Name: Primavera Sound 2018

Where: Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona, España

When: 30th May – 2nd June 2018

Headliners: Belle and Sebastian, Björk, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, The War On Drugs, The National, Haim, Arctic Monkeys, Lorde, A$AP Rocky

Also Featuring: Warpaint, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Mount Kimbie, Hinds, Father John Misty, Mogwai, Ty Segall, Beach House, Grizzly Bear, Slowdive, Car Seat Headrest, Ariel Pink, Tom Misch, Rex Orange County and many, many more…

A Brief History: Born in 2001, Primavera Sound has quickly made a name for itself as a festival less concerned with what’s superficially popular, and more with what makes sense – just like Gigslutz!

How To Get There: Flying probs, but major planet points to you if you opt for a train from London to Paris to Barcelona. Totally doable, totally scenic, totally less guilt.

Gigslutz Top Tip: Make like the Spaniards and pace yourself with a siesta, so you may fiesta on into the (seemingly curfew-less) night. Also, suncream.

Memorable Moments: Frank Ocean bailing last minute in 2017, prompting protest t-shirts emblazoned with ‘Fuck Ocean’ and ‘Prank Ocean’.

Did You Know? Primavera Sound has a Portuguese little sister? Meet NOS Primavera.

How To Get Tickets: Thursday and Friday tickets still on sale here, various secure resale tickets here.

Who not to miss:

Belle and Sebastian (30/05 22:15 – 23:45, Apple Music stage)

Having had the pleasure to witness the delight that is tartan trouser ambassador Stuart Murdoch mince around on stage twice before, I am confident that their appearance at Primavera will not disappoint. Belle and Sebastian are true performers having honed an exhaustive and exhilarating live show mixing old and new crowd pleasers with fresh between-song wit. Make sure you get to the front so you can partake in the inevitable stage-invasion finale.

Mount Kimbie (31/05 00:55 – 01:55, Bacardi Live stage)

After a four year absence, the duo are back with their recent album Love What Survives having garnered high praise being dubbed one of the standout LPs of 2017. After collaborating with longtime friend and supporter King Krule on a couple of tracks (check out ‘Blue Train Lines’ if you haven’t already), Archy joined Mount Kimbie on stage in Paris just last year, which ngl, I’m hoping will be a guest appearance to be repeated next week.

Father John Misty (01/06 20:20 – 21:20, SEAT stage)

Gracing Barcelona with his heavenly presence on the day of his divisive new album release, God’s Favourite Customer, Josh Tillman is likely to be on good form. Although new material is said to err on the gloomy side, skimping on the irreverent humour his followers are perhaps used to, I’ll be damned if he doesn’t whip out a few oldies. Afterall, I would like to sing along to ‘Oooooooooh, pour me another drink, and punch me in the face’ pls (‘Nancy From Now On’).

Let’s Eat Grandma (02/06 18:30 – 19:15, Heineken Hidden stage)

Well-established Gigslutz favourites (see here, here and here) promise festival-goers a sublimely trippy 45 minutes. Expect sick tunes and even sicker lyrics, swathes of rapunzel-esque hair and overheard exclamations of ‘they’re so young??’.

Arctic Monkeys (02/06 23:50 – 01:30, Mango stage)

No introduction really needed here, but whether you’re a fan of Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino or – ahem – deem it a nonsensical ego trip devoid of singable riffs, the set is sure to be a moment.

Beach House (02/06 01:55 – 03:05, Apple Music stage)

Playing after Arctic Monkeys on the last day of Primavera, and leaving a decent amount of time to switch stages, it’d be rude not to really. The ‘Lemon Glow’ duo are sure to provide a suitably melancholic and soporific (in a good way) end to the festival – that is, if you’re not intending to stay through until 05:45 when the very last act is tipped to finish up.

The Playlist: