The future of the renowned Catalan festival, Primavera Sound, could be at risk due to the reform in Barcelona’s waterfront.
Future editions of the festival could be in jeopardy once the works are completed, as the Barcelona City Council has announced that the “Mordor” esplanade, where the event is held, would be closed for future major events.
This shocking announcement was made by Albert Guijarro, co-director of Primavera Sound, during a meeting organized by the organization Barcelona Oberta to discuss the impact of mass events in the city.
The marine platform, colloquially known as the esplanade of Mordor, has been the site of the festival’s two main stages in recent years, hosting performances by renowned artists such as The Strokes, Depeche Mode, Dua Lipa, Rosalia, New Order and Gorillaz.
Guijarro stressed that this space is essential for the realization of the festival and that “there are many events that require a place like this; without this area, the festival cannot take place in the city”.
Guijarro has also emphasized the importance of convincing politicians about the future use of the platform and has suggested that it be used for massive events that can attract the city, given its capacity to host more than 60,000 people.
It is worth mentioning that the Primavera Sound edition in Madrid was cancelled in 2023 due to the lack of adequate space in the city, despite the fact that the Barcelona edition already attracts more than 250,000 attendees.
The event was held at the Antigua Fábrica Damm and was also attended by prominent figures.
The cancellation of Primavera Sound Madrid
Primavera Sound, one of the largest and most multitudinous festivals in the world, held its edition in both Madrid and Barcelona in previous years. However, the Madrid edition for 2024 was cancelled due to the lack of adequate space in the city.
This decision was taken after complaints were raised about the location of the festival, which took place at the Ciudad del Rock, in Arganda del Rey, 37 kilometers from the center of Madrid.
Attendees expressed frustration with the lack of adequate access and insufficient public transportation. Such large events require not only ample space, but also quality logistics to ensure the comfort of the attendees.
In a statement, the organization of Primavera Sound announced that “after several weeks of exhaustive evaluation of the first edition of Primavera Sound Madrid, the current circumstances lead us to communicate that in 2024 it will not be able to be held”.
Although a return of the festival to the Spanish capital in 2025 has not been ruled out, this cancellation highlights the importance of having adequate and accessible venues for events of this magnitude.
