Photo: Primavera Sound/Dani Canto
Primavera Sound was brought to a climactic close with performances from Nine Inch Nails, Foals, Kendrick Lamar, Volcano Choir, Mogwai and more last night (Saturday 31 May, 2014).
Despite fears of rain, the weather relented for a fittingly scorching and sunny end to the Barcelona festival, with many flocking to the coastal Parc Del Forum to catch a glimpse of an early performance from rising singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett.
With a magnetic charisma and natural charm, Barnett and her band wooed to audience with a strong set of wistful and whimsical grunge-fuelled alt-folk, given a much harder and heavier edge live than on record. The highlight of her performance was naturally 'Avant Gardener', but if the rest of her material showcased tonight was anything to judge by, then she's going to be absolutely massive - and we can't wait.
Legends then took to the stage as Television performed their classic, seminal album Marquee Moon in full, before Spoon took to the Heineken Stage, but the first major draw of the day came from Bon Iver's frontman Justin Vernon's project, Volcano Choir.
Leaning on a more synth-based alt-country pallette than his work with Bon Iver, Vernon led the band through a blissed-out and epic performance - with new material making the biggest impact and sounding very promising indeed above that from Unmap and Repave.
There are few words to describe how awesome Kendrick Lamar was on the Heineken Stage, but we'll try anyway. Backed by a brilliant band, Kendrick proved himself to be one hell of a showman. Working as his own hype man, he effortlessly whips the crowd into one bouncing mass of dancing and fists - firing out blast after blast of soon to be classic hip-hop. He's truly on top of his game, and if there's any justice in the world he'll steal the rap throne any day now. You're looking at a legend in the making.
Despite a heartbreaking schedule clash with Mogwai, Nine Inch Nails then took to the opposite Sony Stage for a mindblowing masterclass in industrial hard rock.Clearly in high spirits and backed by an epic stage and light show, Trent Reznor and co tore through what started as a fairly esoteric set, before soon blooming into a beast of fan favourites and career highlights. There are few finer or more inventive live bands on the planet.
Nine Inch Nails played:
Me, I'm Not
Sanctified
Copy of A
The Day the World Went Away
Reptile
March of the Pigs
Piggy
The Frail
The Wretched
Disappointed
Came Back Haunted
Survivalism
Gave Up
Find My Way
Closer
The Warning
The Great Destroyer
Wish
The Hand That Feeds
Head Like a Hole
Hurt
Rocking the Barcelona masses into the early hours of the morning came Foals - who despite the sound quality not quite travelling as it should, still delivered a succinct but powerful performance of choice cuts from across their three albums, with frontman Yannis Philappakis taking his usual crowd-surfing route into the centre of the crowd.
After headlining Latitude last year, they're tipped for even bigger things still. If the response reserved tonight for 'Inhaler' and 'Two Steps Twice' is anything to judge by, then their next record will see them leap into the major leagues - and totally own it.
While the main Primavera Sound festival may be over, there will be a range of closing party gigs across Barcelona this evening, with shows from the likes of Chromeo, Angel Olsen, Dum Dum Girls and many more.
- Check back at Gigwise soon for our full Primavera Sound review, as well as interviews with artists at the festival.
More:
- Sky Ferreira and Stromae rock Wednesday at Primavera Sound
- Day One: Queens Of The Stone Age, Arcade Fire and more at Primavera
- Day Two: The National, Pixies, Haim and more at Primavera Sound
Below: Photos: Foals, Nine Inch Nails, Kendrick Lamar close Primavera Sound
