, 21:15 The unusual Pizza Underground have had an unexpectedly long life. They parody Velvet Underground songs by remaking them about pizza – and are fronted by Macaulay Culkin?!? Yet they’ve lasted far longer than that slice in your refrigerator. La Botiga Él Mató A Un Policía Motorizado, 12:00

Martini (Els vermuts del Primavera) The Twilight Sad, 16:00 Another less-than-cheery band at Primavera, this four-piece from Glasgow plays a dark, moody, but also restrained and powerful, post-rock (QRO live review). But the sad summer break tones of albums No One Can Ever Know (QRO review), Forget the Night Ahead (QRO review), and Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters (QRO review) is sure to reach fans even on the sunny shores of the Mediterranean (QRO photos outdoors at a festival).

Caveman, 15:00 Caveman (QRO photos at a festival) emerged out of one-half of the tricky to pigeonhole Subjects (QRO spotlight on) with last year’s similarly tough to categorize CoCo Beware (QRO review), but have settled down into an interesting haunt with last year’s self-titled follow-up (QRO review). Also: Ceremoney, 14:00 Súper Gegant, 13:00

Pitchfork Stage Daniel Avery, 04:00 Black Lips, 03:00 A band better known for their live show than their records, that’s not just because of the relatively unimpressive recorded material like 2010’s 200 Million Thousand (QRO review) or 2011’s Arabia Mountain (QRO review), but also due to their crazy mishmash of genres and styles on stage (QRO live review). Atlanta’s The Black Lips’ wild live show includes everything from nudity to fireworks – and live animals (QRO photos at a festival). Barcelona should hopefully let the boys let ‘er rip (QRO photos outdoors), but be rest assured their rabidly loyal fan base will still be crying out for more (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), as they come back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) behind their new (and better) Underneath the Rainbow (QRO review).

Ty Segall, 01:30 California’s Ty Segall (QRO photos at a festival) has evolved from his ‘kick in the pants’ early work to a more effortless boot to the fanny these days (QRO photos), where he’s been quite prolific, including Slaughterhouse (QRO review) with his band & Twins solo. He comes back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera ’11) behind last year’s Sleeper.

Blood Orange, 00:00 Dev Hynes (QRO photos) first came up writing for others, such as on Chemical Brothers’ Grammy-winning We Are the Night (QRO review), before forming his own band, Lightspeed Champion (QRO photos), not to mention playing in the short-lived Test Icicles. In recent times, however, he’s focused on his electronic project Blood Orange (QRO live review), with last year’s well-received Cupid Deluxe.

The Dismemberment Plan, 22:30 The Dismemberment Plan (QRO photos at a festival) blasted through around the turn of the millennium with three post-hardcore records, only to break up. But you can’t keep a good Plan down, and the D.C. band reunited two years ago, and last year their first post-reunion record, Uncanney Valley.

Earl Sweatshirt, 21:15 The massive hip-hop collective Odd Future (QRO live review) keeps giving – there’s frontman Tyler, the Creator (QRO album review), R&B star Frank Ocean, and now Earl Sweatshirt (QRO photos at a festival), who’s also worked with the likes of Flying Lotus (QRO live review), in Lotus’ Sealab 2021-inspired alter-ego, Captain Murphy.

Dum Dum Girls, 20:00 One of the multitude of bands that garage ‘it girl’ Frankie Rose played drums in before fronting her own band (QRO photos), the Dum Dum Girls (QRO photos at a festival) combine garage, girl-group, and New Wave for a sound (QRO photos) that does stand out from the pack (QRO photos) – especially live (QRO live review) & in costume (QRO photos at a festival), or on this year’s Too True (QRO review).

Courtney Barnett, 18:45 Melbourne’s Courtney Barnett won fans like Rolling Stone and The New York Times after her CMJ 2013 performance (QRO festival recap), with funny, rambling lyrics and a deadpan delivery. Also: Univers, 17:40

Ray-Ban Stage DJ Coco, 04:35 DJ Coco returns to Primavera Sound for a third year in a row, to close out the Ray-Ban Stage.

Chromeo, 02:25 There are combos and then there are combos: Montreal’s Chromeo (QRO live review) are the electro-funk duo of Dave 1 (David Macklovitch) and P-Thugg (Patrick Gemayel) has been best friends since childhood (QRO live review), billing themselves as, “The only successful Arab/Jewish collaboration since the beginning of time” (but what is their stance on Québécois independence?…). And their electronica works outdoors (QRO photos outdoors), day or night (QRO live review), even at a festival (QRO photos at a festival). They come to Primavera Sound (QRO photos from April) after the release of their new White Women (QRO preview show live review).

Also: Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, 23:55 Caetano Veloso, 20:25 Islands, 18:25 – QRO album review Jupiter Lion, 17:00 Ray-Ban Unplugged Stage Islands, 23:30 – QRO album review La Sera, 21:00 Fuckin’ Bollocks, 19:30

Sony Stage Nine Inch Nails, 00:30 The most successful and well-known industrial band ever, Trent Reznor’s Nine Inch Nails (QRO photos) are legends in quality as well. The group was loud & angry in debut Pretty Hate Machine and “Head Like a Hole” before grunge was a ‘thing’, and has kept up that spirit ever since. Yes, they inspired countless imitators, but NIN themselves never fell into a Downward Spiral. The iconic nineties act managed to stay relevant in the new century/millennium with such creations as the inspired underground viral alternate reality game/marketing campaign Year Zero, but went into hiatus in 2009 while Reznor worked on other projects, such as the Oscar-winning score for The Social Network (and American version of Girl With a Dragon Tattoo), work on Dave Grohl’s Sound City documentary (QRO soundtrack review) and …Like Clockwork (QRO review) by Queens of the Stone Age (see above), plus new group How To Destroy Angels (QRO album review). But the unholy Nine Inch Nails has rise again, with last year’s excellent Hesitation Marks (QRO review). Be sure to catch NIN at Primavera Sound, as it’s an experience you will never forget, guaranteed.

Volcano Choir, 21:50 We all know Justin Vernon as Bon Iver (QRO live review) – though QRO knew him when he was the touring guitarist for The Rosebuds (QRO photos), but the man has a million other projects, like funky GAYNGS (QRO album review), rock Shouting Matches (QRO album review), and his more ambient Volcano Choir (QRO live review), who come to Primavera Sound behind last year’s Repave (QRO review).

Television, 19:30 From nineteen seventies rock scene that produced everyone from The Ramones to The Talking Heads, Television defined its auteur edge in guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd and debut Marquee Moon. They broke up in 1978, with sporadic reunions since then, until Lloyd’s health issues forced him to retire after a 2007 show at Central Park SummerStage (QRO venue review). However, Verlaine, drummer Billy Ficca, bassist Fred Smith, and new guitarist Jimmy Rip have kept on going, with a new album rumored. They come back to Primavera to play Marquee Moon. Also: Mishima, 17:40

Sony Club PS14 Bananas, 20:45 Juventud Juché, 20:00 Perro, 19:15 Sangre, 18:30 Will Spector y Los Fatus, 17:00 OHIOS, 17:45

Vice Stage Za!, 04:00 Cold Cave, 02:35 Philadelphia synth-pop outfit Cold Cave (QRO live review) have the wind at their backs, coming to Primavera Sound in the run-up to the release of Sunflower.

Helen Love, 01:05 Welcome the Welsh bubblegum pop of Helen Love!

Cloud Nothings, 23:35 Young Dylan Baldi (QRO photos) throws back to music older than he as Cloud Nothings (QRO live review) with 2012’s Attack On Memory (QRO review) and this year’s Here and Nowhere Else (QRO review), and brings his power-pop back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival).

Connan Mockasin, 22:05 From far off New Zealand comes the psychedelic pop of Connan Mockasin.

Hospitality, 20:50 A favorite in Brooklyn, Amber Papini’s Hospitality (QRO photos at a festival in Brooklyn) are quickly getting known further afield (QRO photos at a festival), thanks to 2012’s charming Hospitality (QRO review).

Also: Boogarins, 19:35 Belako, 18:25 La Sera, 17:20

SUNDAY, JUNE 1st

Apolo Dave P, 03:20 Chromeo, 02:10 There are combos and then there are combos: Montreal’s Chromeo (QRO live review) are the electro-funk duo of Dave 1 (David Macklovitch) and P-Thugg (Patrick Gemayel) has been best friends since childhood (QRO live review), billing themselves as, “The only successful Arab/Jewish collaboration since the beginning of time” (but what is their stance on Québécois independence?…). And their electronica works outdoors (QRO photos outdoors), day or night (QRO live review), even at a festival (QRO photos at a festival). They come to Primavera Sound (QRO photos from April) after the release of their new White Women (QRO preview show live review).

Ty Segall, 00:40 California’s Ty Segall (QRO photos at a festival) has evolved from his ‘kick in the pants’ early work to a more effortless boot to the fanny these days (QRO photos), where he’s been quite prolific, including Slaughterhouse (QRO review) with his band & Twins solo. He comes to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a European festival) behind last year’s Sleeper.

Cloud Nothings, 23:20 Young Dylan Baldi (QRO photos) throws back to music older than he as Cloud Nothings (QRO live review) with 2012’s Attack On Memory (QRO review) and this year’s Here and Nowhere Else, and brings his power-pop back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival). Also: Vàlius, 22:20

BARTS Angel Olsen, 23:00 Juana Molina, 21:50 Juana Molina’s family fled their native Argentina after the 1976 military coup for Paris, and though they returned with democracy, Molina (QRO photos outdoors) now combines the bossanova of a Parisian songstress with the guile of a Pampas diva.

Grouper, 20:45 Liz Harris’ ambient solo project (QRO photos at a festival). A prolific musician of avant-garde style and dreamy vocals. Also: Joana Serrat, 19:40

Ciutadella (Els vermuts del Primavera) Boogarins, 16:00 Hospitality, 15:00 – QRO album review Caustic Roll Dave, 14:00

La [2] de Apolo No More Lies, 01:00 Fuckin’ Bollocks, 23:55 Cuello, 22:50

La Botiga M a j e s t a d, 12:30 Martini (Els vermuts del Primavera) Dum Dum Girls, 16:30 One of the multitude of bands that garage ‘it girl’ Frankie Rose played drums in before fronting her own band (QRO photos), the Dum Dum Girls (QRO photos at a festival) combine garage, girl-group, and New Wave for a sound (QRO photos) that does stand out from the pack (QRO photos) – especially live (QRO live review) & in costume (QRO photos at a festival), or on this year’s Too True (QRO review). Also: The Mark Eitzel Ordeal, 15:30 Berlinist, 14:30 Renaldo & Clara, 13:30

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4th

La Casa Encendida Oso Leone From just off the shore in the Mediterranean island of Mallorca comes Oso Leone.

Standstill Barcelona post-hardcore act Standstill play Primavera Sound for a third time.

Darkside Electronic musician Nicolas Jaar & multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington (QRO photos) combine as Darkside.