There's a hell of a lot to celebrate at Mad Cool's 10th anniversary bash this July – from returning stadium-conquering heroes to the next big thing in alternative. Here's who you cannot miss at the hottest party of the summer...
Spain’s always been a magnet for us Brits come the summertime, but away from all-inclusive package holidays in Benidorm and the elegant tourist trails in Barcelona, it’s put itself on the festival map in a major way, thanks to the always awesome Mad Cool in Madrid.
Returning for its 10th year, Mad Cool is a festival with a firm grip on its roots in rock music, which are exhibited to the fullest this year on the first day in particular. There’s plenty of pop and indie woven through the line-up too, as well as some proper legends like David Byrne and Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds. When it comes to the heavier side of life, though, there’s more than enough to satisfy…
It feels like a nice touch that the first band on the main stage of this year’s Mad Cool have a handful of songs in Spanish. Still, it’s more than just a shared language that makes The Warning a great fit for this festival, as they wield such a level of passion and stylish charisma that makes them seem like the coolest girls you’ve ever encountered, but with a warm aura it’s hard not to bask in. And, of course, they’ve got buzzing riffs and catchy choruses for days, plus some fresh music to come with their new album Ritual just around the corner.
Palaye Royale have entered another era of ascendancy after their last album Death Or Glory had them conquering both OVO Arena Wembley and Download’s main stage. Anglophiles they may be, but their aspirations have always felt global. Judging by their daring, adrenalised stage show and their unmistakable flair for the dramatic – not to mention their sharp yet eccentric sense of dress – we think Mad Cool’s going to take a liking to them.
The church of Hot Milk is for those who are a little out of place, with big feelings and an appetite for big songs. In other words, a festival is the perfect place for them to set up shop and pull in new converts. The Mancunian rockers are bringing a bolshy and quintessentially British energy to Madrid, and there’s guaranteed to be some hilarious stage chat too. This lot are born to party.
Yes, yes, we know Dogstar playing means there’s a chance to take in real-life Keanu Reeves, but there’s far more to this band than the guy from The Matrix flicking the strings of a bass. As their recent showings at the Roundhouse and Download prove, they’ve got a cool twist on post-grunge that feels like a glorious portal back to the smudged line between the ‘90s and ‘00s. Come for Keanu, but stay for the jams, yeah?
VILLANELLE hammered their live show into shape in the hottest of furnaces when they were the openers on Liam Gallagher’s – father of vocalist Gene – Definitely Maybe tour in 2024. Indebted far more to the dirtier, more ragged tones of Nirvana than to his dad’s band, VILLANELLE have styled themselves as flagbearers for rock‘n’ oll’s revival, boasting both the bravado and the poker-hot tunes to propel them far. At Mad Cool, it’s bound to get even bigger.
The Foos have a big, hot summer ahead of them, packing out a whole stack of stadiums across their current tour. Along the way, they’ll be stopping by in Madrid to cap off the first day in suitably loud style, flexing just how many massive songs they’ve got while also wearing in some of their new bangers from recent album Your Favorite Toy. If nothing else, it’s further proof what a great show Dave Grohl and co. can put on.
Been a while, hasn’t it? The last time A Perfect Circle trekked across the continent, we still had the same monarch since the ‘50s and there was no such thing as COVID-19. Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel are catching up in suitably enigmatic style and they’ve even got a new single in the form of Starless to air out too. This is bound to be special.
Even within the confines of a shortened festival slot, Halsey has been creating a theatrical kind of magic on stage recently. Her current tour, titled The Girl In The Tower, has made her into the star of an epic four-part performance, and you've no doubt seen the photos of her performing surrounded by fire and shredding a guitar while lying down. From the looks of things, they’re going above and beyond. It’s hard not to be enticed.
Karen Dió’s kept up a bold streak of huge wins even before releasing an album – Limp Bizkit, Sum 41, Download, and now a slot at Mad Cool where she’s shoulder-to-shoulder with the big fish. There’s no doubt that she can hold her own, thanks to her arsenal of larger-than-life punk anthems in her back pocket, not to mention her outlandish sense of silliness and fun. Her world is an awesome place to be.
twenty one pilots have shifted into a different gear to tour last year’s surprise new album Breach, gracing festivals for the first time in years after a heavy arena world tour last year in support of Clancy. Those who dive into their red-and-yellow universe will discover a totally unique kind of spectacle with brilliant visuals, cheeky stunts and a sense of theatre unlike any other band out there. Best of all, it’s impossible to miss the love and attention to detail that’s been funnelled into it.
The 10th anniversary edition of Mad Cool takes place at Iberdrola Music in Madrid between July 8 and 11, 2026.
Read this next:
