Verdict from second night of Primavera is that Patti Smith might be Jesus
- Text by Shelley Jones
- Photography by Ella Ackroyd
So Barcelona’s music party of the year entered its second night of sound-based euphoria last night and it managed to excel itself again.
Patti Smith – playing the whole Horses album – made everyone cry on the main stage and Jon Hopkins – complete with LED hula-hooping girls – made everyone turn up on the ATP stage.
We discovered Sangria de Cava – which is exactly what it sounds like – and the sky came through with the unbelievable pink wash again, thanks for that God.
Anyway, in the midst of all that we decided to link up with some festival fans and find out what’s been their best experience of Primavera so far. Also, you know that Meatloaf song where he sings, ‘I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that,’ – well we decided to ask people what ‘that’ might be. What is the one thing you wouldn’t do for love? Mixed bag of responses lol.
Alwyn and James

Huck: What’s been your best experience of Primavera so far?
James: Patti Smith earlier today was absolutely incredible. I’ve never seen her before but I got Horses when I was fourteen and that was the album she played. It was brilliant, way better than I thought it was going to be, and she was very genuine. They did a whole tribute to people who have died, including her husband, Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith, and she was crying on stage. The band were incredible. It was amazing.
Alwyn: Okay I think mine would be Darkside from 2014. It was amazing. And the other one would be Fuck Buttons in 2013. We’d been to something bigger on the main stage and thought, ‘Let’s go see Fuck Buttons,’ not really expecting much, but they were brilliant.
Huck: What is the one thing you wouldn’t do for love?
Alwyn: Well, if I’m speaking for Meatloaf, I’d say Meatloaf.
Huck: Meatloaf himself?
Alwyn: Meatloaf is one of the things I would not do for love.
Patrick and Mikal

Huck: How long have you been coming to Primavera?
Patrick: It’s my fourth time now.
Huck: What’s been your best experience of Primavera so far?
Patrick: I can’t name one certain band but I love the experience of when it’s 5am and the sun is rising up and you see your favourite band play on the stage. I remember Atlas Sound in 2010. During the set he said, ‘Look guys behind you there is the sea,’ and he was getting emotional about it. That was a nice memory.
Huck: What is the one thing you wouldn’t do for love?
Patrick: I’ll have to think about that.
Cath

Huck: How many times have you been to Primavera?
Cath: This is my first time.
Huck: What’s been your best experience of Primavera so far?
Cath: So I’d say that Patti Smith was absolutely hands down amazing. She’s a very empowering woman and so influential in rock music. And I love anything female fronted. I’m very inspired by feisty women playing music. Also Gui Boratto, a Brazilian electronic DJ, was really good last night too. Belle and Sebastian are one of my all-time favourite bands so I enjoyed that too. They’re my highlights.
Huck: What is the one thing you wouldn’t do for love?
Cath: Well Meatloaf is talking about anal sex.
Huck: Oh, well that clears it up. Thanks!
Italian Guy and Basque Country Man

Huck: What’s been your best experience of Primavera so far?
Basque Country man: Coming with this guy [points to friend].
Huck: Awwww, what else?
Italian guy: Two years ago the last party on the Saturday night.
Huck: Why was it so great?
Both: We were high.
Huck: What is the one thing you wouldn’t do for love?
Italian guy: Kill myself.
Huck: Kill yourself?
Italian guy: There’s a limit to my love.
You might like
American Football: The One With The Feelings
Many moons — The Midwest emo architects transformed a college experiment into a coming-of-age soundtrack. 25 years on, their latest iteration sees them bottle the same magic for the ups and downs of middle life.
Written by: Tracy Kawalik
Joe James: “I will never be absent in my children’s lives because I know it doesn’t feel nice”
Hard Feelings — As the silky MC prepares to release his debut album ‘The Ends Never Ends’, he joins our column on fatherhood and masculinity to discuss leaving his childhood home at 16, the manosphere and his risk-embracing approach to life.
Written by: Robert Kazandjian
Analogue Appreciation: mary in the junkyard
Role Model Hermit — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, it’s art rock fabulists mary in the junkyard.
Written by: mary in the junkyard
Kibo’s compendium of Kwengletarianism
Kwengletaria:Ragamyff — As UK rap’s latest prodigious MC announces his most ambitious project to date, Rob Kazandjian spends time with Kibo in a north London pub to chat about his rise, as well as the inspirations and ideologies underpinning his music.
Written by: Robert Kazandjian
Celebrating the art of making out on tour with Tove Lo
The Kiss Book — In the wake of the pandemic, photographer Kenny Laubbacher travelled around several countries with the Swedish pop star, capturing the joy and desire of kissing fans.
Written by: Zoe Whitfield
The dreamy, surfy sounds of Cactus for Breakfast
Vitamin B — The Berlin-based band blends eclectic lyrics and influences spanning The Ventures, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Fela Kuti into a swirl of garage psych. We caught up with them as they brought their jubilant live show to Huck’s showcase on the final night of SXSW London.
Written by: Roxana Diba