Today, the annual festival Primavera Sound kicks off in Barcelona, Spain – a five day event that has expanded in recent years with the addition of a conference arm – Primavera Pro – which has welcomed a group of emerging artists to the festival, alongside the big name headliners we can expect to see at any major event like this. And out of this expanse of artists, comes a group not to be missed.
Here’s our picks for the 2016 Primavera Festival…
The Avalanches
When? June 3rd, Ray-Ban Stage @ 2:50am & June 5th, Apolo Venue @ 1:05am
This will be one of the first shows the Australian group will have played in years, with a new live ensemble expected to debut long awaited new songs alongside reworking of classic material. We can’t wait to see how it all comes together, in advance of the lineup’s Australian debut at Splendour in the Grass.
Faris Badwan (The Horrors)
When? June 4th, Bowers & Wilkins Sound System @ 5:00pm
The Horrors are a band we haven’t heard much from in recent years, so we’re excited to see what the frontman has been up to. Most recently (and notably), he’s been releasing music as Cats Eyes alongside Canadian musician Rachel Zeffira and this June, they celebrate the release of their third record together in Treasure House.
Radiohead
When? June 3rd, Heineken Stage @ 10:15pm
In one of their first shows since their 2012 Australian tour – in between which Thom Yorke toured the world (though sadly skipping Australia) as Atoms For Peace – Radiohead serve as the unquestionable headliners of this event. Promising a two plus hour show and a diverse set, fans will be most excited as it will be one of their first chances to hear their internet-breaking new album A Moon Shaped Pool live.
Air
When? June 2nd, H&M Stage @ 9:10pm.
Another band who have been quiet in recent years, it’s exciting to see the French duo back on the road.
Animal Collective
When? June 3rd, Ray-Ban Stage @ 12:35am
If their recent appearance on Stephen Colbert is anything to go by, their new material (taken from the album Painting With, released in February) will be a phenomenally entertaining live. They’re a band who split opinions for many – you either love or hate them – but we air highly on the former. Weird, wacky and wonderful are only a few adjectives we would use to describe an Animal Collective set, and we can’t wait.
Dungen
When? June 3rd, H&M Stage @ 6:00pm
One of the world’s most underrated bands (in our humble opinion) are never to be missed, and a festival appearance like this is sure to be an enjoyable occasion – and likely a sonically hypnotic one, too.
Sigur Rós
When? June 4th, H&M Stage @ Midnight
Continuing our theme of artists we haven’t heard enough from in recent years, Iceland’s Sigur Rós have returned from hiatus promising a new album. Primavera serves as one of the first shows to tease that material and having seen them both in festival and intimate show format in the past, it’s fair to assume they won’t disappoint.
These seven artists are only the tip of the iceberg in what is unquestionably one of the best festival lineups of the year, anywhere in the world. In addition to The Avalanches, there is a slew of amazing Australian talent set to play including the legendary Robert Forster, psych heroes Tame Impala and emerging superstars Gang of Youths and Methyl Ethyl.
You can see the full list of Aussies set to play the event HERE. Stay tuned throughout the week for live updates from the festival. For more information about the festival, visit primaverasound.es. You can also watch the festival unfold live daily via clicking into the livestream, HERE!
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