It seems that yesterday Spain was out of line. Between the kilometric row that was recorded in Madrid with the opening of the Shein pop up store and the chaos to get a drink that was formed in the Primavera Sound, it is clear that what we experienced in the pandemic has not taken away our resistance to crowds . Or if? Because the complaints to the organization of both events have not been long in coming and, in the case of the Barcelona festival, it has reopened the conversation about its permanence in Barcelona.
“I waited 45 minutes to buy a drink and I have only advanced a meter“, tweeted last night from the Parc del Fòrum the user @BottasReacts. The complaint was accompanied by a video in which such a crowd of people was seen in front of the stands of drink that seemed to be one more stage of the festival. “A waiter for every ten meters of bar. It’s Disastrous,” another twitterer replied. However, they have not been the only ones to publicly denounce a “terrible organization”, endless lines and an alleged excess of capacity that has caused “dangerous crowds”.
#springsound waited 45 mins for a drink. Move 1 meter. @Spring_Sound pic.twitter.com/QhwzKEMlSy
— 44am (@44am44) June 2, 2022
To compensate for the cancellation of previous editions due to the coronavirus, this year, Primavera Sound is celebrated for two consecutive weekends and a line-up with more than 500 artists but it seems that, during the long-awaited first day, things have not gone as the attendees had been waiting for so long. In fact, browsing through the hashtag #primaverasound makes you think at times of the Fyre Festival.
“I admire the people who yesterday managed to meet their friends despite the null coverage and the millions of people“, the illustrator Rocío Quillahuaman said with amusement on Twitter. For her part, @supercrisisblog He joked: “A guy on the street asked me if I’m the last one to queue for beer at the Primavera Sound. And I live in Alicante”, putting a touch of humor to other more serious complaints.
other assistant wrote last night: “I just experienced a dangerous situation on the main stage. We couldn’t move and we were under pressure. I had to jump the door to the VIP section to get out.” For its part, @PekinBcn chronicled in a single line: “First day. Organizational disaster, 45-minute queues to get a drink. Perosnal unmotivated.”
We regret to inform you that The Strokes cancel their performance on Friday, June 3 at Primavera Sound Barcelona – Sant Adrià 2022. The national artist Thalía Garrido will perform in her place. pic.twitter.com/g2pnZnsARu
— mariot 💐 (@mariotdiu) June 2, 2022
Although not all the critics have questioned the capacity and organization, there is also disappointment due to last-minute cancellations. And it is that, at the gates of the start of the event, the organization announced several modifications that left many speechless. Among the names that have fallen from the festival they find each other Baby Beast, Bikini Kill, Girl in red or Kehlani.
In exchange, rapper Joey Bada$$, Joan Miquel Oliver and Los Hermanos Cubero, among others, have joined the lineup. Although the memes on social networks make it clear that it is another great cause for discontent for those with tickets.
Can we get our own water in so we don’t literally die?
— hatemyname (@hatemyname_) June 3, 2022
As if all this were not already enough, the residents around the Forum have asked the cancellation of future editions for the problems of cleanliness, mobility and noise pollution that the festival generates.
For his part, Gabi Ruiz, director of Primavera Sound, has already threatened in the past to take Primavera Sound from Barcelona to Madrid, accusing the lack of collaboration on the part of the Barcelona City Council regarding the festival model. However, and in the absence of seeing how they affect the tension between the organization and the consistory, everything points to the fact that, for the time being, next year the Primavera will be held on consecutive weekends in both cities.
Cover photo | @spring_sound