Primavera Sound: the season opener
Primavera built its reputation on line-ups that read like an end-of-year list, staged on the concrete seafront of the Parc del Fòrum at the end of May or the start of June.
The line-up
Deliberately broad: headline indie and hip-hop, a serious electronic programme, and enough depth in the small print to reward arriving early in the day.
The site
Flat, paved and beside the sea, which means no mud and a reliable sea breeze, but almost no shade. Sun protection and a refillable bottle are not optional extras.
Practical advice
Headline sets finish after two in the morning, so stay near a night bus route or the extended metro service, and book accommodation as far ahead as you can manage.