Music Odds – Who Will Headline Primavera 2017?

Those of you who took a little trip to Barcelona for Primavera Sound this year were treated to a lineup for the ages: Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem, and Brian freakin’ Wilson, to name a few.

As we do, when these large-scale festivals conclude, we start looking (and guessing) at next year’s headliners. As I write this, there aren’t a lot of credible rumors buzzing around for Primavera 2017. For now, this is one big game of speculation. But I’m a speculation all-star, or so says my mom, Miss Cleo.

VIP tickets to next year’s festival have already gone on sale. What kind of lineup would it take for you to purchase a pass and a flight to Barcelona? Below are my early picks and odds on headliners, though I don’t advise buying your tickets based thereon just yet!

Primavera Sound 2017 Headliner Odds:

Depeche Mode: 7/1

The 80s electronic new-wave band recently announced that they are working on a new album that is set to come out in the spring of 2017. They will most likely play a few big festivals; hearing Personal Jesus being belted out in Barcelona would be Precious. Inviting Martin, Andy, Dave, Peter, and Christian to the Primavera stage would be a no-brainer.

Gorillaz: 17/2

At some point, this cartoon band will release its fifth studio album. They’ve only been talking about it since late 2011. Recently, they announced that their new songs have been pushed to 2017. That could mean a 2017 tour. They’ve yet to play Primavera. Are the stars set to align? I can definitely see the virtual virtuosos headlining next year.

Daft Punk: 10/1

There is a ton of buzz, generally, regarding Daft Punk potentially reuniting and touring some of the larger festivals. As I mentioned in my Coachella headliner odds, Daft Punk has a pattern of doing their Alive tour every ten years. It started in 1997 and returned in 2007. Will the trend continue in 2017?

There is talk that they could be headlining Glastonbury 2017. But that doesn’t mean they can’t headline in Barca, as well.

Prophets of Rage: 15/1

Prophets of Rage is the latest supergroup, and it’s a true mash-up, comprised of three members of Rage Against the Machine, plus Chuck D of Public Enemy, and B-Real of Cypress Hill. It’s not the Rage reunion that so many of us want, but it’ll probably better than more Audioslave, amiright? The politically charged group is would bring some social justice to the Primavera stage. If the world keeps heading in its current direction, that would be a welcome sight … I mean sound.

ABBA: 20/1

When ABBA went on hiatus in 1982, they were supposedly just “taking a break.” It was one hell of a break. Like a disgruntled spouse who “steps out to get groceries” and never comes back, the members of ABBA didn’t play together for 30 years. But, earlier this month, they reunited for their 50th anniversary in what was an impromptu performance at a private celebration. Afterwards, they each spoke glowingly about getting back together. Mamma Mia, here we go again! Let’s hope that this isn’t just a one off. I need more Dancing Queen in my life.

Over the next few months, this list and the odds will be adjusted, but below are the rest of the artists who I could see headlining Primavera Sound in 2017. Who would you like to see? Comment below, or on Facebook and Twitter.

Arcade Fire
Arctic Monkeys
Beck
Bjork
The Chemical Brothers
The Killers
Massive Attack
The White Stripes
The XX

Photo credit: Tylerxg1 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.