Primavera Sound is one if the coolest festivals going, offering 5 days of alternative music next to the beach in Barcelona in late May and, in some years, early June. The festival is held in the Parc del Fòrum in the Diagonal Mar area of the Sant Martí district
The festival is associated primarily with alternative music rather than mainstream acts, but with an open policy on musical styles. Whereas Barcelona’s other main festival Sonar focuses on electronic sounds such as techno, house, hip hop and drum and bass, at Primavera Sound musical genres include alternative, indie, electronic, pop, hip hop, dance, folk, jazz, metal, and experimental music. No wonder that people travel from all over the world to be in Barcelona and experience this event in the spring sunshine next to the sea. The first festival, held in 2001, happened in the Poble Espanyol Museum on Monjuic and it remained there until 2004 when it outgrew this venue and moved to its current larger premises in the north of the city next to the sea.
By 2010 Primaver Sound had become one of the largest music festivals in Spain, with more than 100,000 revellers in attendance throughout the 5 days.
Some acts that have performed in the past include Sonic Youth, The White Stripes, Primal Scream, New Order, Iggy and the Stooges, Lou Reed, Motörhead, The Smashing Pumpkins, Portishead, My Bloody Valentine and Neil Young. For its tenth anniversary in 2010, Pavement, The Pet Shop Boys and The Pixies headlined. In 2010 the name of the festival changed from the Estrella Damm Primavera Sound but the San Miguel Primavera Sound, reflecting a switch in sponsorship between two Spanish brewery companies.
Confirmed in attendance this year so far are Pulp, Grinderman, The Flaming Lips and The National, and it is sure to be a party ot be remebered. Don’t miss out and book your ticket now!
Where to Stay
Due to its location in the Diagonal Mar area we recommend the Sant Marti and Poblenou beach districts. Public transport runs all night at the weekend but not during the week so for getting home from the party an apartment next to the beach is a good option. The Poblenou Beach building offers 12 Barcelona beach apartments, some with a terrace with a sea view and there is a communal terrace on the roof. Marquet Beach building in the same neighbourhood offers another another 3 fantastic Barcelona beach apartments.
