Festival Diary: A Primavera Sound Experience

The iconic Primavera Sound festival finally made its way to Los Angeles, California on the weekend of September 16th-18th. For two decades Primavera Sound has been spreading music throughout the world. The festival’s international presence has made it one of the most prominent music events in history. Buenos Aires, Madrid, Barcelona, and Santiago, are just a few of the cities the Primavera empire has conquered. Last weekend, Los Angeles became the newest city to hold the festival. In the middle of downtown LA, in the historic state park, over 50,000 concertgoers arrived to see their favorite artists perform at the iconic event. The lineup included artists old and new, some with legendary fanbases, and others who were just getting started. The lineup was stacked with names like Arctic Monkeys, Lorde, Nine Inch Nails, and Mitski, however, the unique artists that sat below the headliners were most impressive. Genre diversity and gender inclusivity were two aspects the festival placed great importance on, and this was reflected in the excitement of the audience over the weekend. Primavera Sound brought the complex diversity of the music industry to the stage with care and gratitude, making a more than a successful weekend. 

Dear B-Side Diary,

From a young age, I chased live music with a desperation that came from a place I am still not very sure of. Perhaps it was the loneliness of adolescence or the appreciation for music ingrained within the depths of my soul. At the age of 14, I attended my first music festival, solidifying my love for live music. My youth gave me away, revealing that I was clearly out of place amidst clouds of smoke and twenty-somethings accidentally offering me a joint and then quickly retracting the offering once they took a good look at me. But the experience of running in the grass dancing to my favorite music, made me feel like this was where I was meant to be. At the end of those three days, I was sure concerts, festivals, and live music were something I could never get enough of.

As I prepared myself for the weekend of Primavera Sound LA, I thought a lot about my relationship with live music. I thought back to my first festival, and where I was in my life now. I am doing what I love, immersing myself in the world of music. My younger self would be proud. I was going to be seeing artists that had first ignited a flame within me many years ago. Lorde and Arctic Monkeys were two of the many artists I ventured into on my own. Seeing them live was starting to feel like a full-circle moment.

Mitski on the Tecate Ulta stage

On day one of the festival, I walked into the Historic Los Angeles State Park filled with anticipation. The weather was cooling down after the apocalyptic heatwave of the week prior; the air felt fresh and filled with excitement. I arrived later in the day as the sun set. I walked passed the massive sign stating “created in Barcelona” which lit up with blinding lights, as I rushed to catch my beloved Mitski’s set. Out of breath and overjoyed, I ran toward the stage just in time to hear one of my favorite songs of all time, “Nobody.” It was worth the sprint, to say the least.

Lorde on the mainstage

Next on my list of sets to catch was Lorde. Lorde is and always will be a very special artist to me. She captures the feelings of my youth with mystical accuracy, making me feel so seen. Seeing her in person is always overwhelming, like meeting a hero. However, this time felt like a warm hug from an old friend. The kind of old friend that just understands you. I jumped, I danced, and I cried. It was perfect. She played a mixture of songs from each album, with the addition of a killer cover of the Bananarama song, “Cruel Summer.” She performed “Ribs” off of her debut album Pure Heroine (2013), which served as a soundtrack to my early teen years, in the middle of her set that night. She asked us to “dance for our fifteen-year-old selves,” to which we did. The audience moved up and down while clutching their hearts with tears in their eyes. I was no different. She continued to fill us with feeling as she performed her song “Liability,” dedicating it to the emotional girls and the climate crisis. She explained her heavy feelings throughout her life and how they have evolved: “When I was a teenager it was about not being a teenager when I was 20 it was about a boy, (and) now it’s about the climate.” She closed with a love letter to summer, “Solar Power.” It was a beautiful ending to an outstanding show.

Lorde on the mainstage

Khruangbin on the mainstage

Day two arrived fast. I woke up exhausted from the night prior, but ready to take on the day ahead of me. I will be honest, I was not overly excited about the lineup of that day so I decided to bop around, looking to capture the feel of the overall festival environment. What struck me most was the array of people attending Primavera. Concertgoers of all types were spread around the park. Many of them were in leather which I assume was for Nine Inch Nails later that night. Personally, the musical highlight of the day was Khruangbin. The Texas-based band wowed with complex baselines and psychedelic sounds that made one feel like they were in an old western movie.

Arca on the Barcelona Stage

The third and final day of Primavera sound was a jam-packed one for me. The lineup included Arctic Monkeys, Girl in Red, James Blake, Cigarettes After Sex, King Krule, Acra, and so many more. My day began lying in the grass taking in all the sights to be seen: drunk dancing, assless chaps, and a couple of recognizable faces within the VIP section. The first on the lineup for me was King Krule, an artist I didn’t know very well. Nevertheless, their set was wonderful, with heavy influences of punk rock and jazz. Following them was Girl in Red. Having covered her show in the past, I knew Girl in Red as a passionate performer that loves to have fun. On this day she seemed a bit out of her element. I couldn’t help but notice her apprehension with the LA cool kid crowd—a completely understandable feeling. After Girl in Red, we made our way over to the smallest stage to see Arca. Arca is a very mysterious artist who both confuses and intrigues me. Unexpectedly their set became one of the best I saw all weekend. Arca blends reality with futurism while incorporating Latin sounds and unrivaled energy.

Arctic Monkeys on the mainstage

Lastly, Arctic Monkeys took the main stage. I was struck with a sense of honor, brought about by the fact that I never thought I would have the chance to see them live. Their album AM (2013), has been a favorite of mine since its release. The rock band took on the headlining position of the last day with remarkable talent. They performed all the classics such as “505,” “Arabella,” “Do I Wanna Know,” and many more. It felt like a setlist made for the audience and their fans. I ended the night with a drink in one hand and cheesy fries in the other, lying on the grass watching people pass me. 

The weekend came to a close and I was left with the satisfaction that one only gets after a really good meal. Exhausted and full, Primavera Sound LA delivered on every level. I could not ask for a better weekend, filled with all my favorite things. 

Article and Photos by Layla Mahmoud