NOS Primavera Breaks Records

The fourth edition of the Portuguese version of Spain’s Primavera Sound festival did better than the previous three, with the daily crowd averaging close to 26,000.

Photo: Hugo Lima
in Portugal

That’s 1,000 or so up on the average crowds of 2013 and 2014, and this year two of the three days hit the 28,000 mark. The festival actually begins in the clubs of Porto, the country’s second-largest city, then moves outdoors to the Parque da Cidad.

Using Lisbon-based promoter Ritmos & Blues as local partner and with money from Portuguese mobile operator Optimus Telecomunicações, the festival has tried to mix international headliners with a wide range of breaking acts.

The festival changed name when Optimus merged with ZON and formed a new company called NOS. This year’s June 4-6 lineup included Muse, Ben Harper, James Blake, Roisin Murphy, Alt-J, Kodaline, and The Jesus & Mary Chain.