Back from the Easter holidays and I think the time has come to start planning for the summer holidays ahead! And if you happen to be a music lover like us, I think that you would find it a good idea to combine your holidays with a real music festival, a festival somewhere abroad that would enable you, with a ticket around 60 euros per day, to choose between 150 bands instead of the 7 or 8 maximum that you will find in domestic events. Our tribute to the summer festivals around Europe starts here, with the presentation of Primavera Sound '09 that takes place in Barcelona at the end of May
Back from the Easter holidays and I think the time has come to start planning for the summer holidays ahead! And if you happen to be a music lover like us, I think that you would find it a good idea to combine your holidays with a real music festival, a festival somewhere abroad that would enable you, with a ticket around 60 euros per day, to choose between 150 bands instead of the 7 or 8 maximum that you will find in domestic events. Our tribute to the summer festivals around Europe starts here, with the presentation of Primavera Sound '09 that takes place in Barcelona at the end of May.
I really don't think it is necessary to advertise the city of Barcelona any more. I'm referring you to the Woody Allen film "Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona" for a cinematic (and funny) look at the majestic sights of the city, and the Supersport channel for the spectacular soccer spectacle offered weekly at Camp Nou. If you are, however, in Barcelona between May 28 and 30 you also have the opportunity to attend one of the best European festivals of alternative music, which takes place in the modern and spacious Parc Del Forum across 6 different stages, with a capacity for each between 3,000 and 25,000. At the beginning of the decade the festival gathered around 20,000 people, but the last 2 events had an attendance close to 60.000.
The big names for 2009 are Neil Young, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine. Deep breath now for this year's line up, in alphabetical order (though I know what some might say: "You had me at Sonic Youth - My Bloody Valentine"!):
A Certain Ratio, A-Track, Alela Diane, Andrew Bird, Angelo Spencer, Aphex Twin, Ariel Pink, Art Brut, Bat For Lashes, Black Lips, Bloc Party, Bowerbirds, Carsick , Cars, Chad VanGaalen, Crystal Antlers, Crystal Stilts, Cuzo, Damien Jurado, Dan Deacon, Dead Meadow, Deerhunter, Dj Mehdi, Dj Rupture, Ebony Bones, El-P, Extra Life, Extraperlo, Ezra Furman & the Harpoons, Fucked Up, Gang Gang Dance, Ghostface Killah, Girls, Herman Dune, Jarvis Cocker, Jason Lytle, Jay Reatard, Jeremy Jay, Jesu, Joe Crepúsculo y Los Destructores, Joe Henry, Karl Blau, Kimya Dawson, Kitty Daisy and Lewis, La Bien Querida, Lemonade, Lightning Bolt, Los Punsetes, Liars, Magik Markers, Magnolia Electric Co., Mahjongg, Maika Makovski, Marie Stern, Meneo, Michael Mayer, Michael Nyman, My Bloody Valentine, Oneida, Plants & Animals, Phoenix, Ponytail, Rhythm & Sound (Mark Ernestus) feat Tikiman, Rosvita, Saint Etienne, Shearwater, Shellac, Simian Mobile Disco, Skatebard, Sleepy Sun, Sonic Youth, Spectrum, Spiritualized, Squarepusher, Sunn O))) performing "The Grimmerobe Demos ", The Bad Plus, The Bats, The Bug, The Drones, The Extraordinaires, Th 'Faith Healers, The Horrors, The Jayhawks, The Jesus Lizard, The Lions Constellation, The Mae Shi, The New Year, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Secret Society, The Soft Pack, The Tallest Man On Earth, The Vaselines, Throwing Muses, Tokyo Sex Destruction feat.Gregg Foreman, Uffie, Veracruz, Wavves, Vivian Girls, Women, Wooden Shjips, Yo la Tengo, Zombie Zombie
Tickets for the 3 days currently cost 155 euros (plus booking fee), while day tickets are 70. The cost of the air-ticket (direct flight) is at 230, while prices in hotels start at 50 euros a day.
I am starting to prepare my suitcases, which means that at the start of June we will have much more to say about Primavera Sound '09, and this time from personal experience. Related to the festival is also our pick for song of the week - the recently reunited My Bloody Valentine in their classic 1988 single "You made me realise":
