We’re heading to Primavera Sound for the very first time this year, and to say we’re excited would be an understatement. Of course, we’ll be right there with you dancing to Chappell Roan’s Hot to Go!, and we can’t wait to catch Troye Sivan and Charli XCX bringing the Sweat tour to Europe (iconic behaviour).
But beyond the glittering pop moments, Primavera is always full of unexpected gems and unforgettable sets from all corners of the lineup. So here are five artists we’re really looking forward to seeing this year. Whether you’re already a fan or just curious, we promise they’re worth adding to your schedule.
Been Stellar
We’ve talked here before about our love for Been Stellar. We’ve seen them live a bunch and are buzzing for their Barcelona set. Their sound is a magnetic collision of post-punk grit, alt-rock swagger, and dreamy shoegaze textures. It’s raw. It’s loud. It’s hypnotic. And live, it hits like a wave. Been Stellar are the real deal, and this Primavera slot is about to prove it to anyone who isn’t already obsessed.
Black Country, New Road
Post-rock theatre kids with a heart of gold and a flair for the dramatic. Since reinventing themselves post-Isaac Wood, their sets have become communal, emotionally expansive performances like watching a coming-of-age film in real-time, but with flutes and fiddles. Their latest live material is cinematic, bittersweet, and surprisingly tender. You’ll cry. You’ll sway. You’ll wonder why you haven’t joined an experimental ensemble with your most talented friends. It’s one of Primavera’s most emotionally rich bookings.
High Vis
High Vis are your guys for anyone craving something loud, fast, and full of grit. London’s hardcore-punk-spiritual-healers have carved out a sound that’s both feral and full of feeling. Their latest work channels frustration and hope with an intensity that feels custom-built for festival catharsis. Think fists-in-the-air energy with a surprising amount of heart. Come for the chaos, stay for the collective release.
CMAT
If Dolly Parton and Father John Misty had an Irish child raised on pop culture and heartbreak, you might end up with CMAT. She’s hilarious, devastating, theatrical, and more than a little unhinged; in other words, she’s utterly perfect for Primavera. Her live shows are part hoedown, part therapy session, and all heart. Expect cowboy hats, glitter tears, and more quotable lyrics than your Notes app can handle. Bring your feelings. Bring a friend. It’s going to be a ride.
Fontaines D.C.
Okay, they’re not exactly a hidden gem; we’ve seen Fontaines D.C. many times on their Romance tour, and every single show has been incredible. But this will be our first time seeing them in an outdoor festival setting, and we’re so ready for it. Their sound is dark, urgent, and full of tension, and there’s something about Grian Chatten’s intense, brooding, magnetic presence that we just know will hit differently under the Barcelona sky. If the new Romance material feels massive in an arena, imagine it echoing across the Fòrum.
See you under the Barcelona sky. Stay hydrated, wear something you can dance in, and prepare to feel everything. Primavera 2025 is going to be one for the books.