Primavera Sound 2020: first impressions

2019 is over. Lists are over... and here it comes (finally) the heavily anticipated announcement of the Primavera Sound's line-up for 2020. Gone is the tricky label #NewNormal, so let's welcome the #BestFestivalForever... Or it is, really?

At first glimpse, it seems way better than last year. Yes, the traditional eclecticism of the Festival turned into its Coachellisation and the embrace of the so-called urban music is here to stay. But there's plenty to see, with an exciting 90s revival (Pavement, Yo La Tengo, Dinosaur Jr., Kathleen Hannah and Ms Gordon altogether) and some wonderful surprises, particularly Mavis Staples and Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, absolute musts of the Festival for this Blog. Add "surefires" among the headliners, such as The National, or among the 'small class', such as Jessica Pratt or Fontaines D.C. and the result is an edition that, at least on paper, looks happily stacked.

But is there something really special, something that really blows our minds and justifies the promotiong of the Festival as very special edition (20th anniversary of Primavera)? Not to our knowledge/tastes, aside from the aforementioned hero from Hull, to be honest. Moreover, there's the feeling of several painful misses that could have elevated this edition to undeniably one of the best. If you allow us to name a few: Sleater-Kinney, Sharon Van Etten, Julia Jacklin, Vivian Girls, Tiny Ruins (or any of the wonders from 'down under', a familiar, recurring pain), Better Oblivion Community Center, Wilco, Crowded House or Tindersticks (bands that are playing in Barcelona this year for the price of your mortgage)... Plus, there's the fear too much Mordor awaits us compared with the latest, pretty comfortable editions, and that some acts we really want to see, namely Jesus and Mary Chain or Rolling Blackouts are playing on Wednesday. And even more scary than the previous: overlaps could be particularly devastating this edition.

But there's no point wasting much time complaining about what could have been... As, we insist, the overall first impression is pretty positive, taking in mind, as always, there's always something to discover among the vast 'middle and small class' offer to add to 'our' Festival routes. Having said that, let's honour the Blog’s tradition: here’s our rough paint & colour' version of 2020 line-up with the bands we are willing to see. Suggestions are welcomed and as always, a lot to listen ahead!!

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR PRIMAVERA SOUND 2020

3 June - 7 June

100 GECS •33EMYBW •ABBATH •AEAEA •AFRODEUTSCHE •AGORAPHOBIA •AKASHA KID •AMAIA •AMELIE LENS •ANIKA KUNST •ARTHUR VEROCAI •AURORA HALAL •AUTOMATIC •BAD BUNNY •BAD GYAL •BAUHAUS •BEACH BUNNY •BECK •BEN UFO •BICEP LIVE •BIG FREEDIA •BIGKLIT •BIKINI KILL •BILL CALLAHAN •BISCUIT •BLACK COFFEE •BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD •BLACK LIPS •BLACK MIDI •BLAWAN •BLOND:ISH •BOY HARSHER •BRITTANY HOWARD •BROCKHAMPTON •BUTTECHNO •C. TANGANA •CALL SUPER B2B SHANTI CELESTE •CARIBOU •CARISTA •CARLA •CAROLINA DURANTE •CAROLINE POLACHEK •CHAOS IN THE CBD •CHAQUETA DE CHÁNDAL •CHROMATICS •CIGARETTES AFTER SEX •COMA •CRUDO PIMENTO •CUBAN DOLL •D. TIFFANY •DAVE P. •DESIRE •DIE KATAPULT •DIIV •DINOSAUR JR. •DISCLOSURE •DJ COCO •DJ FRA •DJ HARVEY •DJ KELVIN •DJ LIZZ •DJ NARANJITO •DJ PLAYERO •DJ SHADOW •DJ WHOISDUALIPA •DUKI •EARL SWEATSHIRT •EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN •ELA MINUS •FATIMA YAMAHA •FAYE WEBSTER •FERRAN PALAU •FLOATING POINTS •FONTAINES D.C. •FREDDIE GIBBS & MADLIB •GABBER MODUS OPERANDI •GABRIELA RICHARDSON •GEORGIA •GIRL IN RED •HANNAH DIAMOND •HEALTH •HÉCTOR OAKS •HELADO NEGRO •HICKEYS •HONEY DIJON •IGGY POP •IOSONOUNCANE •ISABELLA •IVY BARKAKATI •JAKUZI •JAMILA WOODS •JANE FITZ •JAWBOX •JEFF MILLS •JEHNNY BETH •JENNY HVAL •JESSICA PRATT •JOAN SHELLEY •JOHN T. GAST •JOSEY REBELLE •JOYHAUSER •JULIETTA FERRARI DJ •KACEY MUSGRAVES •KAMMA & MASALO •KAMPIRE & DECAY PRESENT BUNU BOP •KANO •KHALED •KILLAVESI •KIM GORDON •KIM PETRAS •KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD •KING KRULE •KING PRINCESS •KOFFEE •KURT VILE •L DEVINE •LA FAVI •LANA DEL REY •LAS LIGAS MENORES •LAWRENCE LE DOUX •LE HAMMOND INFERNO •LE NAIS •LEON VYNEHALL •LES AMAZONES D'AFRIQUE •LES SAVY FAV •LIGHTNING BOLT •LILA TEQUILA •LINGUA IGNOTA •LITTLE SIMZ •LORENA ÁLVAREZ •LORENZO SENNI •LORY D •LOS HIJOS DE YAYO •LUNA KI •MABEL •MAGGIE ROGERS •MANEL •MANO LE TOUGH •MARIA DEL MAR BONET •MARIAH THE SCIENTIST •MARTHA •MASSIVE ATTACK •MAVIS STAPLES •MECÁNICA POPULAR •METRONOMY •MICA LEVI •MIKE DRED •NAPALM DEATH •ÑEJO •NINA KRAVIZ •NOGA EREZ •NORSICAA •NÚRIA GRAHAM •OKLOU •OM •OSCAR MULERO •OTOBOKE BEAVER •PABLLO VITTAR •PALOMA MAMI •PANTOCRATOR •PARK HYE-JIN •PAUL HEATON & JACQUI ABBOTT •PAVEMENT •PELADA •PENELOPE ISLES •PILE •PNL •RAPSODY •RICHARD DAWSON •RINA SAWAYAMA •ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER •ROMBO •ROOSEVELT •SAMPA THE GREAT •SANGRE NUEVA •SHAME •SHELLAC •SHERELLE •SHYGIRL •SIDE CHICK •SONIDO LA CHANGA •SOTO ASA •SPECIAL REQUEST •SQUAREPUSHER •SQUID (UK) •STELLAR OM SOURCE •SUDAN ARCHIVES •TEKI LATEX •TETO PRETO •THE CARETAKER •THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN •THE NATIONAL •THE STROKES •TIM BURGESS •TOPS •TRAPANI •TROPICAL FUCK STORM •TYLER, THE CREATOR •UNIFORMS •VAGINA DENTATA ORGAN •VIOLET •VTSS •WEYES BLOOD •WILLIAM DJOKO •YO LA TENGO •YOUNG DOLPH •YOUNG MARCO •YOUNG THUG •YUNG BEEF & PABLO CHILL-E •ZA •ZOZO

Green- Definetely seeing them. Absolute must
Orange- If there are no overlaps (in particular with the green ones), I'll be there for sure
Yellow- Curious about it/on "research mode"/nice option if there's no overlap

Primavera Sound 2019: my draft schedule

As the tradition obliges, here comes one of our favourite Blog posts! Because the Primavera Sound Festival timetables' were disclosed yesterday, so the time of making our own 'path' trough the line-up has already arrived. At first sight, it doesn't look as promising as previous editions (at least for us, but that's something we knew already, sign of the times and "new normalities") but we know that one of the charms of this festival is to discover new bands... just seems that in this 2019 more than ever!

Wednesday,  May 29th, 
18:00 Melenas (Primavera)
19:10 Hatchie (Primavera)

Just two names we are really interested in for the opening day (sorry, not feeling Big Red Machine that much) but attractive enough to be there for the afternoon...

Thursday, May 30th, Parc del Fòrum
17:00 Julien Baker (Auditori Rockdelux)
18:10 Soccer Mommy (Ray-Ban)
19:00 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks (Primavera)
21:50 Courtney Barnett (Pull & Bear)
23:15 Interpol (Seat) 
Pretty complete and straightforward day... that could have been wonderful without the clashes, a couple of them being simply terrible: Mr. Malkmus overlaps with half of Big Thief's gig, and Interpol with Guided by Voices. So, though questions to be resolved ahead. Mac DeMarco before Courtney? Mr. Pollard or a band that has returned with a very solid record after a couple of letdowns? Or even considering watching Pylon Reenacment society (also clashing with the aforementioned two)?)

Friday, May 31st, Parc del Fòrum
16:45 Lucy Dacus (Ray-Ban)
17:35 Snail Mail (Primavera)
18:30 Birkins feat Ken Stringfellow play Ziggy Stardust (Your Heineken Stage)
19:35 Kurt Vile & The Violators (Pull & Bear)
22:30 Suede (Ray-Ban)
23:50 Low (Primavera)
00:55 Kate Tempest (Ray-Ban)
Another pretty full day (why is Lucy Dacus starting that early?) with only a gap between Kurt Vile and Suede (right now leaning towards Liz Phair). Not bad on paper...

Saturday, June 1rst, Parc del Fòrum
19:15 Built to Spill (Primavera)
20:15 Me and the Bees play The Breeders (Your Heineken Stage)
22:55 Jarvis Cocker (Ray-Ban)
01:30 Stereolab (Ray-Ban)
If Jarvis doesn't save it (any of you has an idea of what kind of performance will offer to us?) this is a frustrating day. Almost nothing to be excited for until Built to Spill, which overlaps (hope just slightly) with our dear Me and the Bees. There, more emptiness (Drab Majesty?) until the Jarvis' enigma and waiting for Stereolab's time (one of the few must-see of this PS19 for us) with Primal Scream.

Sunday, June 2nd, 
18:20 Filthy Friends (Primavera a la ciutat -Barcelona)
23.30 The Beths (Sala Apolo)
And more frustration to end the Festival. Two big, mandatory acts for us (Peter Buck & Corin Tucker? They should be headliners... ALWAYS), separated by many hours and locations, damn it what a terrible schedule!

Stay tuned for further developments!!

Primavera Sound 2019: first impressions

We're back! Fresh from our break... and surprised with the announcement, almost out of the blue (at least for us, but we are guessing the amount and caliber of certain headliners by certain Festivals within the country might have had something to do) of the Primavera Sound's line-up 2019. So let's dive in...

Labelled as the #NewNormal and heralded as the perfect encounter between the 'state of music', parity and the trademark eclecticism of the Festival, there's a bit to be annoyed for. First, why now? Getting involved in the parity debate looks kind of  'too little, too late'. But hey, better late than never. You are welcome. The worst part, if you ask us, is that there's a feeling of a worrying marketing product created (that video doesn't help) as an excuse to justify a roster that, at first glimpse, lacks some substance and exciting names, replaced by extremely lame (being very polite) and mainstream trends that (product placement alert, product placement alert) behind cool (music genre?) terms such as Urban are eager to sell sneakers, hats, glasses or tracksuits.   

But at the same time, and despite some huge misses that we thought almost granted, like Robert Forster (new album and European tour in Spring), The Chills (one of the records of 2018) and Sharon Van Etten (although I'm very scared of the new album judging by first tunes), there's quite a lot to be excited for, in particular the amazing return of Stereolab, the unexpected gig of Filthy Friends (Primavera, if you are having Peter Buck & Corin Tucker in Barcelona why don't you ask them for more, in any of their multiple incarnations) and the chance of seeing live some of the artists responsible for the best LPs of 2018, like Lucy Dacus or Soccer Mommy.

As always, this is just the Blog's first impression. We are happy it seems this Primavera's edition recovers the traditional vast offer in what regards to the 'middle and small class', so we are certain we are about to 'discover' several proposals to add to 'our' Festival routes. So, all in all, let's honour the Blog’s tradition: here’s our rough paint & colour' version of 2019 line-up with the bands we are willing to see. Suggestions are welcomed and as always, a lot to listen ahead!!

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR PRIMAVERA SOUND 2019

27 May - 2 June

070 Shake • Agoria live • Agost • Aïsha Devi • Albany • Aldous Harding • Aleesha • Alice Phoebe Lou • Alondra Bentley • Ama Lou • Amyl and The Sniffers • Anastasia Kristensen live • Anthony Naples live • Apparat live & dj • Avalon Emerson • Bakar • Batu • Bea Pelea • Beak> • The Beths • BFlecha • Big Red Machine • Big Thief • Bliss Signal • Boy Pablo • Brat Star • Bridget St. John • Built To Spill • Carcass • Cardi B • Cariño • Carly Rae Jepsen • Cate Le Bon • Caterina Barbieri • CHAI • Channel Tres • Charli XCX • Christina Rosenvinge • Christine and The Queens • Clairo • Clara! • Dj Coco • Coucou Chloe • Courtesy • Courtney Barnett • Cuco • CupcakKe • Cupido • Cybotron • Dâm-Funk • Danny Brown • Danny L Harle live • David August • Daymé Arocena • Deerhunter • Demdike Stare • Denis Sulta • Derby Motoreta's Burrito Cachimba • Dirty Projectors • Djrum • Dr. Rubinstein • Drab Majesty • Dream Wife • Ecran Total • Efrim Manuel Menuck • Elena Setién • Empress Of • Epsilove • Erykah Badu • Fantastic Man b2b Tornado Wallace • Filthy Friends • FKA twigs • Flaca • Flohio • Forest Drive West • Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes • Frinda Di Lanco • Fucked Up • Future • Gangsta Boo • Georgia Anne Muldrow • Goa • Goth Boi Clique • Guided By Voices • Haru Nemuri • Hatchie • Helena Hauff • Hieroglyphic Being • Homeshake • Hurricane G feat Tony Touch • Ian Isiah • Iglooghost • IM • Interpol • Isa·bel • Ivy Queen • Izabel • J Balvin • James Blake • Janelle Monáe • Japanese • Jarvis Cocker introducing JARV IS • JASSS • Jawbreaker • Jayda G • Job Jobse • Jon Hassell • Joy Orbison • JPEGMAFIA • Julia Holter • Julien Baker • June of 44 • Jungle • Kali Uchis • Kate Tempest • Kelly Kapøwsky • Kodie Shane • Krystal Klear • Kurt Vile & The Violators • La Goony Chonga • La Zowi • Las Odio • Laurel Halo dj set • Lidia Damunt • Lil Moss • Linn Da Quebrada • Lisabö • Liz Phair • Lizzo • Lndfk • Lolina • Low • Loyle Carner • Lucy Dacus • Mac DeMarco • Mad Miran • Mafalda • The Mani-las • Dj Marcelle • María José Llergo • Maribou State • Marie Davidson • Mark Luva • Melenas • The Messthetics • Midori Takada • Mina • Miya Folick • Modeselektor live • Mow • Mozhgan • Mumdance • Mura Masa • Museless • Mykki Blanco • Myrkur • The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices featuring Lisa Gerrard • Nas • Nathy Peluso • The Necks • Neneh Cherry • Nilüfer Yanya • Nina Kraviz • Nitzer Ebb • Nosedrip • Object Blue • Objekt live & dj • Octo Octa b2b Eris Drew • Odina • Overmono live & dj • Pavvla • Peach • Peggy Gou • Dj Playero • Pond • Primal Scream • Princess Nokia • Pusha T • Putochinomaricón • r.e.a.l. • Retirada! • Richie Hawtin Close • Rico Nasty • Robyn • Róisín Murphy • Rosa Pistola • Rosalía • Dj Rosario & Sama Yax • Roza Terenzi • Rrucculla • Shakti Alliance (Ivy Barkakati, Modet, Vir) • Shellac • Shonen Knife • Sigrid • slowthai • Snail Mail • Soccer Mommy • Solange • Somadamantina • Sons Of Kemet XL • SOPHIE • Steffi • Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks • Stereolab • Sticky M.A. • Stiff Little Fingers • Suede • Dj Supermarkt • Suzanne Ciani • Tame Impala • Tierra Whack • Tim Hecker & Konoyo Ensemble • Tirzah • Tomberlin • Tony Touch & Friends (Don Chezina + Soni WithanEYE) • upsammy • Uzielito Mix • Veronica Vasicka live • Vicky Groovy • Voiski live • Wednesday Campanella • Xols • Yaeji • Ylia • Yung Beef dj set • Yves Tumor full band

Green- Definetely seeing them. Absolute must
Orange- If there are no overlaps (in particular with the green ones), I'll be there for sure
Yellow- Curious about it/on "research mode"/nice option if there's no overlap

Primavera Sound 2018: my draft schedule

Here comes one of our favourite Blog traditions! The timetables of the Primavera Sound Festival 2018 have been disclosed, so it's time to organize our, temptative, very early, work in progress, draft, personal schedule. Unfortunately, at first look (sure some additional bands will be added) it is clear this is the less exciting edition for us, with not too much we are really eager to see, plus some of the (usual) overlaps reducing the options even more. But anyway, while we do some 'research' to complete the routes (one of the most attractive things of Festivals) and keep an eye on the final surprises (that bigger and open hidden stage) here's what our PS 2018 looks like right now. Suggestions are kindly accepted!

Wednesday,  May 30th, Parc del Fòrum
19:00 Javiera Mena (Primavera with Apple Music)
20:00 Spiritualized with orchestra and choir (Auditori RockDelux)
20:55 Wolf Parade (Primavera with Apple Music)
22:15 Belle and Sebastian (Primavera with Apple Music)

Very temptative day, as the only mandatory gig would be Spiritualized. It still hurts that Belle and Sebastian has lost the aforementioned compulsory condition. But it's been a while now...

Thursday, May 31st, Parc del Fòrum
17:40 Vagabon (Primavera with Apple Music)
19:15 The Twilight Sad (Pitchfork)
19:40 Warpaint (Seat)
20:50 The War on Drugs (Mango)
23:00 Amaya Laucirica (Night Pro)
23:35 Fever Ray (Primavera with Apple Music)
23:40 Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds (Mango)
Ok day with not a lot of must-see acts (The War on Drugs and Vagabon) but the additions of The Twilight Sad (although it clashes with Warpaint, first let down the Festival) and recently discovered Amaya Laucirica has made the day worthy. We end pretty early, which it seems is going to be some kind of a trademark of this PS' edition for us...

Friday, June 1st, Parc del Fòrum
16:50 Fontaines D.C. (Day Pro)
17:40 Waxahatchee (Primavera with Apple Music)
19:10 The Breeders (Mango)
20:20 Father John Misty (Seat)
21:30 The National (Mango)
23:30 Charlotte Gainsbourg (Primavera with Apple Music)
00:40 Cigarettes After Sex (Ray-Ban)
03:20 Omni (Adidas Originals)
The most promising day for us, with up to seven acts we are really willing to see, gets seriously jagged because Fontaines D.C. (soon to be featured at the Discoverer series) is only playing at Day Pro (meaning the city centre) and we don't have the superpower of ubiquity yet, and the gap until Omni's gig looks gigantic... Still, from Waxahatchee to Ms. Gainsbourg there's a pretty fine afternoon-evening awaiting us.

Saturday, June 2nd, Parc del Fòrum
17:00 Núria Graham (Ray- Ban)
18:55 Car Seat HeadRest (Mango)
20:10 Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (Adidas Originals)
21:30 Slowdive (Primavera with Apple Music)
22:45 Jay Som (Pitchfork)
23:50 Arctic Monkeys (Mango)
And the last big day is kind of dubious. Excited to see Rolling Blackouts and Slowdive (although we saw them in March in a much smaller venue, so it's hard that a Festival show could beat that experience), and there are some nice options to warm-up and await until the Monkeys gig ends PS 2018 for us... but is that all?

Sunday, June 3rd, 
Tigercats, Waxahatchee and Jay Som could be enough reasons to consider a return to Sunday's, more so if that allows us to making some schedule switches. We'll see...

Stay tuned for further developments!!

Primavera Sound 2018: first impressions

History repeating folks. We have the feeling we could almost copy & paste what we wrote on 2017's Primavera Sound line-up and use it for this year's edition. Just unveiled after what it looks like a filtration/accident, reaching a new low for the Festival in what regards to its announcement. But anyway, that's not what matters at all. Let's focus on the line-up, then.

We know that #PrimaveraUnchained has already being labelled as a terrific one. And don't get us wrong, is pretty impressive and heavy on "big names". But, at least for us, this is kind of another letdown (at first glance, the great thing about PS is what you discover before and at the Festival)
Because the feeling of deja vu is even worse than last year. I mean it's great to have The National, Nick Cave, Father John Misty, even the Monkeys... but that was expected, not surprising at all. And that's where things begin to get slightly dissapointing. The amount of recent 'repeaters' is really considerable, while the first-time band, our discoveries, the 'middle-small' names, usually the key factor that makes PS stand out from the rest, is lacking (we repeat, at first take) looking like we are fated for spending too much time in Mordor this Spring. Where 's Flying Nun and my beloved antipodean bands? No Bats (again)? Fazerdaze? The Courtneys? Where's Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile? Beaches? Also, no Filthy Friends? Eyelids? Weather Station? Alvvays? I could go on forever...

Of course, this is just the Blog's first impression... We are sure we will 'discover' several proposals to add to 'our' Festival routes (Alex Lahey looking good at first listen!). So, honouring the Blog’s tradition, here’s our rough (we don't have the timetables yet) 'paint & colour' version of the line-up with our first impressions on the bands we are willing to see. Too much yellow indeed, right? Sure it will change (suggestions are welcomed)... As always, a lot to listen ahead!!

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR PRIMAVERA SOUND 2018

28 May -3 June

(SANDY) ALEX G • A$AP ROCKY • ABRA• ALEKSI PERÄLÄ • ALEX LAHEY • ALICIA CARRERA • ÂME II ÂME • ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF • ARCA • ARCTIC MONKEYS • ARIEL PINK • ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO • BAD GYAL • BEACH HOUSE • BELLE AND SEBASTIAN • BJÖRK • THE BLACK MADONNA • THE BLAZE • THE BREEDERS • BUFIMAN B2B DJ NORMAL 4 • C. TANGANA • CALL SUPER • CAPULLO DE JÉREZ • CAR SEAT HEADREST • CARPENTER BRUT • CESARE BASILE • CHAMPION • CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG • CHRISTINA ROSENVINGE • CHROMEO • CHVRCHES • CIGARETTES AFTER SEX • CLARO INTELECTO • DJ COCO • CONFIDENCE MAN • THE CRAB APPLES • DAMED SQUAD • DAPHNI • DAVE P. • DEAD CROSS • DEERHUNTER • DEKMANTEL SOUNDSYSTEM • DELOREAN presenta Mikel Laboa • DOBLECAPA • DONATO DOZZY • EL ÚLTIMO VECINO • ESSAIE PAS • EVA GEIST • EZRA FURMAN • F/E/A • FATHER JOHN MISTY • FERMIN MUGURUZA ETA THE SUICIDE OF WESTERN CULTURE • FEVER RAY • FLAT WORMS • FLOATING POINTS Solo Live • FOUR TET • GABRIEL GARZÓN-MONTANO • GANGES • GENIUS OF TIME • GERD JANSON • GRIZZLY BEAR • HAIM • HERE LIES MAN • HINDS • HOLY BOUNCER • HONEY DIJON • HUNEE B2B ANTAL • IBEYI • IDLES • INTANA • THE INTERNET • JAMES HOLDEN & THE ANIMAL SPIRITS • JANE BIRKIN sings Birkin Gainsbourg Symphonic • JAVIERA MENA • JAY SOM • JLIN • JOE GODDARD • JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON • JOHN MAUS • JOHN TALABOT Disco Set • JON HOPKINS • JORJA SMITH • JOSEY REBELLE • KAREN GWYER • KEDR LIVANSKIY • KELELA • KELSEY LU • KERO KERO BONITO • THE KITE STRING TANGLE • KNOX FORTUNE • DJ KOZE • KYLE DIXON & MICHAEL STEIN performing the music of STRANGER THINGS • LA BANDA TRAPERA DEL RÍO • LA BIEN QUERIDA • LEVON VINCENT • LIFT TO EXPERIENCE • LINDSTRØM • LORDE • LYKKE LI • MADLIB • MAJID JORDAN • MALL GRAB • MANO LE TOUGH • MARCEL DETTMAN • MARIA ARNAL I MARCEL BAGÉS • MARINA HERLOP • MARION HARPER • MATTIEL • MAVI PHOENIX • THE MEN • METÁ METÁ • MIGOS • MIKE D Dj set • MOGWAI • MONTERO • MOUNT KIMBIE • MUJERES • NAT SIMONS • THE NATIONAL • NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS • NICK HAKIM • NIGHTCRAWLER • NILS FRAHM • NORTH STATE • NÚRIA GRAHAM • OBLIVIANS • OLYMPIC FLAME • OMNI • ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER • ORPHEU THE WIZARD • OSO LEONE • OUMOU SANGARÉ • PALMBOMEN II • PALMS TRAX • PANDA BEAR • PEGGY GOU • PÉPE • PETER PERRETT • PLAYBACK MARACAS • PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING • PUPUT • DJ PYTHON • RAMZi • REX ORANGE COUNTY • RHYE • ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER • RORY PHILLIPS • ROSS FROM FRIENDS • ROSTAM • THE SEA AND CAKE • DJ SEINFELD • SETH TROXLER Disco Set • SEVDALIZA • SHANTI CELESTE • SHELLAC • SLOWDIVE • SOLAR • SPARKS • SPIRITUALIZED with Orchestra and Choir • STARCRAWLER • SUMAC • SUPERORGANISM • SYLVAN ESSO • TEXXCOCO • THUNDERCAT • TIGERCATS • TOLOUSE LOW TRAX • TOM MISCH • TY SEGALL and The Freedom Band • TYLER, THE CREATOR • UMFANG B2B VOLVOX • UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA • VAGABON • VINCE STAPLES • VRIL • VULK • THE WAR ON DRUGS • WARPAINT • WATAIN • WAXAHATCHEE • DJ WEY • WILLIKENS & IVKOVIC • WOLF PARADE • XAVIER CALVET • YELLOW DAYS • YONAKA • ZA! • ZEAL & ARDOR • THE ZEPHYR BONES • 

Green- Definetely seeing them. Absolute must
Orange- If there are no overlaps (in particular with the green ones), I'll be there for sure
Yellow- Curious about it/on "research mode"/nice option if there's no overlap

Primavera Sound 2017: my draft schedule

Time to honour another Blog tradition! As the timetables of the Primavera Sound Festival 2017 have been unveiled, here's our personal schedule on a first, draft, impression (we are still working on it, and some additional bands could/should be added. Being honest, this isn't the best edition for us, on the contrary. Plus, some overlaps (as usual), are also eroding the choices on a year with some gaps with 'really nothing mandatory to listen'. Time to do some 'research' to complete the routes... but hey, discovering interesting bands is one of the most attractive things of Festivals. Anyway, this is what our PS 2017 looks like right now (we are open to suggestions)!

Tuesday, May 30th, Sala Apolo
20:00 Les Sueques (Sala Apolo)
21:00 Let's Eat Grandma (Sala Apolo)
22:00 Cigarettes After Sex (Sala Apolo)
As we are pretty unsure about Wednesday, why not starting the Festival on Tuesday?

Wednesday,  May 31st, Parc del Fòrum
20:30 Local Natives*
22:00 Saint Etienne*

Still under serious consideration, worth going to the Fòrum for just two gigs that are not exactly our 'cup of tea'?

Thursday, June 1st, Parc del Fòrum
17:00 Kokoshca (Adidas)
18:00 Kevin Morby (Heineken) or Jens Lenkman (Hidden Stage)
19:15 Alexandra Savoir (Pitchfork)
20:05 Julia Jacklin (Adidas)
21:45 The Molochs (Adidas)
22:40 The Afghan Whigs (Ray-Ban)
Pretty comfortable and reasonable day with only two choices to make. We have doubts between see Kevin Morby or Jens Lekman (not an enthusiast of Lekman's last record, but never seen him live, going to be a close call). And maybe The Zombies for The Molochs as last minute change. Also, if we have the day off at work the next day or we really want more music we would stay for Kate Tempest and The Damned.

Friday, June 2nd, Parc del Fòrum
17:00 Lawrence Arabia (Hidden Stage)
19:15 Mitski (Pitchfork)
20:15 The Magnetic Fields* (Auditori)
20:50 Mac Demarco (Heineken)
22:35 Grandaddy (Ray-Ban)
22:50 Swans (Pitchfork)
00:40 Sleaford Mods (Ray-Ban)
Just plain 'meh' day for us. It's a pity we have to decide between Mitski and Whitney on a day with not a lot to see (for our tastes, of course). We have to choose which day are we going to see The Magnetic Fields, as our main concert of Friday or as the earliest gig of the day on Saturday.

Saturday, June 3rd, Parc del Fòrum
16:00 The Magnetic Fields* (Auditori)
17:40 Weyes Blood (Primavera)
19:45 Van Morrison (Heineken)*
21:30 Teenage Fanclub (Primavera Sound)
22:35 Hamilton Leithauser (Pitchfork)
23:30 LVL UP (Adidas)
02:30 Preoccupations (Pitchfork)
Probably our 'biggest' day, but painfully affected with the cruel clash between our beloved Angel Olsen and Van Morrison (really? same time? makes no sense at all). The rest of choices should combine well... Teeenage Fanclub, finally!!!

Sunday, June 4th, 
Huge questions marks also for the closing day. Need to listen!

Primavera Sound 2017: first impressions

No gala, no previous show, no videogame... not even a supposedly cool video on Youtube to mock people while they obsessively await for a rocket to be launched. Nothing. Just a not very remarkable imagery and a countdown at their Facebook page... And here it is! The Primavera Sound Festival 2017's line-up unveiled! Kaboom! Or wait... kaboom?

Because, at first glance, this is sort of a letdown. By far the less impressive line-up of the editions I've been lucky to attend. I never had such a limited number of artists/bands that are a MUST to watch. And there's also an inescapable feeling of deja vu (history repeating) mixed with very few surprises (Teenage Fanclub & Angel Olsen were mandatory, and having seen the latest in a small venue the excitement gets notoriously reduced...). Too much hip-hop, indietronic and electronic acts (don't we have Sonar Festival for that?) for my taste. Where are The Bats? The Julie Ruin/Le Tigre? Filthy Friends? The Decemberists playing 'The Crane Wife'? Rose Elinor Dougall? Novella? I could go on forever...

Needless to say, this is just my opinion... Besides, as it always happens with PS, there's always many names among the "small print" of the line-up worth watching and/or checking, something this year becomes even more obvious and necessary. So, honouring the Blog’s tradition, here’s our traditional rough (we don't have the timetables yet) “paint & colour” version of the line-up with our first impressions on the bands we are willing to see. Looks pretty yellow, right? Sure it will change (suggestions are welcomed)... A lot to listen ahead!!

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR PRIMAVERA SOUND 2017

31 May -4 June

!!! (Chk Chk Chk) •  7 Notas 7 Colores •  Abdullah Rashim •  About Leaving •  The Afghan Whigs •  Against Me! •  Agorazein •  Alex Cameron •  Alexandra Savior •  Alien Tango •  Âme live •  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

Green- Definetely seeing them. Absolute must
Orange- If there are no overlaps (in particular with the green ones), I'll be there for sure
Yellow- Curious about it/on "research mode"/nice option if there's no overlap