Having done all three, Porto is lovely, very chilled but nowhere near as exciting as Barcelona (nor as many options). Bilbao BBK has charm but again not a patch on Barcelona really.
ps and the beer was 5.50, not 5, last year 😉
Honest question and with the risk of getting slaughtered, do you feel people should stop the chatting on the entire field? When my group is in the front rows we surely keep the talking to a minimum and largely only about how great or bad the artist is. But surely on the main field when you are further back (lets say around the bars (200 meters from the podium) you should be able to have a conversation. If people are still annoyed about that I would recommend them moving up further.
I just genuinely think they don't understand technology and its felt like this since the invention of the internet.
Also see say a speech on a Monday saying we want to be a world leader in "this thing" then on a Wednesday another speech saying "this thing" is bad and needs to be banned/regulated out of existance.
My party again had an outstanding 4 days in Barca. We made the right call to leave the festival site early at about 10.30 on Thursday to get ourselves some excellent steaks in the city. I am with everyone that the organization should have been clearer about what is going on and also if you would like to get rid of some attendees open more exits, they sent us from gate to gate until we finally were able to get out. Biggest 'disappointment' was the beer price, a YoY increase from 5 to 6 is absolutely nuts!!! (i am living in Switzerland so me making this comment says something 🙂)
Top 10:
1. Men I Trust
2. Role Model (could have been first as well, what a great artist and great songs)
3. The XX
4. The cure (the last 90 minutes)
5. Gorillaz
6. MBV
7. Ninajirachi (another big miss of the organization, clearly on the wrong podium and wonder if Olivia's surprise set had something to do with that and they had to reschuffle late the Occident, Cupra and Port schedules)
8. NewDad
9. Big Thief
10. Annastashia
We did 3 years Barca now and for next year looking at the Porto or Bilbao festivals as an option.
Personally if it was me now, I would be grabbing a green camping ticket with the knowledge closer when I've refreshed that I can still choose general if I want to....you can't do the opposite!
I would say if you are happy to watch your headliners and big bands further back to be able to see who you actually plan to later then yes it is fine. Its a much difference experience to any other festival especially food wise and camping surrounds.
Once you're in the arena as well you're not going back unless you've got a gap. If I go again I'll be going with the option of not trying to push the front and enjoying further back as you actually put too much pressure on it than the time take away can forget to enjoy other acts.