It’s less than a week until Mad Cool Festival 2024 kicks off, and excitement is at an all-time high. With headline performances from The Killers, Dua Lipa, Pearl Jam and Måneskin, alongside appearances from Bring Me The Horizon, Avril Lavigne, Keane and many, many more, it’s shaping up to be one almighty weekend in the centre of Madrid.
We got the set times through earlier this week, meaning fans can get their plans in order ahead of time. To help you out though, we’ve rounded up 20 of the hottest bangers that we can’t wait to hear at Mad Cool 2024. Check them out below, then dive into the extended, specially-curated Spotify playlist.
The Killers – ‘Mr. Brightside’
The Killers are currently on their ‘Rebel Diamonds’ world tour, celebrating 20 years of glamorous indie rock & roll. The Las Vegas group have plenty of hits in their arsenal but when it comes to rowdy, euphoric singalongs – does it get any better than ‘Mr. Brightside’, which is perhaps the greatest festival anthem of all time.
Where and when to see it: Mad Cool Stage, Saturday 13 July, 23:00
Dua Lipa – ‘Houdini’
Silencing any doubters with an incredible Friday night headline slot at Glastonbury Festival, Dua Lipa is now set to bring the dance euphoria of ‘Radical Optimism’ to Mad Cool. Her third album was written with sunshine escapism and shared joy in mind, so what better place to showcase it than the sun-soaked Mad Cool?
Where and when to see it: Mad Cool Stage, Wednesday 10 July, 21:30
Bring Me The Horizon – ‘LosT’
Bring Me The Horizon have headlined both Download and Reading & Leeds Festivals in recent years, and the long-awaited ‘Post Human: NeX GEn’ has only increased the metal titan’s collection of bombastic bangers. While their new album has plenty of fury, ‘LosT’ is a colourful, hyper-pop inspired anthem of community that’s perfect for uniting a festival crowd.
Where and when to see it: Region Of Madrid, Saturday 13 July, 21:25
Måneskin – ‘Gossip’
Since winning Eurovision with the inescapable ‘Zitti E Buoni’, Måneskin have made it their mission to deliver rowdy rock & roll gigs and expand on their back catalogue of hits, with 2023’s ‘Rush!’ giving them plenty of fire power. There’s no shortage of excellent Måneskin tunes to choose from, but we’re most looking forward to ‘Gossip’ – especially with collab partner Tom Morello playing the same day.
Where and when to see it: Mad Cool Stage, Friday 12 July, 00:35
The Smashing Pumpkins – ‘Bullet With Butterfly Wings’
The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan has earned a reputation for being a bit of a grump over the years. Ahead of the band’s ongoing The World Is A Vampire tour, he leaned into that by telling fans he didn’t feel obliged to play the hits. Sure, the shows have featured all manner of b-sides, deep cuts and unreleased tracks, but The Smashing Pumpkins have also played every big, angsty hit a casual fan would want to hear.
Where and when to see it: Region Of Madrid, Wednesday 10 July, 23:15
Kenya Grace – ‘Strangers’
The rising star is one of the many buzzy new names straddling the worlds of dance and pop. A slot at last month’s Glastonbury saw Kenya Grace bounce between DJ and live performance, with classics from the likes of Gwen Stefani and Britney Spears reworked under Grace’s unique vision. Breakout single ‘Strangers’ remains the high point of every Kenya Grace set though, with the rumbling drum & bass track as vibrant as ever.
Where and when to see it: Estrellas, Wednesday 10 July, 20:35
Avril Lavigne – ‘Complicated’
22 years after she released her first single, Avril Lavigne has become one of the must-see artists of this festival season. Touring in support of a newly released ‘Greatest Hits’ collection, Lavigne’s current stage show is a masterclass in pop-infused punk and it doesn’t get anymore joyful than bellowing out angsty coming-of-age anthem ‘Complicated’ with a field full of strangers.
Where and when to see it: Mad Cool Stage, Saturday 13 July, 20:15
Sum 41 – ‘Fat Lip’
Rather than cashing in on the ongoing pop-punk resurgence, Sum 41 have decided to call it a day after nearly 30 years together. From the scrappy rebellion of debut album ‘All Killer No Filler’ to the ambition of 2024’s double album ‘Heaven :x: Hell’, the band have always done things their own way and this farewell tour is a real celebration of that, via their biggest, boldest musical swings. And it doesn’t get any bigger than the colossal ‘Fat Lip’.
Where and when to see it: Region Of Madrid, Friday 12 July, 23:00
Crawlers – ‘Come Over (Again)’
With support slots with the likes of My Chemical Romance and Royal Blood already under their belts, Crawlers know a thing or two about putting on an emotional rock show that’ll still kick your ass. Debut album ‘The Mess We Seem To Make’ is a gloriously confident collection of tracks that celebrate self-discovery and community, while breakout hit ‘Come Over (Again)’ remains as visceral and gorgeous as ever. A must see.
Where and when to see it: Mahou 0,0 Tostada, Wednesday 10 July, 23:05
Tom Morello – ‘Killing In The Name’
Tom Morello is one of rock’s busiest guitar heroes. Not only was he a key member of Audioslave and Rage Against The Machine, but his solo career has been full of exciting collaborations and emotionally driven protest anthems. His recent sets have been a real celebration of this enduring legacy, but nothing demands a reaction quite like Rage’s iconic ‘Killing In The Name’.
Where and when to see it: Orange, Friday 12 July, 21:50
Arlo Parks – ‘Weightless’
Arlo Parks’ music tackles trauma, mental wellbeing and mindfulness, with the singer constantly searching for solace in every heart-wrenching anthem. Heard live, though, catharsis reigns supreme as scores of people unite through shared feelings, and Arlo creates a safe space for expression. Her set at Mad Cool is going to be one of the most powerful, especially with tender, resolute tracks like ‘Weightless’ in the set.
Where and when to see it: Region Of Madrid, Saturday 13 July, 19:00
Ashnikko – ‘Weedkiller’
After years of bratty, viral hits, Ashnikko created a conceptual world to explore with debut album ‘Weedkiller’. A dystopian nightmare, the record was driven by a desire to fight back and reclaim what had been taken, with the music as empowering as you’d expect. The album’s title track is a swaggering, defiant anthem that still has their tongue firmly in their cheek and is sure to go off at Mad Cool.
Where and when to see it: Orange, Saturday 13 July, 01:00
Picture Parlour – ‘Norwegian Wood’
Buzzy Manchester-based group Picture Parlour found themselves riding a wave of hype shortly after their very first gigs, while debut single ‘Norwegian Wood’ lived up to all that promise. In the months that have followed, the band have shared their very first EP (‘Face In The Picture)’ but that spindly, sprawling introduction to the band remains as magical as ever.
Where and when to see it: Mahou Cinco Estrellas, Saturday 13 July, 19:45
Garbage – ‘Only Happy When It Rains’
Sometimes you just want a reliable legend to deliver a set of singalong hits. Enter Garbage. The band remain an inspiring force, while tracks like ‘Stupid Girl’ and ‘I Think I’m Paranoid’ have moved beyond nostalgia, to become timeless anthems. We can’t wait to hear ‘Only Happy When It Rains’, especially after looking at a weather forecast that promises nothing but sunshine over Mad Cool.
Where and when to see it: Region Of Madrid, Wednesday 10 July, 19:00
Tyla – ‘Water’
Tyla has spent the months after the never-ending success of breakout hit ‘Water’ proving she’s more than a one-hit wonder. Her brilliant self-titled debut album is a playful, determined dance through amapiano (a blend of Afro, deep house, jazz, and kwaito) but an injury put the victory lap on pause, with a world tour and appearance at Coachella cancelled. There’s a feeling that her appearance at Mad Cool will see Tyla making up for lost time, while ‘Water’ is going to be an absolute moment of magic.
Where and when to see it: Mad Cool Stage, Saturday 13 July, 18:00
Genesis Owusu – ‘Leaving The Light’
Genesis Owusu has quickly developed a reputation for creating powerful, thought-provoking and badass music, with his live shows a rollercoaster of emotions. He confidently veers between punk, funk and jazz, with recent album ‘Struggler’ another bold step forward from an artist who fearlessly follows his own path. If you want proof of his power, start with the fiery ‘Leaving The Light’
Where and when to see it: Orange, Saturday 13 July, 23:35
Alvvays – ‘Pharmacist’
After a brilliant showing at Glastonbury, Alvvays are looking to keep the party going with an appearance at Mad Cool. Due to years of silence following the release of second album ’Antisocilaites’, many fans were worried the band had broken up but they returned, more determined than ever, in 2022 with ‘Blue Rev’. It’s been a non-stop jangly disco ever since, with comeback track ‘Pharmacist’ capturing that giddy playfulness perfectly.
Where and when to see it: Orange, Friday 12 July, 19:00
Pearl Jam – ‘Alive’
With a rich, complex but constantly brilliant back catalogue, it’s little wonder Pearl Jam have become one of the most beloved rock bands around. Their involvement in the grunge scene of the ‘90s and their ability to transcend it is the stuff of legend, while recent album ‘Dark Matter’ saw the band continue to flex. Nothing says guitar hero like the swaggering, heartfelt power of ‘Alive’ which, for our money, is one of the greatest rock anthems ever.
Where and when to see it: Mad Cool Stage, Thursday 11 July, 22:40
Janelle Monáe – ‘Float’
Despite some harsh clashes, Janelle Monáe stunned at Glastonbury 2024 last month, with an ambitious, considered, powerhouse set that pulled out all of the big guns. There were costume changes, intricate visuals and a grand sense of theatre to every moment. The best thing about it was Monáe’s impressive vocals though, which make already-incredible tracks like ‘Float’ even more awe-inspiring.
Where and when to see it: Mad Cool Stage, Wednesday 10 July, 19:00
Keane – ‘Bedshaped’
Keane are currently on tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their gorgeous debut album ‘Hopes & Fears’. Sure, the record features all-time karaoke classics like ‘Somewhere Only We Know’, ‘Everybody’s Changing’ and ‘This Is The Last Time’ but if you want a festival classic, look at the last song ‘Bedshaped’. It’s giddy, optimistic but tinged with pain, and is going to sound phenomenal as the sun sets at Mad Cool 2024.
Where and when to see it: Region Of Madrid, Thursday 11 July, 21:20
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