schoolyb

Booked for 2024 and pretty content with the line up (I missed 2022 so less bothered about some of the repeat bookings). Anyone still need to buy their weekend ticket? I did Madrid this year and I've got one spare 30% discount code (for the cancelled day) as one of my mates who came isn't doing Barcelona 2024. It's valid for one ticket via Dice and only until 31st December but works out over an 80 euro saving. If so, shout and I'll message the code privately.

3 hour delay at airport so compiled my thoughts… Really enjoyed the festival - did Kalorama last year and was up for mixing it up, so was initially a bit put out that Lisbon got the better line up but definitely got value for my £90 ticket. Yeah site wasn’t very exciting (reminded me of Beni with the dusty gravel) but all worked ok logistically and the acts/production was good. Agree an extra DJ tent or stage wouldn’t have hurt, the dance stage was often a bit too leftfield when you just want an hour of something vaguely familiar between acts. Wasn’t thrilled with the line up but really impressed by Arcade Fire and ended the weekend on stage with Belle & Sebastian. 😎 Again, solid value for the money where £90 would have got you a day ticket for APE/BST. Initially booked an apartment in Cala Mijas but glad I cancelled that and saved £250 on one in Fuengirola. Figured we’d have to have a mare with taxis not to justify the cost saving but worked out just over €100 in total on the 6 Uber/Bolts we got back and forth for festival and didn’t have to wait more than 10 minutes for one at any point. Was worth being in Fuengirola with more to do when it was overcast Sunday and more food/bar options generally. Was chatting if we’d do Kalorama or Cala Mijas again next year, reckon I’d wait on line ups rather than blind book either. Also said if people were after recommendations I’d tell them to do Kalorama if they’ve not checked out Lisbon before but I’d probably be swayed by Cala Mijas for the beach holiday personally having been to Lisbon a lot (but could be swung by the better line up option), both good options to end the Summer either way.

I've nothing particularly new to add to this conversation, fairly universal agreement that Madrid isn't viable in this current format, you assume they're exploring new city sites and if they can find one that works then the triple header with Barca and Porto gives them some clout with offering deals. If Thursday had been on I think overall I'd have been happy with the decision to choose Madrid. I've done Barca a few times and Porto once and there's always that element of trading off trying somewhere new with something/somewhere you know works. What I paid for flights and a hotel would probably have been 3x those costs for Barca. I probably had marginally better bus situation than most, long one in on Friday was just a buzzkill, should have brought more booze with me but didn't miss anything and had a great run of acts when I did get there. Bus home Friday was fine, 35mins and no queue at ~4am. Saturday was quicker getting in and flaked out at 2am so walked straight onto a bus - also wasn't fussed about Rosalia and it was clear most of the crowd was there for her so the bundle after she finished was predictable (but a call you don't have to make if you can walk home!) Almost every festival seems to be struggling this year, all line ups feel comparatively weak. But Primavera probably got a bigger identity crisis than most, the acts that make it special aren't the ones who sell 100k tickets and recently it feels like there's a trade off between keeping the regulars happy and selling day tickets for the big ticket (younger/pop) acts. You look at the line up for the Benidorm weekender and they're clearly still committed to what they were about. Previous Barca/Porto fests still pulled decent crowds for the leftfield stuff but really felt for some of the smaller stage artists this weekend - probably because more of the Primavera regulars swerved Madrid and it was filled out with locals.

An hour to get the bus to the site! That’s after getting to the stadium and the faff with wristbands and walking up for the bus there. I don’t think they do Madrid next year personally but if they do, suck it up and pay whatever they’re after for hotels and flights for Barcelona!

It’s the sort of venue that there’s good views everywhere TBF.

Maybe half full?

Update: We got in to Blur! Found some kids outside who had tickets for all but one of their group and managed to agree a price. Anyone thinking the same though be aware that they won’t take a screenshot, we managed to swap phones with them and swap back once we were scanned in.

Anyone at the Blur venue? Wondering if it’s worth a wander down on the off chance not everyone with tickets shows up or are there already thousands of people around there?

Yeah that’s still up, I’ve just been past it. No idea why they didn’t put a load of the festival acts on there instead today, seems a much better shout even in the rain!?

What an absolute sh*tshow. Was packing last night and got the message about today being cancelled, get here and see the Blur announcement, online at 4pm and no tickets, I’m now just twice as annoyed as I was! Zero chance anyone legit has spares but if anyone hears of anything please let me know, Blur were the main reason I’m in Madrid.

Enjoyed Kalorama but would say I liked rather than loved the festival. Pros - Lisbon is a great city and people are friendly, saw zero trouble (other than a hammered British couple having an almighty row!) Festival isn't a huge slog time/energy-wise (was doing 8pm-2am and skipping the early acts) so spent a lot of time at the pool or doing more touristy stuff like venturing into town and got to Sintra and Cascais too. The main stage was a natural bowl so worked really well. Cons - Second and third stages weren't very good, either location or orientation-wise (second stage is on about a 45 degree angle dropping off from left to right), there was a lot of sound bleed when they overlapped with the main stage and they ended up pulling the 2manydjs/Tiga set because of the sound issues between main/second. Personally I'd have the second stage face the main stage and alternate them with no overlap a la Primavera/Reading, it's their first festival so prepared to give them a pass on that and you assume they'd work on that for future editions. Ladies toilets queues were a bit long but the gents were all cubicles so we just headed there together and walked straight in every time. Didn't eat on site so couldn't comment on that but walked past some really long queues on Friday when it was rammed for Arctic Monkeys. Would definitely wait on line up before thinking about booking again, I like the fact it's a late Summer one with decent weather but if they share a lot of line up again I can see myself trying Cala Mijas just for the variety.

Long shot but I don't suppose anyone wants to swap 2 x Saturday tickets for 2 x Sunday tickets? I got Sunday tickets via Luno but I fly (to Kalorama) first thing Monday so having second thoughts and got mates going on Saturday.

Spares gone now. Have fun all that are going.

I was hovering for a free/£5 ticket for APE tonight but didn't happen (paid for a Chems ticket tomorrow though). Anyone still after a cheap ticket for tonight? Put in a cheeky offer for 6 tickets on eBay (figured they were gonna struggle to get rid of 6 now!?) and was accepted - £35 each so about half price. Seller just messaged me so should have them in my AXS account asap, would just need to forward them to you via email.

Messaged

Just sent.

Messaged

Just sent you a message.