After two years of COVID delays, Primavera Sound made its triumphant return this month at Barcelona’s brutalist Parc del Fòrum. Celebrating its belated 20th anniversary, the festival was split across two successive weekends, with thousands of fans old and new keen to get in on the impressively stacked line-up that ranged from massive pop acts – Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion and Lorde – to some of electronic music’s hottest DJs. For those who missed it, we’ve rounded up our favourite six moments from the festival – enjoy!

GRIMES PLAYED A RAUCOUS DJ SET

Packed out doesn’t even describe the turnout for Grimes’ DJ set at the festival, the rest of the site must have been a ghost town for the hour she played. Bar a few hairy blends (we’ve all been there) and the questionable choice to drop Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You“ in the middle of a 2AM techno set, she was a certified crowd-pleaser, jumping seamlessly from banger to banger as the audience regularly screamed in approval. She seemed to be having just as much fun as the rest of the crowd, climbing on the decks and mixing upside down, thrashing around in the wind machine and dancing around the stage to herself. (NK)

THE WHOLE NTS RAVE DUNGEON SET UP

I think it’s safe to admit that sometimes the open-air set-up at festivals just isn’t conducive to the vibes of a more intimate, sweaty, bass-heavy DJ set. It’s hard to find dark corners to immerse yourself fully and drown out the commotion that might be happening around you. This year, Primavera succeeded in bringing the club to the festival in collaboration with NTS with a new stage addition that sought to remedy this. Nestled underneath the huge solar panel structure, the elusive dungeon setup saw DJs and artists like Anz, VTSS and Erika De Casier draw massive crowds and long queues. (NK)

CAN’T GO WRONG WITH BICEP

Less of a highlight, more of a mantra. If Bicep have a million fans, I am one of them. If Bicep have ten fans, I am one of them. If Bicep have only one fan, that fan is me. If Bicep have no fans, that means I am no longer on this Earth. If the world is against the Bicep, I am against the world. Jokes aside, the Northern Irish duo are a festival lineup mainstay at this point which can sometimes dim an act’s allure because it feels less “exclusive” somehow. But as crowds flocked to and filled up the entire Cupra auditorium and beyond, the producer-DJ’s proved exactly why they’re booked time and time again with a typically transcendent set. (NK)

BURNA BOY & THE TOPLESS AGENDA

African music talent admittedly didn’t have an incredible showing on this year’s Primavera lineup, especially given its recent international commercial success with the likes of CKay’s Love Nwatiti and Wizkid and Tems’ Essence. Most of it ended up relegated to the stages at the far, far end of the festival, typically reserved for late-night electronic sets. Fortunately, though, the distance didn’t stop Burna Boy from drawing a huge crowd of fans who were down to make the pilgrimage and the African Giant’s set was a welcome change of pace for a late Friday night. The Tous stage was overflowing as the Nigerian star delivered anthem after anthem including Killin’ Dem and Anybody before encouraging everyone in the crowd to follow his lead and take their tops off for the universally understood Ye. (NK)

THE BOILER ROOM X CUPRA STAGE SHONE A LIGHT ON CLUB MUSIC PAST AND PRESENT

The sheer range of dance music acts at this year’s Boiler Room x Cupra stage was so impressive that we’re struggling to choose one singular highlight. Festival-goers circled around the decks, located in the middle of the stage, which hosted a number of acts ranging from rap producer Kenny Beats to a five-hour courtesy of Glasgow DJ Optimo. On closing night, German producer Mechatok played a heady set featuring music from Chief Keef to Drain Gang and beyond. This was shortly followed by mysterious producer duo Two Shell, who trolled audiences with their signature chipmunk-style vocals and Kings of Leon samples. Makinera legends Pastis and Buenri also reunited for a mental hour of 90s hard trance and acid. (GY)

THE PC MUSIC SHOWCASE BROUGHT FUTURE POP TO THE FOREFRONT

As part of its expanded Primavera a la Ciutat programme of club gigs, PC Music held an Acid Angel showcase at Razzamatazz, featuring performances from the UK label’s stars as well as associated friends and family. Highlights included label head A.G. Cook, who played his signature synthesis of futurist pop and experimental electronic music. Elsewhere, 100 gecs performed their first-ever European show dressed in wizardly robes à la their “Doritos & Fritos” music video, whizzing through fan favourites like “Stupid Horse” and “Money Machine” at warp speed. Closing the night was Dorian Electra, whose crushing selection of fantasy hardcore and medieval samples proved for an ear-splitting finale. (GY)