Primavera Porto 2025: Five essential acts bringing heat to Portugal’s coolest festival

Primavera Sound is one of those festivals that basically doesn’t need an introduction. Sun, sea, and great bands – what’s not to love? It’s not all about Primavera’s Barcelona branch, though. Primavera Sound Porto, now in its twelfth year, brings the best of the Barcelona edition to Portugal. Think of like Reading & Leeds, except instead of rain and flaming tents, you get ice-cold drinks, sunshine, and as much port as you’d expect in the city which literally gave the drink its name. So with all that in mind, we’ll see you down the front, probably for one of these five great acts.

Fontaines D.C.

Dork faves from the very start of their existence, Fontaines D.C. absolutely deserve their current position as one of the world’s biggest guitar bands. They’re also absolutely massive live, drawing on every inch of their discography to give a show which you’ll not be forgetting any time soon. Most recent album ‘Romance’ has seen them completely reinvent their style and sound, with tracks like ‘Starburster’ every bit as powerful as you’d expect when they’re belted out by a crowd of thousands.

Charli xcx

OK, you probably don’t need much convincing to go and see Charli, do you? Brat summer may have been last year, but you’ve had an extra few months to perfect the ‘Apple’ dance and learn all the words to ‘Von Dutch’. Or maybe you’ve just been to see Charli before and therefore know that you’d be completely insane to miss the chance to see her again.

Haim

We at Dork were very excited to see Haim appearing on festival lineups this year. We were even more excited when they announced new album ‘I Quit’, their first album in five whole years. Not many bands could weather an absence like that without losing a few fans, but Haim are so good that they somehow seem bigger now than they were before they disappeared. Luckily the wait was more than worth it, with everything we’ve heard of the new album so far standing with the best of their previous output. Definitely not one to miss – you wouldn’t want to have to wait another five years, would you?

Turnstile

About to release ‘NEVER ENOUGH’, the follow-up to 2021’s critically acclaimed ‘Glow On’ (which will be out by the time they play), there’s never been a better time to catch Baltimore hardcore legends Turnstile than right now. Expect big riffs, even bigger mosh pits, and feeling like you’ve had the workout of your life by the end of the set. There’s a reason this band is the cream of the hardcore crop and while they sound great on record, on stage is where they truly shine.

Wet Leg

Finally back with new music after what feels like forever (but has actually been three years), Wet Leg have proved once again why they got so big, so fast. Whip-smart lyrics, earworm instrumentals, and an invitation to get punched in the face – it’s all there on comeback single ‘Catch These Fists’. We just hope the new material doesn’t edge out ‘Ur Mum’ on the setlist, because hearing an entire crowd doing their ‘longest, loudest scream’ along with the band is Very Good Fun Indeed.

Primavera Porto takes place from 12th-15th August. You can find the full line-up (and buy tickets) on their website now.