Mad Cool Festival Archives

Rosalía Easy description for us Brits: Spain’s biggest breakthrough pop star in years What went down: Wednesday’s Mad Cool Welcome Party was technically headlined by Bring Me...

Dan Stubbs - 19th July 2019

NME Blogs

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever reveal hints about the follow-up to ‘Hope Downs’

It's hard to remember a time when Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever weren't on the road. The Australian rockers have spent the past year relentlessly touring their...

Hannah Mylrea - 19th July 2019

Festival photos

The story of Madrid’s scorching Mad Cool Festival 2019 in pictures

Glasto may be over for another year, but don't let the post-Worthy Farm blues get you down: there are still a ton of wicked...

Hannah Mylrea - 16th July 2019

Features

“It’s a celebration of resistance”: Prophets Of Rage on their second album, ‘milkshaking’ and staying woke

“MAKE ESPAŃA RAGE AGAIN!” So read a banner draped over the back of the stage as Prophets of Rage battered through ‘Killing In Name’ at...

Jordan Bassett - 16th July 2019

Festivals Blog

“I’ve spent my life savings on blonde wigs” – Black Honey’s Izzy reveals syrup-based hint for future show at Mad Cool festival

You know when you’re backstage at a festival and the temperature is in the mid-30s and you just can’t resist sticking your feet in...

Dan Stubbs - 15th July 2019

Live Reviews

The Twilight Sad at Mad Cool 2019: more like group primal scream therapy than ‘entertainment’

There are some bands who have their stage moves choreographed like a ballet and banter scripted like a pantomime. The Twilight Sad are no...

Andrew Trendell - 15th July 2019

Festivals Blog

15 brilliant things about The 1975’s festival set (as witnessed at Madrid’s Mad Cool)

The sheer cleverness of the stage set Anyone who witnessed The 1975’s UK arena shows last winter will know that the production was ground-breaking. For...

Dan Stubbs - 15th July 2019

Festivals

NME take SG Lewis for a ride on Mad Cool’s Ferris wheel and try to have a serious chat about music

SG Lewis has spent the past 14 months releasing his 'Dusk, Dark, Dawn' trilogy. The collection of three EPs (which combined make up his debut...

Hannah Mylrea - 15th July 2019

Live Reviews

Pop treasure Robyn brought Mad Cool 2019 to a sophisticated close (except when she snogged herself)

The music of pop’s heartbreak Laurette Robyn is many things – emotionally savage, honeyed and unbelievably good fun to dance to – but you...

Jordan Bassett - 14th July 2019

Blogs

The Cure carry on their Glastonbury high with giddily joyous Mad Cool 2019 set

“There’s an atmosphere and everyone’s clicking,” The Cure frontman Robert Smith told NME in an exclusive interview last week after their glorious finale set...

Andrew Trendell - 14th July 2019

Music News

Watch Prophets of Rage perform ‘Made With Hate’ for the first time live at Mad Cool festival

Prophets of Rage have debuted their recent single, 'Made With Hate' live at Mad Cool festival in Madrid. You can watch footage of the...

Elizabeth Aubrey - 13th July 2019

Music News

Watch Lewis Capaldi party with Noel Gallagher’s daughter, Anaïs, during Noel’s set at Mad Cool

The ongoing spat between Noel Gallagher and Lewis Capaldi is continuing as Capaldi filmed himself partying with Noel's daughter Anaïs at Mad Cool festival on Thursday...

Elizabeth Aubrey - 13th July 2019

Festivals

Johnny Marr at Mad Cool: “Not everyone in England is a fucking dick”

Johnny Marr used his set at Mad Cool Festival 2019 to assure the Spanish crowd that "not everyone in England is a fucking dick". During...

Andrew Trendell - 13th July 2019

Festivals

Miles Kane on his “camp and frantic” next album and jamming with “bunch of pyschos” The Jaded Hearts Club Band

Miles Kane has spoken of how his new material is leading him in a "camp and frantic" new direction, as well as discussing his...

Andrew Trendell - 13th July 2019

Live Reviews

The cult of The National sucks in every man, woman and insect at Mad Cool 2019

We’re only a few bars into The National’s opener ‘You Had Your Soul With You’ at Mad Cool 2019 as frontman Matt Berninger’s voice...

Andrew Trendell - 13th July 2019

Live Reviews

Play nice! Performing in an enormous toy box, Smashing Pumpkins rolled out the hits at Mad Cool 2019

Smashing Pumpkins look like they’re playing inside of an enormous toy box. Behind the band tower three massive doll-like figures, Victorian-era gothic faux wooden...

Jordan Bassett - 13th July 2019