Fontaines DC, CMAT, Charli XCX, bar prices... five talking points from Primavera Sound 2025

Irish Examiner

2 days ago

1. The Irish contingent
With CMAT packing out the Cupra stage on day one, it didn't take us long to realise the Irish contingent at Primavera Sound 2025 was significant.
Throughout the weekend, Irish tricolours (often accompanied by the Palestinian flag) and a variety of county and green jerseys littered every crowd. No matter where we were, be it at the main stages, food stalls or in the queue for the toilets, we met our fellow countrymen.
Speaking of CMAT, the Dunboyne country-pop star played a blinder, bringing her 'sexy CMAT band' to Barcelona's beachside. Hits like I Wanna be a Cowboy, Baby! got reliably strong reactions, but her new stuff went down just as well, with the whole crowd joining in with her viral TikTok dance for latest single Take A Sexy Picture Of Me. We even spotted former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the crowd.
Dubliners Fontaines D.C also gave a stellar performance on the main stage, with frontman Grian Chatten keeping his on-stage remarks to a simple 'Free Palestine'. During I Love You, the band used their platform to call for the crowd to use their own voices with a message appearing on screens: 'Israel is committing genocide. Use your voice.'
2. Breezy bar experiences
One of our highlights has to be just how breezy every bar experience was. We can't recall waiting more than five minutes at any stage for a drink.
And, naturally, the cost of those drinks was a lot more affordable in comparison to irish festival prices. Beers and wines were between €5 and €6.50. The most we ever paid for a drink was €7.50 for an aperol spritz.
Food stalls had longer wait times but were still very manageable. Prices here were more similar to Irish festival experiences with a pot of noodles €14 and a (very generous) portion of chicken dumplings €11.
One gripe was you could only get drinks - including water and soft drinks - at the bars so you had to queue separately to get a beverage with your food.
'Israel is committing genocide. Use your voice' displayed on the screens at Primavera by Fontaines DC.
3. Europe finally gets Sweat
With Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan headlining each day of the Spanish festival, this really was the place to be for the girls, the gays and the theys.
We kicked off Friday night with Sweat — a hybrid show with Charli XCX and Australian pop star Troye Sivan. The friends and collaborators designed the stadium show last year to promote their respective albums, Brat and Something To Give Each Other, to a US audience.
This was the first time Europe got to experience this unique gig, with each artist playing three or four songs at a time before disappearing to allow the other take to the stage.
Despite Sivan's impeccable vocals and choreography, he simply couldn't compete with the crowds hunger for Charli.
From the moment she stepped on stage in a white bra and underwear (with four outfit changes to come), the crowd went feral.
With zero props (unless you count a glass of wine and strobing lights) the energy seemed to jump ten-fold every time she reappeared on stage — and crash back down to earth when she departed.
If anything, it made us even more hyped for the 100% Charli show Irish fans can look forward to in Malahide Castle next week.
4. Chappell Roan domination
The Midwest Princess was our highlight on Saturday night. With an elaborate stage set up, an all-girl band and plenty of fireworks, the drag-adjacent superstar delivered a stellar show peppered with emotional ballads and straight up pop bangers.
Anger, lust, sadness, love... it felt like every emotion was given it's fair due on stage by the Pink Pony Club singer. We have no doubt she will be a highlight of this year's Electric Picnic festival.
Chappell Roan on stage at Primavera Sound.
5. A taste of what's in store for Irish fans
With Chappell Roan touching down in Stradbally later this summer and Fontaines D.C and CMAT set to headline All Together Now, Primavera got us properly warmed up for the Irish festival season ahead.
Other acts we saw that we just can't wait to see again? Wet Leg absolutely smashed the Cupra stage, while Australia's Confidence Man were our perfect final act to close out the festival. Both are on Irish soil in August at All Together Now and Electric Picnic, respectively.