Primavera Sound 2017 Preview

Hands down, one of the best festivals in the world is Barcelona’s Primavera Sound (along with its satellite festival the following weekend in Oporto, Portugal). It manages to combine choice artistic acts with big-name names (and choice artistic big-names), from local Catalans to around the world. The city festival portion has been going on all May, and the big main Parc del Fòrum festival happens Wednesday-Saturday, May 31st to June 3rd:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31st

Primavera Stage Saint Etienne, 22:00 – 23:15 Former music journalists Bob Stanly and Paul Wiggs teamed up with singer Sarah Cracknell to be a major force in London’s indie-dance scene in the early nineties, and have stayed a force for near three decades now. They play Primavera Sound for their third time.
Local Natives, 20:30 – 21:30 Silver Lake’s Local Natives (QRO photos at a festival) have been riding the alt-country/folk wave, but seem to be doing it better than most, charting in 2010 with debut Gorilla Manor and 2012’s Hummingbird (QRO review), moving up to headliner tours (QRO live review), and well-received on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival), including old England (QRO photos at an English festival). They come back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Optimus Primavera Sound ’12) after last year’s release of their latest, Sunlit Youth (QRO review).
Also: Gordi, 19:15 – 20:00 7 Notas 7 Colores, 18:00 – 18:50 Anímic, 17:00 – 17:35
Heineken Hidden Stage Dancefloor Meditations, 21:00 – 22:30

THURSDAY, JUNE 1st

Heineken Stage Aphex Twin, 01:20 – 03:00 The festival season is still about ‘big gets’, and Primavera Sound hooked a big one in the return of Aphex Twin (QRO photos at a festival). The seminal electronic musician helped birth the likes of acid techno in the nineties, before going into inactivity that was stopped by 2014’s Syro, Grammy winner for Best Dance/Electronic Album.
Bon Iver, 22:20 – 23:50 Man, have things ever blown up for Justin Vernon – a.k.a. Bon Iver (QRO photos). QRO can remember when he was just the touring guitarist (QRO photos) for The Rosebuds (QRO spotlight on), but after a well-received appearance at CMJ 2007 (QRO recap), he signed to Jagjaguwar and released his stripped solo debut For Emma, Forever Ago (QRO review) – and the rest was history (including an early career ’08 Primavera Sound appearance). He appeared on just about every TV show you can throw a stick at, including being interviewed by Stephen Colbert & being mock-portrayed by Justin Timberlake on Saturday Night Live (QRO Music on Late Night TV). He’s even worked with Kanye! After playing to massive crowds (QRO live review) while touring 2011’s self-titled follow-up (QRO review), which earned him the Grammy for Best Alternative Album and Best New Artist (and leading legions of J. Cole twitter fans to ask, “Who the fuck is ‘Bunny Bear’?”…), Vernon set aside the ‘Bon Iver’ moniker for other work/names, like Volcano Choir (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’14), The Shouting Matches (QRO album review), and GAYNGS (QRO album review). But last year he returned, with 22, A Million (QRO review) – and even more acclaim…
Miguel, 20:00 – 21:00 Miguel Jontel Pimental (QRO photos at a festival) rose from his 2010 underperforming sleeper hit debut All I Want Is You and its label’s dissolution to acclaim with 2012’s Kaleidoscope Dream and last year’s Wildheart, incorporating R&B, funk, hip-hop, rock (QRO photos), and more like a latter-day Prince.
Also: Kevin Morby, 18:15 – 19:00 – QRO photos at a festival
Mango Stage Slayer, 00:00 – 01:10 Primavera Sound takes metal to the next level with the iconic Slayer (QRO photos at a festival). Well into their fourth decade, Slayer has been the definition of thrash since the concept began, from brutal axe work to brutal cover art – and pounding the walls of Yankee Stadium as one of the ‘The Big Four’ (QRO review) of metal, with Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. In 2013, the band hit some hard times, first firing long-time drummer Dave Lombardo, then seeing charter guitarist Jeff Hanneman die. But nothing can slay The Slayer (QRO photos at a festival), who released Repentless last year (including material from Hanneman before his death).
Solange, 21:10 – 22:10 While originally known as being little sister to Beyoncé (and her fight with her brother-in-law Jay-Z, captured on an elevator camera), Solange Knowles (QRO photos outdoors at a festival) has pipes (QRO photos headlining a festival) and stage presence all her own, as she’s more than proved (QRO photos at a festival), like with last year’s A Seat At the Table. Solange returns to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) – though one has to wonder if she’ll actually perform, as she just cancelled her appearance at the prior weekend’s Boston Calling (and fellow ’17 multiple festival canceler Frank Ocean has already canceled his Primavera set…). Also: Trángulo de Amor Bizarro, 19:10 – 19:50
Primavera Stage King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, 02:00 – 02:55 They’re only eight albums in, but Australian psych-rock outfit King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (QRO photos at a festival) are finally breaking out.
Death Grips, 23:50 – 00:50 Alt-hip-hop has grown into experimental hip-hop, the next big thing in outfits like Sacramento’s Death Grips (QRO photos at a festival) – who also have a wild stage show more akin to Odd Future (QRO live review). But the big question is whether they’ll even show, as they’re notorious for canceling shows (sometimes without notice), like in 2013 at Lollapalooza (including an after-party, which caused a riot), Osheaga (QRO recap), and FYF Fest (though did appear at Primavera Sound ’13) – but since breaking up and reuniting, they’ve actually been playing shows (QRO photos at a 2016 festival)…
Gojira, 21:35 – 22:30 In the ‘new metal rising’ of recent years, Aquitaine’s Gojira are the old men of the bunch, having been in operation for almost twenty years, but are now only finally getting their due.
Also: This Is Not This Heat, 19:30 – 20:20 Cymbals Eat Guitars, 17:40 – 18:25 – QRO live review
Ray-Ban Stage DJ Tenis, 04:00 – 06:00 Tycho, 03:00 – 03:50 Ambient electronics come back to Treasure Island in the form of Scott Hansen (QRO photos at a festival), a.k.a. Tycho (QRO photos), who is touring (QRO photos) off of last year’s acclaimed Epoch, his follow-up to 2014’s Awake (QRO review).
The Black Angels, 00:55 – 01:55 Austin’s great music scene has many dimensions, but the band that opened up the psychedelic side of the Live Music Capitol of the World is The Black Angels (QRO spotlight on). The group (QRO photos), fronted by Alex Mass (QRO interview), bring the psych-rock of 2013’s Indigo Meadow (QRO review) and 2010’s Phosphene Dream (QRO review) back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), after previously playing America (QRO live review) & Europe (QRO photos at a European festival), not to mention their own Austin psych fest, Levitation (QRO photos at Levitation ’15). They come to Primavera Sound (QRO live review) behind their new Death Song.
The Afghan Whigs, 22:40 – 23:40 Greg Dulli’s soul-influenced rock group The Afghan Whigs (QRO photos at a festival) rocketed out of Cincinnati in the nineties, but broke up the same year Americans learned Afghans weren’t just blankets (with Dulli going on with his Twilight Singers – QRO photos at a festival). But in 2011 not only did the group announce their reunion (QRO photos at a festival), but also a new record, 2014’s beastly return Do the Beast, and subsequent tour (QRO live review). The band returns to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’12) behind this year’s strong In Spades (QRO review) and tour (QRO photos).
Broken Social Scene, 20:30 – 21:25 Since being part of the indie-rock ‘Canadian Invasion’ over a decade ago, Toronto’s Broken Social Scene (QRO live review outdoors) have also become one of the most sought-after festival bands (QRO photos at a festival) in the alternative music arena (QRO spotlight on), whether indoors at industry showcases (QRO photos at a festival) – including the at home in Toronto (QRO photos at a Toronto festival) or outdoors at more traditional fests (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), to the point where they’re headlining (QRO photos headlining a festival). Fronted by singer/guitarists Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning (QRO interview), this giant collective includes The Apostle of Hustle (QRO spotlight on), Andrew Whiteman (QRO interview), musical mad scientist Charles Spearin (QRO interview) of Do Make Say Think (QRO photos at a festival), Justin Peroff of Eight and a Half (QRO live review), and a rotating female vocalist spot that’s included Emily Haines (QRO solo album review) of Metric (QRO live review), Leslie Feist (QRO live review), Elizabeth Powell (QRO interview) of Land of Talk (QRO spotlight on), and more. While the previous releases were ‘BSS Presents:’ albums focused on Drew (Spirit If… – QRO review) and Canning (Something For All of Us… – QRO review), 2010’s Forgiveness Rock Record (QRO review) was a return to the Broken Social Scene (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), and their live show (QRO live review outdoors) has included everything from Forgiveness songs like “Meet Me In the Basement” (QRO video) Spearin’s fascinating Happiness Project (QRO review) to the old ‘hits’ like “K.C. Accidental” (QRO video) and “Fire Eyed Boy” (QRO video) – as well as numerous guest stars (QRO photos). 2017 looks to be a big year for the band (QRO photos at a festival), with the new Hug of Thunder coming out in June, a packed touring schedule (QRO photos), and more – including more on stage, as there’s gonna be tons for the guest-packed new album (QRO photos at a festival), as they return to Primavera Sound for the first time in over a decade.
Also: Mishima, 18:30 – 19:20 Soledad Vélez, 17:00 – 17:35
Pitchfork Stage Pinegrove, 04:05 – 04:50 New Jersey indie-rock outfit Pinegrove comes to play twice (see below) at Primavera Sound.
Converge, 02:20 – 03:10 Salem’s Converge (QRO photos) have brought together punk & metal into the metalcore witch’s brew since the early nineties, finding themselves on major punk label Epitaph with All We Love We Leave Behind, and now come to Primavera Sound (QRO photos).
S U R V I V E, 00:20 – 01:10 Austin synthwave outfit S U R V I V E (QRO photos at a festival) recently found big success with their soundtrack for Netflix’s Stranger Things, so catch them in the Upside-Down of Primavera Sound.
BADBADNOTGOOD, 22:35 – 23:25 The Toronto trio BADBADNOTGOOD (QRO photos at a Toronto festival) are known for incorporating hip-hop into their music, and have collaborated with the Odd Future (QRO live review) likes of Tyler, the Creator (QRO album review) and Frank Ocean (who was supposed to playing Primavera ’17), and most recently the one-and-only Ghostface Killah (QRO photos together at a festival).
Glass Animals, 20:55 – 21:40 Out of Oxford and discovered by Adele’s producer, Glass Animals (QRO photos) bring their more mixed indie (QRO photos outdoors) on last year’s sophomore release How To Be a Human Being to Primavera Sound.
Also: Alexandra Savior, 19:15 – 20:00 Aries, 17:40 – 18:20
Adidas Originals Stage Skinny Puppy, 03:15 – 04:00 One thing that Primavera Sound is very good at is reintroducing foundational musical acts to fans of the genre they helped create. Vancouver’s Skinny Puppy helped found the electro-industrial sound way back in the early eighties, fusing elements of various sounds – and doing sampling long before it was cool (or easy). They broke up in 1995, reunited in 2003, and come to Primavera Sound.
The Damned, 01:15 – 02:15 Before there was metal, before there was punk, before there was goth, there was The Damned (QRO photos at a festival). Starting all the way back in 1976, the English act’s gothic-punk style has birthed more than one genre, but these OGs (QRO photos at a festival) are still going strong forty years later. Most recently guitarist Captain Sensible was injured, but the band kept on going, with Sensible playing his “throne” – a porcelain toilet…
Also: Kate Tempest, 23:30 – 00:15 – QRO photos at a festival The Molochs, 21:45 – 22:30 Julia Jacklin, 20:05 – 20:50 NOTS, 18:25 – 19:10 Kokoshca, 17:00 – 17:35
Auditori Rockdelux The Zombies, 21:00 – 22:00 The iconic Zombies (QRO photos at a festival) pre-date even George Romero’s original Night of the Living Dead. The British pop group (QRO photos outdoors) have been a band for more than fifty years (and do look it – QRO photos), for whom it is always the “Time of the Season”. They come to Primavera Sound to play the 50th anniversary of their seminal Odessey and Oracle.
Also: Eliza Soares, 19:20 – 20:30 Annette Peacock, 17:30 – 18:30 Nikki Lane, 16:00 – 17:00 – QRO photos at a festival
Night Pro Stage Tired Lion, 04:00 – 04:40 Entropia, 03:00 – 03:40 Skegss, 02:00 – 02:40 Hanba!, 01:00 – 01:40 Gold Class, 00:00 – 00:40 Miss Garrison, 23:00 – 23:40 Joel Sarakula, 22:00 – 22:40 Persian Pelican, 21:00 – 21:40 De Mónaco, 20:00 – 20:40 Adelaida, 19:00 – 19:40 Jaaa!, 18:00 – 18:40 Marley Bloo, 17:00 – 17:40
Heineken Hidden Stage Aldous Harding, 20:30 – 21:15 New Zealand’s self-described “gothic folk” singer Aldous Harding comes all the way to Barcelona behind this year’s sophomore release, Party.
Jens Lekman, 18:00 – 18:45 The witty, melancholic, and idiosyncratic Swede Jens Lekman (QRO photos at a festival) returns to Primavera Sound, behind this year’s Life Will See You Now.
Firestone Stage Pinegrove, 16:25 – 16:55 New Jersey indie-rock outfit Pinegrove comes to play twice (see above) at Primavera Sound.
Bacardí Live Stage Bicep Live, 04:30 – 05:30 Henrik Schwarz, 02:45 – 04:15 Fatima Yamaha, 01:30 – 02:30 Moscoman Live Band, 00:15 – 01:15 Lord of the Isles Live, 23:00 – 00:00 Vox Low, 21:50 – 22:45 Romare, 20:40 – 21:35 No Zu, 19:30 – 20:25 Innercut, 18:30 – 19:15
Desperados Club feat. Bowers & Wilkins Sound System Ben UFO, 04:00 – 05:30 Worldwide spinner Ben UFO touches down in Barcelona.
Pearson Sound, 02:30 – 04:00 David Kennedy, a.k.a. Pearson Sound, comes from London to Primavera Sound.
Joy Orbison, 01:00 – 02:30 London garage/dubstep DJ/producer Joy Orbison comes to Barcelona’s Primavera Sound.
Also: Matrixxman, 23:30 – 01:00 Aurora Halal, 22:00 – 23:30 Pender Street Steppers, 20:30 – 22:00 Youandewan, 19:00 – 20:30 Moscoman, 18:00 – 19:00 Alexis Taylor, 17:00 – 18:00 Jackmaster, 15:30 – 17:00 Kiasmos, 14:00 – 15:30 Discos Paradiso Crew, 12:00 – 14:00
Mango House Stage Nikki Lane, 19:30 – QRO photos at a festival

FRIDAY, JUNE 2nd

Heineken Stage The xx, 02:00 – 03:00 One-third of The xx (see right below), Jamie xx has also been making his own (first) name in DJing & production circles, especially at festivals like Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’12).
The xx, 23:10 – 00:40 Almost overnight, south London’s The xx (QRO photos) went from little known to massive acclaim. Even before debut record xx (QRO review) actually came out, the dark, post-punk revival act was garnering lots of attention (QRO photos at a festival). They quickly jumped from opening (QRO live review) to headlining, as they were overshadowing the headliners. They also saw Baria Qureshi depart (QRO photos with her), leaving them a three-piece (QRO photos at a festival), Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim, and Jamie Smith (who’s become famed DJ in his own right as Jamie xx – see right above). Certainly subdued, they are much better suited for nighttime (QRO photos at a festival) than at chattering rock clubs (QRO video), but have found a way to make it work outdoors (QRO live review outdoors) and at festivals far and wide (QRO photos at a festival). The group (QRO photos) comes back to Primavera Sound for a third time (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ‘12) behind this year’s I See You (QRO review) and big tour (QRO live review of U.K. tour kick-off), following 2012’s Coexist (QRO review).
The Growlers, 20:45 – 21:40 From Dana Point in California, The Growlers (QRO photos at a festival) mix major effects with sixties psychedelic rock to make ‘Beach Goth’, as they return to the beaches of Catalonia for Primavera Sound. Also: Belako, 19:00 – 19:40
Mango Stage Run the Jewels, 00:45 – 01:55 El-P blew up the Brooklyn rap scene with 2013’s Cancer 4 Cure (QRO review of release party), and brought about his team-up with Killer Mike (QRO photos at a festival) for 2012’s ‘Into the Wild’ tour. Mike & P have deepened that connection (QRO photos at a festival), working together as Run the Jewels (QRO photos at a festival) for two critically acclaimed records, most recently 2015’s Run the Jewels 2 and this year’s critically- and commercially-acclaimed Run the Jewels 3. It’s been really enjoyable watching this duo just love life as they get bigger & bigger (QRO photos from this year), as they come to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival).
Mac DeMarco, 21:50 – 23:05 Some artists toil in obscurity for years, even decades, but Mac DeMarco (QRO photos at a festival) hit success when he was barely old enough to drink (and loves to party, even on stage – QRO photos). His latest, This Old Dog, just came out, and it & a reputation for wild live shows (QRO photos at a festival) bring him back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at NOS Primavera Sound ’15).
Whitney, 19:50 – 20:35 Shortly after Max Kakacek & Julien Ehrlich’s young Smith Westerns (QRO photos at a festival) broke up, the pair formed their new outfit, Whitney (QRO photos at a festival). And they’ve certainly grown up, as debut Light Upon the Lake was one of the best records of last year (QRO Top Albums of 2016).
Primavera Stage Front 242, 01:50 – 02:50 Another influential early electronic act that helped birth the sound comes to Primavera Sound: Belgium’s Front 242.
The Make-Up, 23:30 – 00:30 Ladies & gentlemen, The Make-Up (QRO photos at a festival)! Out of the ashes of the seminal D.C. hardcore act Nation of Ulysses came that Gospel Yeah Yeah sound, a mix of punk, garage, soul, and liberation theology that brought rock ‘n’ roll to communal epiphany, fronted by singer Ian Svenonius and including guitarist James Canty (now of Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – QRO photos at a festival). The Make-Up broke-up in early 2000 (or rather, just as NOU became The Make-Up, The Make-up rearranged and were reincarnated as Weird War, and now Svenonius’ Chain & The Gang – QRO photos), but this year reunited (QRO photos – cue the NOU reunion rumors…).
Descendents, 21:30 – 22:30 Amid the plethora of indie reunions in the twenty-first century, one of the most welcome was that of Los Angeles’ own Descendents (QRO photos at a festival). One of the seminal punk bands of the eighties, singer/research biochemist Milo Aukerman left the group in 1987, with which the rest of the Descendents (QRO photos at a festival) recruited a new singer and became ALL, but Aukerman returned in 1995. The group went on hiatus again in 2004, but 2010 saw them return, again – so go see where today’s punk is Descended from (QRO photos), as they play Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival).
Sinkane, 19:20 – 20:10 Sudanese born Ahmed Gallab, a.k.a. Sinkane (QRO photos), has had a very busy fall ‘012, playing seemingly every CMJ showcase in October (QRO photos at CMJ festival) – even the CMJ line-up announcement party before that (QRO live review) – and put out his debut full-length, Mars. Since then he’s been getting bigger & bigger, such as running the Atomic Bomb! Band (QRO photos at a festival) playing the music of Nigerian electro-funk legend William Onyeabor, releasing 2014’s Mean Love and this year’s Live & Livin’ It – oh, and playing Primavera Sound three times (see below). Also: Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, 17:40 – 18:25
Ray-Ban Stage Talaboman, 04:05 – 06:00 Flying Lotus, 02:55 – 03:55 While Flying Lotus (QRO photos outdoors) might be best known for making the music in Adult Swim’s bumpers (that text right before a show on the cable channel), he’s also an accomplished producer, as well as making & playing music in his own right (QRO live review) – not to mention his alter ego, Sealab 2021-inspired Captain Murphy.
Sleaford Mods, 00:40 – 01:40 Catch QRO Nottingham favorites Sleaford Mods (QRO album review) as they return to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival).
Also: Arab Strap, 22:35 – 23:25 Sampha, 20:25 – 21:25 Vaadat Charigim, 18:30 – 19:15 El Petit de Cal Eril, 17:00 – 17:35
Pitchfork Stage Priest, 04:00 – 04:45 Operators, 01:55 – 02:55 Dan Boeckner came to fame in Toronto indie-collective hit Wolf Parade (QRO live review), but when they went on hiatus (though have since returned – QRO photos at a festival), he’s brought his indie sound to the (now-defunct) husband-and-wife duo Handsome Furs (QRO photos), alt-supergroup Divine Fits (QRO album review), and now Operators (QRO photos at a festival), who debuted at 2014 Canadian Music Week (QRO photos of debut), and come to Primavera Sound behind last year’s Blue Wave (QRO review).
Swans, 22:50 – 00:50 An influential act that’s been a regular at avant-garde European festivals (QRO photos at Optimus Primavera Sound ‘13) is New York’s post-punk pioneers Swans (QRO live review). Fronted Michael Gira (QRO solo photos at Primavera ‘12), Swans land back in Barcelona (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’13) behind last year’s The Glowing Man, and this tour will be the last with this stable line-up.
Also: William Tyler, 21:10 – 21:55 – QRO photos Mitski, 19:15 – 20:00 It’s Not Not, 17:40 – 18:20
Adidas Originals Stage Wand, 03:00 – 03:55 Berri Txarrak, 01:00 – 01:45 Fufano, 22:00 – 22:45 Shellac, 20:05 – 21:05 – QRO photos at Primavera Sound ‘11 Iosonouncane, 18:25 – 19:10 Rebuig, 17:00 – 17:35
Auditori Rockdelux The Magnetic Fields, 20:15 – 22:00 The prolific and creative alt-pop mastermind Stephen Merritt (QRO photos) has been putting together amazing record after amazing record with his band Magnetic Fields (QRO live review), such as his ‘no-synth’ trilogy of records, i, Distortion (QRO review), and 2010’s Realism (QRO review). He comes to Primavera Sound (QRO photos) behind his recent 50 Song Memoir, a musical autobiography with a song for each year of his life.
Also: Phurpa, 18:30 – 19:20 Kepa Junkera & Los Hermanos Cubero, 17:00 – 18:00
Night Pro Stage Fingerfinger, 03:00 – 04:00 Liniker e os Caramelows, 02:00 – 02:40 Astronaut Project, 01:00 – 01:40 Marrakesh, 00:00 – 00:40 Patients, 23:00 – 23:40 Billy Carter, 22:00 – 22:40 Diealright, 21:00 – 21:40 Leyya, 20:00 – 20:40 Shijo X, 19:00 – 19:40 Tiê, 18:00 – 18:40 Inzul, 17:00 – 17:40
Heineken Hidden Stage The Radio Dept., 19:30 – 20:15 Since the success of their long-awaited third LP, Clinging to a Scheme (QRO review), released in 2010, the shy men of The Radio Dept. came out of their shell – just enough to tour sold out shows and give unexpected amount of interviews (QRO interview). The Swedish trio with stage fright seems unlikely candidate for big festivals like Primavera Sound, but they are playing the Heineken ‘Hidden Stage’ – but will they be able to hide behind fogs and low lighting (QRO live review)? The Radio Dept.’s intelligent gorgeous pop songs about love, politics, resentment, and paranoia, sung by Johan Duncanson’s soft vocals might get lost in a festival. No matter, they’ll always get our respect as one of the truest indie bands, as well as being honest and nice (QRO live review). They (QRO spotlight on) return to Primavera Sound behind last year’s Running Out of Love.
Also: Lawrence Arabia, 17:00 – 17:45
Firestone Stage Sinkane, 16:25 – 16:55 Sudanese born Ahmed Gallab, a.k.a. Sinkane (QRO photos), has had a very busy fall ‘012, playing seemingly every CMJ showcase in October (QRO photos at CMJ festival) – even the CMJ line-up announcement party before that (QRO live review) – and put out his debut full-length, Mars. Since then he’s been getting bigger & bigger, such as running the Atomic Bomb! Band (QRO photos at a festival) playing the music of Nigerian electro-funk legend William Onyeabor, releasing 2014’s Mean Love and this year’s Live & Livin’ It – oh, and playing Primavera Sound three times (see above & below).
Bacardí Live Stage Kink Live, 04:00 – 05:30 Tuff City Kids, 02:45 – 03:45 Polar Inertia, 01:30 – 02:30 Abdulla Rashim, 00:15 – 01:15 HVOB, 23:00 – 00:00 Marie Davidson, 21:45 – 22:45
Desperados Club feat. Bowers & Wilkins Sound System Dixon, 04:00 – 05:30 Berlin’s Dixon comes to Barcelona’s Primavera Sound.
Also: Âme, 02:30 – 04:00 Michael Mayer, 01:00 – 02:30 Kornél Kovács, 23:30 – 01:00 Avalon Emerson, 22:00 – 23:30 Huerco S., 20:30 – 22:00 Lord of the Isles, 19:00 – 20:30 Autarkic, 17:30 – 19:00 Ian Pooley, 16:30 – 17:30 Fairmont, 15:30 – 16:30 Patrick Codenys, 14:30 – 15:30 Sinkane (DJ set), 13:30 – 14:30 – QRO photos Shelby Grey, 12:00 – 13:30
Mango House Stage Weyes Blood, 19:30

SATURDAY, JUNE 3rd

Heineken Stage Skepta, 01:55 – 02:55 Primavera Sound definitely needs some U.K. grime rap, and it recruited one of the key figures in the scene, north London’s Skepta (QRO photos at a festival), who’s coming off of winning the Mercury Prize last year for his fourth studio album, Konnichiwa.
Grace Jones, 22:35 – 23:50 The one, the only, the Grace Jones. The model became a major force in seventies dance & new wave (as well as appearing in some eighties action movies & dating Dolph Lundgren). Her gender-bending style has influenced everyone from Annie Lennox to Lorde to Lady Gaga.
Van Morrison, 19:45 – 21:15 One of the greatest songs of Northern Ireland, Van Morrison (or ‘Van the Man’, ‘The Belfast Cowboy’, ‘Sir Van Morrison OBE’) came up in the sixties folk scene, but his lengthy discography has seen him drawn from R&B to traditional Celtic sounds. You already knew songs like “Brown Eyed Girl” – see Van Morrison in full at Primavera Sound.
Also: Songhoy Blues, 18:00 – 18:45
Mango Stage Arcade Fire, 00:00 – 01:40 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 in 2014 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 also so is the live show (QRO photos at a festival), so catch them headlining Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’14).
Metronomy, 21:25 – 22:25 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 last year’s Summer 08, returning to Primavera Sound.
Pond, 18:50 – 19:35 The new wave of psychedelic rock comes back to Primavera Sound from the other side of the globe in Perth’s Pond (QRO photos at home in Perth).
Primavera Stage Japandroids, 01:50 – 02:50 Vancouver garage-rock guitar-and-drums (QRO photos at a festival) outfit Japandroids have moved from festivals up north to those in America (QRO photos at a festival) & Europe (QRO photos in Europe), and are one of the best guitar & drums duos out there (QRO photos at a festival), even at festivals (QRO photos at a festival). They come back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’12) behind this year’s Near To the Wild Heart of Life (QRO review) and tour (QRO live review) – the follow-up to their breakthrough Celebration Rock (QRO review), which was QRO’s Album of 2012.
Sleep, 23:50 – 00:45 During the nineties, San Jose death metal outfit Sleep was the definition of stoner rock. Label issues forced their break-up by the end of the decade/century/millennium, but in 2009 Sleep came back, and have kept on going (QRO photos at a festival), returning to Primavera Sound.
Teenage Fanclub, 21:30 – 22:30 Out of Glasgow’s C86 scene in the late eighties, Teenage Fanclub (QRO live review) are like a later-day Big Star – an alt-pop act (QRO photos at a festival) who were great at just the right time, but never found huge mainstream success, only to be widely appreciated much later on. 1991’s Bandwagonesque famously beat out the likes of Nirvana’s Nevermind and R.E.M.’s Out of Time for Spin’s ‘Album of the Year’ – a decision that still holds up to this day. What’s more, they’re still around (QRO photos), and come back to Primavera Sound proper (QRO photos at Primavera Club ’10) for the first time in a decade-and-a-half.
Royal Trux, 19:25 – 20:20 Seminal nineties alt-rock duo Royal Trux always drew from the dirtier side of things before their 2011 break-up. Neil Michael Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema went on to do their own things, Hagerty as The Howling Hex and Herrema as RTX, but recently reunited, and now come to Primavera Sound.
Also: Weyes Blood, 17:40 – 18:25
Ray-Ban Stage DJ Coco, 05:05 – 06:00 DJ Coco returns to Primavera Sound for a seventh year in a row, to once again close out the Ray-Ban Stage.
!!!, 04:15 – 05:05 Sacramento dance-punk act !!! (QRO photos) – pronounced “chk chk chk” – were seriously blowing people away a handful of 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 2013’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), or even overseas (QRO photos at NOS Primavera Sound ’14). 2015 saw the strong As If (QRO review), and now Shake the Shudder – and a return to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’14).
Wild Beasts, 00:50 – 01:45 From the Lake District in northern England is the dream-pop Wild Beasts (QRO live review), who are neither wild nor beastly (QRO photos at a festival). They return to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’12).
Seu Jorge, 22:35 – 23:45 Rio de Janeiro’s Seu Jorge renewed his home country’s samba for a whole new generation. He’s been praised by Anglophone artists far and wide, but comes to Primavera Sound to praise one of his praisers, the late David Bowie, with his Life Aquatic tribute.
Angel Olsen, 20:25 – 21:25 Angel Olsen (QRO photos at a festival) began her career singing back up for Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & The Cairo Gang (QRO live review in Barcelona), but has since found her own beautiful voice. Also: Junun featuring Shye Ben Tzur & The Rajasthan Express, 18:30 – 19:20 Melange, 17:00 – 17:35
Pitchfork Stage Mannequin Pussy, 04:10 – 04:55 Smash your body on the punk rock of Philadelphia’s Mannequin Pussy.
Preoccupations, 02:30 – 03:15 Containing half of Calgary’s defunct Women (QRO photos at a festival), Preoccupations, the band formerly known as Viet Cong (QRO photos at a festival) bring a “labyrinthine post-punk” to Primavera Sound.
King Krule, 00:20 – 01:20 Arch Marshall – a.k.a. Zoo Kid, a.k.a. King Krule (QRO photos at a festival) – has been riding a lot of buzz.
Hamilton Leithauser, 22:35 – 23:25 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 an “extreme hiatus” in 2013, with various members starting various other projects. Frontman/singer Hamilton Leithauser has stepped into solo shoes with 2014 solo release Black Hours (QRO review), though he’s since done team-ups, 2015’s Dear God with The Walkmen’s Paul Maroon, and last year’s I Had a Dream That You Were Mine with Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmangli. He’s no stranger to Primavera Sound, having played it with The Walkmen in 2011 (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ‘11) and 2012 (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’12), and on his own in 2014.
Also: Joey Purp, 20:55 – 21:40 – QRO live review Swet Shop Boys, 19:15 – 20:00 Museless, 17:40 – 18:20
Adidas Originals Stage Clubz, 03:20 – 04:05 Against Me!, 01:25 – 02:25 Northern Florida’s given the world a lot of punk, some of it good, some of it not so much, but on the positive side is Against Me! (QRO photos). Fronted by Tom Gabel (QRO interview), Against Me! (QRO photos) successfully made the jump to major label without losing their edge on 2010’s White Crosses (QRO review). They did make major news in 2012 when Gabel announced that he was transgender, and undergoing the process of transition to becoming a woman, Laura Jane Grace. Yet the group (QRO spotlight on – which also left the majors and started their own label for that year’s Transgender Dysphoria Blues – QRO review) has continued to rock (QRO photos), most recently with last year’s Shape Shift With Me (QRO review), and come to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival).
Also: LVL UP, 23:30 – 00:15 Julie Doiron, 21:45 – 22:30 – QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’13 Jardín de la Croix, 20:05 – 20:50 Agorazein, 18:25 – 19:10 Les Cruet, 17:00 – 17:35
Auditori Rockdelux Alex Cameron, 21:00 – 22:00 Rosalía & Raül Refree, 19:30 – 20:30 The Magnetic Fields, 16:00 – 17:45 – QRO live review
Night Pro Stage Sharman Den, 03:00 – 03:40 G-C, 02:00 – 02:40 Tourista, 01:00 – 01:40 No Metal In This Battle, 00:00 – 00:40 Me & The Plant, 23:00 – 23:40 Prairie WWWW, 22:20 – 22:40 Wrongonyou, 21:00 – 21:40 Aeromoças E Tenistas Russas, 20:00 – 20:40 Bike, 19:00 – 19:40 Riviere, 18:00 – 18:40 Radio 123, 17:00 – 17:40
Heineken Hidden Stage Thurston Moore, 19:30 – 20:15 The center around which the iconic Sonic Youth (QRO live review) largely revolved, Thurston Moore (QRO solo live review) has fashioned a musical legacy like few others, remaining relevant for going on forty years now in punk rock, alt-rock, noise-rock (a style Moore basically helped invent & popularize), and more. While the dissolution of his marriage to bandmate Kim Gordon seems to have spelled the end of Sonic Youth, Moore has kept on going, first in his post-Youth outfit Chelsea Light Moving (QRO photos at a festival) and now in The Thurston Moore Band (QRO photos at a festival) and solo albums like this year’s Rock n Roll Consciousness. Moore returns to Primavera Sound for the second time in three years (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’15) – and umpteen times before with Sonic Youth. Also: Surfin’ Bichos, 17:00 – 17:45
Firestone Stage Jeremy Jay, 16:25 – 16:55 – QRO photos at Primavera ’12
Bacardí Live Stage Recondite, 04:00 – 05:30 Ferenc, 02:45 – 03:45 Weval, 01:30 – 02:30 Gas, 00:15 – 01:15 Huerco S., 23:00 – 00:00 Kelly Lee Owens, 21:45 – 22:45 Autarkic, 20:30 – 21:30 Sau Poler, 19:30 – 20:15 Noga Erez, 18:30 – 19:15
Desperados Club feat. Bowers & Wilkins Sound System DJ Dustin, 03:30 – 05:30 Khidja, 02:30 – 03:30 John Talabot, 00:30 – 02:30 Young Marco, 23:00 – 00:30 Don’t DJ, 22:00 – 23:00 Vladimir Ivkovic, 20:30 – 22:00 JMII, 19:00 – 20:30 Dave P. 18:00 – 19:00 Golden Bug, 17:00 – 18:00 !!! (DJ set), 16:00 – 17:00 – QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’14 Lauer, 15:00 – 16:00 Marvin & Guy, 13:30 – 15:00 Pedro Vian, 12:00 – 13:30
Mango House Stage Nuria Graham, 19:30

For festival website, go here: https://www.primaverasound.com/?lang=en