CHAPPELL ROAN, FONTAINES D.C. AND CENTRAL CEE BRING PRIMAVERA 2025 TO A SPECTACULAR CLOSE

Saturday arrived quicker than expected, it brought with it one of the most powerful artist line-ups of the weekend — both sonically and politically. The final and arguably most anticipated ‘Powerpuff Girl‘of Primavera, Chappell Roan, was set to headline. In her own words, she had “come out of retirement to headline Primavera,” and honestly, thank god she did.

The day’s schedule was tight: Fontaines D.C. into Chappell, then Central Cee, and finally the heartbreaking clash between Confidence Man and LCD Soundsystem. But let’s start where the real shift began.

FONTAINES DC

Fontaines D.C. hit the Revolut stage at 8:35pm on the dot. The Dublin-based band always deliver, but this set hit harder. Not just musically, but morally. Their performance felt like a rallying cry —raw, political, and emotionally exacting.

From the opening notes of ‘Romance’, the crowd was locked in. Their gritty guitars, intense synths, and Grian Chatten’s poetically sharp vocals — hits like a slow-building storm. The first half of their set featured back-to-back favourites: ‘Televised Mind‘, ‘Jackie Down The Line‘, ‘Roman Holiday‘ — pure electric energy, drenched in mood and meaning.

But it was ‘Boys In The Better Land’ and ‘I Love You’ that pushed the set into something historic. As the band played, the screens lit up with the words “FREE PALESTINE” and “ISRAEL IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE. USE YOUR VOICE.” A Palestinian flag was draped over the keyboard. No longer just music, but a demand to care, listen and act. It was defiant and urgent, delivered with the kind of intensity that Fontaines can muster. Their performance wasn’t just a highlight of the festival — it was a reminder of the power artists have when they use their platform, and use it right.

CHAPPELL ROAN

After a quick drink and a lot of chat about Fontaines’ set, it was time for Chappell Roan — the star of the moment, whose live show proved that she’s not just rising — she’s already there. The final Powerpuff girl of the weekend. If you don’t know her name, you definitely know the ‘HOT TO GO!’ viral TikTok dance. If not that, then surely ‘Pink Pony Club’, her queer pop anthem. And if none of this rings a bell? Honestly, you might be living under a rock, far from civilisation. 

From the moment she emerged dressed as a moth for Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl, it was clear:, this was a performance — theatrical, defiant, camp, emotional, and bursting with joy. The stage was transformed with plants, lights, and colour, reflecting her ever-expanding queer universe. It felt like a Broadway show written by cowgirl-loving punks and designed for those of us who lived and breathed through Tumblr and heartbreak. 

She packed out the Estrella and Revolut stages — two full stages, side by side, front to back. People knew every word. It was like One Direction at their peak, except now it’s sapphic and self-made.

There were back-to-back bangers about heartbreak, girlhood, queerness, and defiance — from the viral tunes to an unreleased track called ‘The Subway’, which, of course, the crowd already knew. She paused mid-set to read out fan-submitted ex horror stories: one who never showered, one who couldn’t “use his hands,” and one who cheated with his girlfriend’s mum. Before launching into ‘The Giver’, “I get the job done,” she sang. No lies detected.

There was also the emotional gut-punch of ‘Coffee’, where she cradled a stuffed dragon, singing about the inevitable spiral of seeing an ex again. Vulnerability never looked so good.

Closing with an explosive trifecta: ‘Good Luck, Babe!’, ‘My Kink is Karma’, and ‘Pink Pony Club’. It was liberating. The kind of moment where you remember why you love music. Why being queer is powerful. Why pop is political. She created a church for the outsiders, and every single person there — from the pink cowboy hats to the crying 20-somethings — felt it.

As a woman, I’ve never felt more seen, more safe, more whole at a festival. Primavera proves that gender-affirming, inclusive lineups aren’t a fantasy — they’re the future. The energy around Chappell made that clear: this wasn’t just a set — it was a cultural shift.

CENTRAL CEE

Then came Central Cee —minimal, but packed with energy. No frills, no flashy production, him and his charisma. It was almost funny how well it worked. One minute, Chappell Roan is singing about sapphic freedom, the next Cench is dropping “how can I be homophobic, my bitch is gay.” Primavera’s diversity in motion.

And then, the impossible choice: Confidence Man vs LCD Soundsystem. We tried both.

CONFIDENCE MAN

We started at the 501 Club — a sweaty,  underground car park stage made pitch-black for DJ duo Jersey. Vibes were high. Walls were wet. Then we sprinted to the Amazon stage, to watch  Confidence Man absolutely tear it up. They never fail — danceable, theatrical, fun as hell. Even with the clash, their crowd was packed, right through to final track ‘Holiday’.

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM

Then it was back to the Revolut stage for the last glorious half-hour of LCD Soundsystem. ‘Dance Yrself Clean’ and ‘All My Friends’ under the Barcelona sky at 3am? It doesn’t get better. 60-year-old dads, freshly turned 18-year-olds, drunk girls with peeling bikini straps — all singing like it was the last night of the world.

All in all proving that Primavera Sound isn’t  just another stop on the European festival circuit. It felt like something else entirely — a liminal space where rage met rapture, where queerness bloomed in full colour, and where the sacred and silly collided on sunburnt shoulders. Whether you were twerking to CMAT’s cowboy kink, crying through FKA Twigs’ pole-dancer elegy, or kissing strangers to Armand Van Helden’s Ibiza classics — you knew, deep down:you were exactly where you were meant to be.

So Primavera, you’ve done it again. A gender-balanced lineup, €5 pints, political bravery without compromise, safe spaces that felt truly safe, food that won’t break the bank, sunsets that belong in a movie — and music that held us all in its grip.

And if you’re not planning for 2026 yet? Then hou’re missing something truly special.

Do it. Book the flight. Buy the ticket. Say yes.

Because Primavera has never been about being cool. It’s always been about something bigger: Being seen.