- Five stages of indie and alternative music
- Same big name acts mixed with lesser-known bands
- Site is out of the center and there is no campsite
- Very little grass to chill out on between gigs
- Poor selection of food stalls
- Timetable isn't for everyone
- Primavera Sound
- Alternative/indie music festival
- Parc del Forum, Barcelona
- End of May/early June.
- Mainstream acts such as Rufus Wainwright, Vampire Weekend, De la Soul, Devo, Dinosaur Jnr and Portishead
- Less famous bands such as Deerhunter, Caribou and Les Savy Fav.
The venue itself has many good and bad points. The views of the sea from the festival site are excellent. The giant solar panel that dominates the site adds a quirkiness to the setting.
The five stages are spaced out enough to generally avoid any noise pollution, although during the quiet Portishead gig it was possible to hear noisy Boris 100 meters away.
The downside to the festival is that it is virtually all concrete, which makes chilling out less relaxing than at other festivals. And the absence of a campsite means that once you're at the festival site, you have to stay there - unless you're lucky enough to get accommodation near to the festival site (unlikely as it is out of the touristy area).
The timetable of the festival is typically Spanish and might not appeal to everyone - the festival starts in the evening and finishes at around 5.30am. Gulp.
What about the music? This is all a matter of opinion, but I wouldn't say that many of the acts could be considered 'festival' material. Many of the bands would have been great in a small, low-key venue, but they don't all translate to a big open-air venue. However, my traveling companions loved it and wouldn't agree with me.
