PRIMAL SCREAM LIVE AT ‘DELESTE’ IN VALENCIA! (EXCLUSIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC REPORT)

Under the palm trees of Valencia’s Jardines de Viveros, Primal Scream turned Deleste Festival into a euphoric collision of rave culture, rock’n’roll swagger and political fire. What could easily have been a nostalgia set instead felt alive, inclusive and strangely contemporary — a reminder that Bobby Gillespie and company remain one of Britain’s most restless live bands. They have quite a back catalogue to choose from too!

From the opening surge of “Movin’ on Up,” the atmosphere shifted instantly. Thousands of voices lifted into the warm Valencian night as the band rolled seamlessly into “Don’t Fight It, Feel It,” transforming the festival grounds into something between a gospel revival and an acid-house warehouse party. The crowd didn’t simply watch the concert; they inhabited it! “Jailbird” arrived with Stones-like swagger, all crunching guitars and snarling charisma and tight but loose! Then they played newer material such as “Love Insurrection” and “Deep Dark Waters”…the latter of which didn’t really come across … but it proved that Primal Scream are far more than a heritage act revisiting old glories. That said, how about exploring “Burning Wheel” or “Kowalski” for future shows?

Mid-set, the concert descended into darker territory. “Higher Than the Sun” floated through the humid evening air like a narcotic dream. Booby Gillespie mentioned he was dedicating it to the “Master” who had recently departed. Did he mean Mani? From their second album “I’m Losing More Than I’ll Ever Have” connected the band’s indie beginnings with the electronic revolution they later ignited with ‘Loaded’. It was hypnotic rather than merely loud — the kind of performance that reminded everyone why Screamadelica (their third album) still casts such a long shadow over alternative music.

Then came the brutal run of “Kill All Hippies,” the superb groove of “Shoot Speed-Kill Light” and the now infamous “Swastika Eyes,” which detonated across the festival with industrial intensity from their pertinent XTRMNTR album. The Rickenbacker bass & insistent keyboards hit like machinery and Gillespie prowled the stage with the defiant energy of a man still convinced music should provoke. Spanish press later described the set as “vibrant” and politically charged, noting the emotional impact of “Swastika Eyes” in particular. Suffice to say, somebody handed Gillespie a Palestinian flag (which he wrapped around himself) during this incendiary song and he called out to the crowd, imploring them to join him as the public sang “Free Palestine” in unison.

Politics aside, Primal Scream have always understood that rebellion works best when paired with release. “Loaded” exploded into communal ecstasy, instantly erasing any distance between stage and audience. During “Come Together,” the band teasingly slipped into a brief snippet of ‘Suspicious Minds’, a playful touch that drew huge cheers and added a flash of classic soul melodrama to the psychedelic celebration.

By the time “Country Girl” arrived, Deleste had become one enormous singalong. And then came “Rocks” — filthy, joyous and gloriously excessive. Keith Richards would have approved! The closing anthem felt less like the end of a concert and more like the climax of a collective release, guitars roaring while the crowd bounced beneath the Valencia night sky. As Bobby said, “We’re gonna burn the stage with this one. Ain’t nobody gonna be able to follow us!”

Deleste 2026 had plenty of acclaimed names on the bill, but Primal Scream delivered the defining performance of the festival: part rave, part rock revival, part protest rally, and often exhilarating. More than forty years into their career, they still sound like a band chasing freedom in real time.

So, Bobby, did you make it on time for the Valencia CF vs FC Barcelona match at Mestalla on Saturday night?

Report by Will McCarthy

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’

PRIMAL SCREAM SET-LIST