Do you have any travel plans for July? Well, why not head to Madrid for the Mad Cool Music Festival? Yes, that’s literally what it’s called, and there’s an eclectic lineup of music artists across genres and eras.
This will be the festival’s sixth year, and it’s considered to be one of the best in Europe.
The fun goes down from July 6 until July 8 at Espacio Mad Cool, an event venue in Madrid’s Villaverde district. Three-day passes are sold out, but single tickets are still available.
Who Is Performing?
The question should be who isn’t performing? From rock to R&B, pop to electronica, the Mad Cool Festival is appropriately named because it really has it all.
July 6
Gen Zers and Millennials will appreciate Lizzo and Lil Nas X as the headline artists. They are joined by Robbie Williams and Machine Gun Kelly, along with a variety of other artists.
July 7
Day two kicks off with Sam Smith, The Black Keys, Queens of The Stone Age and Mumford and Sons. For all you electronica and dance music fans, RÜFÜS DU SOL will be playing some sweet summertime anthems just for you.
July 8
Janelle Monáe already broke the internet not along ago, and she’ll be one of the headliners for the final day. She’s joined by Liam Gallagher of Oasis, Red Hot Chili Peppers and electronic music veterans The Prodigy. It’s unclear how The Prodigy will manage without their powerhouse front man, Keith, who died in 2019.
Ava Max will also be there. If you pay attention to mainstream radio, you’ve probably heard “My Heart and My Heart” many times. Part of what makes that song catchy is the sampling of a track that defined the Eurodance craze of the early 2000s: “Around The World (La La La La La)” by ATC.
Don’t forget to show love to the many indie artists performing each day.
Madrid Is a Fantastic City
Make sure to explore the Spanish capital—you won’t regret it. The Reina Sofia and El Prado are just two of its celebrated museums, while Retiro Park is the perfect place for a stroll and people-watching. Chow down on churros con chocolate, gorge yourself on tasty tapas, and spend some time in playful Chueca, the gay district.
If you’ve taken the train in New York or Paris, then Madrid’s metro will be a breeze. You don’t need to speak Spanish to be able to read the maps in the stations, but learning a few phrases is a good idea if you want to ask for help.
