Staged Haze is going to international! We’re excited to share that we’re covering our very first European Festival: Primavera Sound Barcelona. Since its inception in 2001, Primavera Sound has featured performances from artists like Kendrick Lamar, Bon Iver, The White Stripes, Björk, Dua Lipa, and many other heavy hitters. Additionally, Primavera Sound became the world’s first major music festival to achieve gender-equal lineups under the tagline “The New Normal” back in 2019.
Much like years past, Primavera Sound Barcelona’s 2025 lineup is nothing short of impressive and reflective of the current moment: Charli xcx, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter are headlining the 23rd edition of the festival in a self-described “unprecedented milestone” as the festival continues to prioritize gender-equal lineups.
This year’s festival will showcase the diversity and projection of the Catalan music scene, with proposals ranging from the experimental pop of Amaia to the electronic music of John Talabot. Additionally, on the Primavera Pro stage—and with the support of Catalan Arts—there will be free, open-access concerts at the CCCB, featuring a selection of emerging talents such as GUINEU, okdw, Remei de Ca la Fresca and xicu. Check out more about these artists HERE.
We can’t wait to hit the festival grounds in Barcelona and cover one of the most attended festivals in Europe! Per usual, we’ve scoured the lineup to share some of our most anticipated artists to see. Check them out below in alphabetical order:
Internet rapper turned hip hop savant, Denzel Curry will also be taking the stage Primavera Sound this summer and after a chaotic year in the United States, I cannot wait to be therapized by his live set. Curry’s music has a built in aggression synonymous with the passion he has innately grown for his craft.
With thoughtful samples and lyrical precision, Curry is a mainstay in the rap genre. While his 2023 release Melt My Eyez See Your Future was a more pensive, eclectic project – the 2024 release of KING OF THE MISCHIEVOUS SOUTH and it’s deluxe version brought more raucousness and made me want to use words like ‘malarkey’ a lot. While albums are made for venues, some are made for arenas, but KOTMS is a festival album and you can tell me I’m right when I see you there. – Ilana
German producer and DJ, Stefan Kozalla aka DJ Koze will be gracing the stage at Coachella and after one of my guy friends nearly forced me to listen to his album, I will for certain be cutting up a metaphorical rug in that crowd. It kind of makes me question why most of the recommendations from my male friends are delivered against my will. Maybe I should be more open? Eh! One thing at a time.
Koze is a veteran of the German music scene after starting as both a rapper and DJ in the 90’s. Electronic music became his outlet to further establish himself as a DJ by producing remixes. This past April he put out his fourth studio album, Music Can Hear Us, a philosophical drum drenched exploration of humanity that somehow makes you forget about all of that and gets you to dance. If you’ve never listened to Koze, my first recommendation would be to jump right in, exactly where I did, and then find me on the dance floor at Primavera. – Ilana
Despite FKA Twigs being quite an international success, I do think she should have more of a name in the US and am surprised she doesn’t—all of her albums have been met with critical acclaim: 2019’s Magdalene received a 9.4 from Pitchfork (which is certainly no easy feat) and her 2025 album, EUSEXUA, scored a 9.1.
Unfortunately, her chance at reaching a larger audience in the US was ruined earlier this year after Twigs announced her North American tour was canceled due to visa issues (they have yet to be rescheduled). With that being said, there’s only a few chances (as of now) to catch FKA Twigs live—with Primavera Sound Barcelona being on the list. I saw her live on the MAGDALENE tour and when I tell you, that room was so packed to the brim, I’m still convinced to this day that it was oversold. Her star power was palpable, and her pole dancing was absolutely insane. It’s one of those “see it to believe it” sort of things, in my opinion. – Kristin
Feels amateurish to say but Jamie xx was my first foray into electronic music as part of The xx. Discovering them in college opened up my world to a brand new tableau of sounds that I had yet to hear in the ways they were presented through their music. Since focusing his efforts to his solo projects, while still finding time to work with his bandmates producing their works as well, Jamie has released In Colour and In Waves, two indelible albums that have molded a place for himself as an electronic music legend.
I was lucky enough to see Jamie perform in my hometown of Queens, NY a few years ago along with Four Tet at Forest Hills Stadium. Similarly, Primavera Sound will provide an open air space for Jamie’s thrilling dance epic to enrapture even those who maybe didn’t initially set out to catch his set. My tip to those ready to dance, pack those orthotics! – Ilana
Say what you want about Florida, but Miami has done a lot for the musical landscape. Its additional offering is a pop duo, Magdalena Bay, who continues to defy the boundaries of what pop can look and sound like. Their latest album, Imaginal Disk, is concept album that tells the story of a fictional character named True. After a disc, hence the title, is implanted in her forehead to make her into her perfect self, her body rejects it. Through this, she rediscovers what it means to be human. The lyrics often explore themes of self-discovery and awareness.
While that does sound like it could make a great Black Mirror episode, the musical telling of the narrative provokes more from the listener by feeding them the details and allowing them to visualize it themselves. Having never seen Magdalena Bay in concert, I cannot wait to see how this is interpreted for the festival stage. – Ilana
Cat Power has long held a singular space in the indie music world, known for her haunting covers and genre-spanning catalog. Back in 2008, she released her second covers album, which included “Song to Bobby,” a tribute to Bob Dylan. In 2023, she followed it with a full live album: Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert, a recreation of Dylan’s storied 1966 set at Manchester Free Trade Hall.
When lockdown first began, Dylan’s discography was the first I dove into—and it ended up igniting my passion for music as a whole. That deep dive shaped how I listen, how I think about songwriting, and how I connect with artists today. Seeing Dylan perform in person at King’s Theatre during his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour in 2023 was a personal milestone. Now, getting to experience his songs through Cat Power’s lens—at a festival like Primavera—feels just as meaningful. With renewed interest in Dylan thanks to A Complete Unknown, I know I’ll be surrounded by fellow fans during what’s sure to be a beautiful, reverent set. – Jesse
Coming from NYC myself, I’m especially excited to see Fcukers, an electronic band that formed in 2022 and made their live debut at one of my favorite venues (and Lorde’s), Baby’s All Right, in 2023. I caught Jackson Walker Lewis—one of the group’s members—open at Freakquencies, a New Year’s Eve party curated by The Dare, and it was a standout set. My favorite part of any music festival is the dance music, and I’m planning to be front and center when they play “Bon Bon,” their breakout house hit. With house music making a huge resurgence and Fcukers hitting multiple festivals this year (including Coachella), this is a set for anyone who wants to move. Do not skip! – Jesse
As if you need another reason to see HAIM other than they’re a fantastic live band, they are also set to release their newest album, I Quit, just about a week and a half after their appearance at Primavera Sound Barcelona. It’s also just their second show on their newest string of tour dates that start this weekend in the UK: making it a show that’s brand new to festival goers and fans alike. Their North American tour doesn’t kick off until September, so this will be the only crumb of live HAIM appearances for quite some time!
With an extensive catalog that goes way back into 2013, collaborations with Charli xcx, Taylor Swift, Vampire Weekend, and most recently, Bon Iver, it’s safe to say that HAIM will be pulling out all the stops for their performance at Primavera Sound Barcelona. Don’t miss your chance to hear some new music live before its official release. – Kristin
After a five year hiatus, Brooklyn rock legend’s, TV on the Radio returned to touring in 2024. What was most definitely long awaited news for their established fan base also gave them an opportunity to amass more fans from a younger generation. Not many bands can go on tour without a new project to promote but that’s evidence enough to me of how important TOTR was at the turn of the century as the rock music scene in the early aughts was at it’s most powerful.
What I love about music is it’s power to make you crave times that you weren’t even fully present for. If you talk to any New Yorker who was alive at that time, even those who are my age, and were a bit too young to full enjoy the fruits of that movement you’d learn that we are all wistful for that time. I encourage anyone going to Primavera to come be apart of what is sure to be a historic set and get a taste of what the New York City music scene was like in the early 2000’s. – Ilana
If you miss your chance at seeing Wet Leg live…you’re honestly missing out on such a fun show. I’ve been a big fan of Wet Leg since their debut dropped, and I even saw them perform at South by Southwest 2023 right when they were pretty much right on the bubble of blowing up (they eventually ended up opening for Harry Styles, so I rest my case).
But they took a couple years off—rightfully so—and now they’re back and even better than ever. Their sophomore album, moisturizer, is dropping on July 11, and their lead single “Catch These Fists” is easily one of my favorite songs released this year so far. If you’re a fan of tongue-in-cheek indie rock with reminiscent of the Riot Grrrl era in the early ’90s, you definitely need to check out Wet Leg in Barcelona – Kristin
Portland native, Aminé will be gracing the Primavera stage for the first time after his latest album 13 Months of Sunshine just dropped. While he describes the album as self critical, what I find most impressive are the subtleties slipped in as an homage to his Ethiopian culture. Not just the voiceover from his Baba but the details in the artwork and the instrumentals.
Mark my words, he is yet to reach as high as he can go. That is what makes life so exciting as an Aminé fan. His growth is evident with each album and mixtape but he always has the stage presence to make his tours, no matter the size of the venues, like they’re arena tours. After seeing him a couple of times before, once for his Good For You tour and the second for TWOPOINTFIVE, I know for a fact that is a set to not be missed. – Ilana
I’ve seen Confidence Man’s name pop up on festival lineups for years—and for good reason. This Australian electro-pop duo is known for their outrageous, high-energy performances and infectious dance music. Their debut album Confident Music for Confident People is pure fun: glittery, cheeky, and impossible not to move to.
Since then, they’ve released their second album Tilt, along with a remix EP titled Re-Tilt that features collaborations with artists like Tame Impala, CHAI, and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. They’ve also teamed up with DJ Seinfeld and DJ Boring, further cementing their place in the dance music world. Their latest album “3AM (La La La)” was inspired by their move to London and the pulsing energy of ’90s British rave culture.
With ’90s revival energy in full swing, I’m ready to get sweaty, silly, and lose myself during their set. If you’re looking for a carefree, euphoric moment at Primavera, this is it. – Jesse
I was thrilled to see Dehd on the Primavera lineup. The Chicago-based trio has carved out a distinct sound that blends post-punk minimalism with surf rock and dream pop textures. The name Dehd comes from a combination of the members’ past projects: Dream Eagles and Heavy Dreams, led by Jason Balla and Emily Kempf, respectively.
They recorded their debut EP Fire of Love in a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed warehouse, and there’s something fittingly raw and architectural about their sound—guitar-heavy, reverb-soaked, and grounded by blunt, primal drumming. Their 2020 album Flower of Devotion earned a “Best New Music” tag from Pitchfork and signaled their breakout moment.
Dehd’s music is emotionally direct yet sonically spacious, which makes their live shows feel both cathartic and hypnotic. A former summer lover actually turned me onto them, so catching their set at Primavera might just give me the perfect excuse to send a flirty little text. Either way, I’m expecting a performance that’s moody, magnetic, and maybe even a little transcendent. – Jesse
Destroyer is one of those bands that defy easy categorization. Fronted by Dan Bejar, the Canadian group has reinvented its sound across fourteen studio albums—shifting from lo-fi indie rock to jazz-inflected art pop and everything in between. No two records sound quite alike, and that unpredictability is exactly what makes them so compelling.
Their latest album, Dan’s Boogie, released in March 2025, is a meditation on aging, memory, and the absurdity of modern life. It’s already being praised as some of Bejar’s most reflective and refined work. His lyrics are dense and literary, delivered in that signature speak-sing style, and backed by arrangements that feel both intimate and theatrical.
Whether you’ve followed Destroyer since Kaputt or are new to their ever-evolving catalog like I am, this set is bound to be a rich, rewarding ride—equal parts melancholy and strangely uplifting. – Jesse
I first discovered Kim Deal through a deep dive into the Pixies, where she served as the original bassist and co-vocalist. But she’s also the frontwoman of The Breeders, the band she formed in 1989 that became a defining force in ’90s alt-rock. From the iconic bassline of “Gigantic” to the snarling cool of “Cannonball,” Deal’s influence runs deep. Her work helped shape the DNA of modern indie and alternative music, and her presence still feels essential.
In 2024, she released her debut solo album Nobody Loves You More, a raw, thoughtful collection that explores themes of aging, identity, and creative resilience. It’s proof that she’s not just a legacy act—she’s still evolving.
On a personal note, I’ll be seeing Pixies live in July, so getting to see Kim Deal both solo and as part of a legendary band in the same year feels like a full-circle moment. Her Primavera set is sure to be one of the weekend’s highlights. – Jesse
Check out the official Primavera Sound Barcelona playlist HERE.
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