Primavera Packs A Punch In 2017


Barcelona’s Primavera Sound music festival has long been the standard-bearer for anyone trying to put on a music fest. It continues to fill the lineup with excellent acts across all genres and keeps the party going until the sun comes up with dance and techno music after the headliners finish their sets. This year shall be no different, with another exquisite mixture of rock, hip-hop, electronic, and even country music.

Technically the festival lasts all week, but it kicks off in earnest on Thursday June 1st with a headlining set from Solange. With Beyoncé out for the summer with a pregnancy, her sister finally gets her moment in the spotlight. Seat At The Table was one of 2016’s finest albums so I’m sure her live show is going to be killer.

Also playing Thursday are Bon Iver, Slayer, Broken Social Scene, Pinegrove, and Outlaw Country star Nikki Lane. So you get some idea of the diversity of the lineup with that.

Friday is no joke with Frank Ocean and Run The Jewels both on the bill. This is a day that includes Sampha, the xx, Whitney, Sleaford Mods, Mitski, Mac DeMarco, and Flying Lotus. This day alone is worth the price of a full weekend pass in my opinion.

If you’re a rock fan, Saturday is the day for you. Arcade Fire headlines, but you also get sets from Against Me!, Japandroids, Priests, and old school jams with Van Morrison. Plus Angel Olsen, Skepta, and Seu Jorge playing his Bowie covers from The Life Aquatic.

Things quiet down on Sunday, with previous day’s performers hitting different stages for a second set. Japandroids, Shellac, !!!, Sleaford Mods, and Mannequin Pussy will all be featured on this final day. However, the unofficial end of Primavera is DJ Coco’s early morning set as the sun comes up over the ocean.

Just looking at pictures from previous years, Primavera seems like the greatest weekend ever. Having been to Barcelona last year for vacation, I can’t think of a more beautiful city to play host to some of the best music you could hope to hear.

While the full festival passes have sold out already, individual day tickets can be found here. They’re 80 euro until they run out or the festival happens. If you want to buy at the gate (assuming they aren’t sold out) it’s 90 euro or around 100 US dollars.

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