The last full day of Primavera Sound Porto dawned cool but bright, offering fans one last chance to bask in the sunshine with their favorite bands. Saturday’s lineup was packed with indie darlings, pop perfection and Turnstile for a fitting end to another incredible festival weekend. Atlas braved the Turnstile pit- and much more- to bring you the very best moments from day three.
Ladies Rule the Stages
The sun was still high in the sky when Chicago trio Horsegirl hit the Super Bock stage to an already impressive audience. Their laidback, devil-may-care stage attitude belied the earnestness of their lyrics as they had fans singing along to “Option 8”, “Julie” and more. The group has been endorsed by some of the most influential names in the indie rock scene and it’s easy to see why- the next time they return to the Euro festival circuit, they’ll be on much bigger stages.
Several hours later, Kim Deal and Wet Leg both rocked the main Porto Stage. Kim Deal’s folksy charm was whimsical and welcome and she was backed by a plethora of talented musicians for a weaving tapestry of sound that fit perfectly in the late afternoon light.
The crowd was bundling up in the coastal chill as Wet Leg took the stage close to a very late sunset and blew everyone out of the water. Fans on the barricade came prepared- armed with signs, rainbow flags and permanent smiles as they eagerly welcomed the band back to Portugal. They slammed through 15 powerful songs, including “Wet Dream”, “Being in Love” and much more, absolutely delighting a diehard crowd of supporters. Singer Rhian Teasdale was magnetic, alternating between tossing her dirty blonde hair and slamming at guitar chords all while backed by the rest of the incredible musicians beside her. The energy was joyful and enthusiastic from start to finish as Wet Leg took Primavera Sound from day to night.
A Hearty Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated acts of the day was Aussie group Parcels. Their infectious blend of indie rock, pop and pure groovy funk had attendees flocking to the Vodafone Stage early to get the perfect view of the dreamy quintet. With all the screaming, it was like The Beatles were back in town and the twinkling guitars and beaming smiles certainly warranted the comparison. The guys certainly love playing together and bringing their own Aussie summer to Porto- easy to see why the crowd stretched all the way up the hill for their set.
After the sun went down, the band Squid staged their own British invasion with a late night performance on the Revolut Stage. Drummer Ollie Judge also serves as the band’s main vocalist- a rare sighting in today’s rock scene but a welcome addition to the Saturday lineup. Squid is a hodgepodge of sounds and influences that all come together for a perfectly unique experience that was not to be missed. Their energy sent a wave over the audience that propelled them right into the rest of a very long night.
Porto Experiences Turnstile Summer
Charli XCX was on to something at Coachella earlier this year, declaring it to be officially Turnstile Summer. Their headlining turn on the Vodafone Stage was preceded by Jamie xx on the Porto Stage for a DJ set that hypnotized the crowd into an endless dance party. Known for his role in The xx, Jamie’s solo sets allow him to push the boundaries of sound with indie/EDM mixes that appeal to crossover fans of all genres. He spoke not a word during his lengthy set but the slight smile on his face told the audience that it was absolutely a great night.
In the early hours of what was then Sunday morning, the anticipation for Turnstile’s set was an audible hum from a massive crowd stretching all the way back to the tree line in the park. Starting with the serene visual of waves crashing, the Baltimore hardcore outfit bathed the stage in shades of blue and purple for a set not unlike their album release show in Brooklyn just one week before. “Never Enough” tested the limits of how loud the crowd could sing along before the first notes of “T.L.C.” sent them into a frenzy of moshing and crowd surfing- as is tradition.
Their latest album took the spotlight but the set was again a well-balanced selection of songs from each era of their catalog- and every song got the same wild response. Beyond thanking the festival crowd, the band preferred to let the music do all of the talking and let the audience raise the volume throughout their performance. The encore of “Seein’ Stars” and “Birds” whipped the crowd into such a ruckus that casual observers stood slack-jawed at Turnstile’s sheer command over their audience.
While there was more music to come that night, it was Turnstile’s set that had fans talking as they spilled out of the park for this final day of Primavera Sound. Countless attendees made Parque da Cidade their home for the weekend, drinking in the atmosphere, community and plenty of libations- another amazing year at Primavera Sound Porto is complete!
