Mad Cool is a three-day festival in Spain exhibiting some of Europe’s best music. Otherwise known as Madrid’s biggest party of the summer it takes place from the 6th – 8th of July. Across the weekend artists such as Lizzo, Pixey, Angel Olsen and Raye performed.
This year the festival was cashless and had many non-music-related attractions including an Aperol Lounge, Mcflurry counter and a SEAT dance floor. If amusements are your thing a giant Ferris wheel lit up the festival (and made for an excellent selfie spot).
We round-up five of the best sun-soaked showcases from the week.
Mimi Webb
On Friday at Mad Cool, at the indoor setting of the Ouigo Stage, Amelia, better known as Mimi Webb proved to Madrid why her music is chart topping as she sparkled in a bright green co-ord. It was as if a young girl in their bedroom, singing into a hairbrush pretending to be a pop star, had been magically transported into Mimi Webb’s festival stage. Known for her sing-a-long break-up songs she addressed her fans, “This next one’s about stepping out of a relationship and realising it’s so much better on the other side.” Mimi’s authentic on-stage presence provides her audience with the warmth of an older sister. Remembering to remain humble on her journey, she thanked her band in between tracks and interacted with fans who sang the loudest. Definite crowd pleasers were ‘Red Flags’ and ‘24/5’.
M.I.A
One of three acts to perform on the ‘Madrid is Life’ stage was M.I.A, a last-minute replacement for the previously booked Janelle Monae. Stepping out in a neon pink outfit accompanied by backing dancers in matching neon green. Two giant screens displaying the set had a trippy filter layered over them adding to the essence of her electro-dance / rap style of music. She urged her fans to let loose throughout the whole set, “Mad Cool let’s party!”
She also had several outfit changes during her set including a jacket and trousers emblazoned with dollar bills for her fans to rip off as she crowd surfed whilst singing ‘Paper Planes’ as white confetti canons exploded.
Lizzo
Bringing the biggest crowd of the weekend by far was an apparently hungover Lizzo, with her ever-positive energy and charismatic dance moves her charm was working its magic with the Spanish public.
Shining in silver, a Thursday evening Madrid crowd experienced all her greatest hits, including the recent TikTok viral ‘About Damn Time’ and from her first album, ‘Truth Hurts’. The Grammy Award winner also played a flute cover of Coldplay’s, ‘Yellow’ (she still hasn’t got the memo about us being sick of Chris Martin) and signed a fan’s flute case from the crowd. Her performance was continuously praised over the weekend and there is no doubt that all felt her message of love and acceptance.
DORA
Young Spanish pop musician DORA performed on Saturday in the Mahou Maestra tent as part of Vibra Mahou: an indoor avenue decorated with chandeliers and three stages set up beside each other to showcase newer acts. Her career started when she was 16 and she graced the stage this week at 19, with her latest single, ‘Te Vas’. Despite being a younger act of the festival she had a confidence that was matched by her cool shirt and shorts outfit. She handed refreshments to the crowd and encapsulated an enthusiastic crowd who sang and danced along with her.
GIRLI
On Thursday, one of the first acts to perform in the Vibra Mahou Avenue was the instantly recognisable Amelia Toomey with bright pink dip-dyed hair – that’s London-based singer GIRLI to the initiated. Her set gets an honourable mention because her first gig as part of the festival was actually on the official Mad Cool airline flight over to Madrid from London. Already included in our ones to watch video after her 2017 single ‘Not That Girl’ went viral on TikTok we got to experience latest songs from her EP, ‘Why Am I Like This?’, including ‘Cheap Love’ and a throwback to 2019, ‘Friday Night Big Screen’. She described herself as a work in progress but it is clear by her performance how much her personality has developed in her songwriting.