Alex MilsomPrimavera Sound festivalgoers say poor communication has put a “dampener” on the event after numerous headline acts were cancelled last minute as severe weather hit Barcelona.
Organisers announced the performances by Massive Attack, Doja Cat and Bad Gyal would not be going ahead shortly before they were expected to play on Thursday night due to “safety reasons” caused by “adverse weather”.
Earlier in the day, Alex G and Mac DeMarco’s sets were also pulled because of the yellow weather warning, with the festival apologising for “any inconvenience”.
Addressing the situation on Friday, organisers said they “understand and share the frustration and disappointment of the audience”.
Organisers said they had worked with the teams of electronic collective Massive Attack, US pop star Doja Cat and Spanish singer Bad Gyal to get their late-night performances to go ahead, but it was “not possible to guarantee safety” of the fans or acts.
In an Instagram statement, Primavera Sound also confirmed “no serious incidents” occurred and that they followed all safety protocols.
Thursday tickets will be refunded, organisers said, with details about the process due to be shared on Monday.
Getty ImagesMusic fan Alex Milsom tells BBC Newsbeat the festival did warn that rain was forecast, but says there was a lack of communication during the day.
“I had absolutely no idea what was going on in the middle of the festival,” the 28-year-old from London says.
“There were rumours left, right and centre.
“It’s proof that when you don’t know what’s going on, you breed disinformation because group chats and messages and Instagram comments were the only way I was finding out what was going on.”
Milsom says he only learnt about Doja Cat being cancelled through her going live on Instagram, where she told her fans she was “absolutely crushed” that she could not perform.
He says that fans were getting notifications on the app saying ‘programme update’ but with no further explanation.
Milsom, who works in communications, said the handling of the first day has put a “dampener” on the event, especially for fans who have “saved up for months”.
“The least they could do is plan for the rain that they knew was coming four days ago.”
Lauren CashellLauren Cashell, from County Clare in the Republic of Ireland, says she stood in the rain for seven hours with her friends and “didn’t see a single minute of music”.
“It really felt like everyone just had a collective trauma bond [moment] from all the rain that happened,” the 27-year-old tells Newsbeat.
Having previously attended Irish festivals which have contingency plans for rain, Cashell says crowds were left “confused as to how there was no backup plan”.
“Everyone was just so shocked as to how it went and how it was handled,” she says.
Cashell says she thinks the mood will still be “high” for the rest of the event, but that “there’s going to be a lot of making up to do”.
A host of acts are scheduled for the second day of the festival, including rock band The Cure, US pop star Addison Rae and British singer PinkPantheress.
