The return of one of Portugal’s biggest music festivals
When we first arrived in Porto in September 2019, I first heard about NOS Primavera Sound – a festival in the Parque da Cidade (the largest public park in Portugal and one of our favourite places to hang out) featuring an impressive roster of artists. Naturally, I was looking forward to going.
Of course, that didn’t happen. Both the 2020 and 2021 editions were postponed due to the pandemic. When 2022 arrived and the new dates were announced, along with an almost identical lineup, I was hesitant to buy a ticket in case it got postponed again. As time got closer and lockdown restrictions eased, it became clear that NOS Primavera Sound was going to happen, so we bought our tickets.
We missed the first day but caught days two and three. With five stages, food trucks, merch stands, loads of chill areas, and even a Boiler Room, there was a lot to explore. Highlights were live performances by King Krule, Slowdive, Beck, 100 gecs, Jehnny Beth, Khruangbin, Little Simz, Gorillaz, Earl Sweatshirt, and DJ sets by Grimes and Joy Orbison.
We have been to the location many times – it was mind-blowing to see how a section of the public park had been transformed into the festival grounds. We discovered parts of the park we didn’t know existed!
The music was diverse and so was the food, with plenty of vegan-friendly options. While wandering through crowds between bands, we enjoyed burritos, churros, pastries, and pad thai, washed down with fruity kombucha.
We have been pleasantly surprised to see how many festivals are happening this summer – many of them a short drive from Porto. After two years of restrictions and limited access to other human beings, it’s refreshing to see the world come alive again.
Summer is in full swing and festival season is here. With some type of event or celebration happening almost every weekend, there’s no lack of fun and interesting things to experience. We’re looking forward to more of this.
