One of the crown jewels in the European festival circuit, Mad Cool continues to boast gigantic headliners, from Dua Lipa through to rock royalty The Killers. However, it’s also a festival that champions the next generation of rising stars, bringing the buzziest new names from all around the globe to Madrid.
With 65,000 punters set to attend this July, Mad Cool marks a real chance for new artists to seize their moment in the sunshine. Last year, former NME Cover stars HotWax showcased their confident live show with a packed out set on the Mahou Cinco stage, whilst Cardiff alt-rockers Himalayas – who support Foo Fighters this summer – brought raw energy to their raucous set. In previous years, the likes of Alfie Templeman, Sofi Tukker and Nova Twins have all earned their stripes at Mad Cool, which clearly has quite the eye for all kinds of untapped talent.
Ahead of this year’s edition of the festival, we’ve picked out six must-see new names from across the weekend.
Bar Italia
Who: Intriguing art-rockers keeping a low profile
Why you should see them: Grinding out four albums in five years, the elusive London-based trio began their journey very much under the radar. Now, their jangly, instinctual brand of post-punk is creeping towards full form, with a spellbinding experimental edge akin to Björk or Black Country, New Road.
Festival anthem: ‘Punkt’
Genesis Owusu
Who: Australian-Ghanaian trailblazer mashing up genres like never before
Why you should see them: The former NME Cover star is firmly in his own lane, bringing vivid lyrical concepts into his world by way of punk, jungle, new wave and jazz. Armed with his show-stopping, unapologetic stage presence, you won’t be able to keep your eyes off him.
Festival anthem: ‘Stay Blessed’
HoneyLuv
Who: Ohio-born DJ and producer with a vivid summer flair
Why you should see them: Self-taught during her time in the navy, the whirlwind journey of HoneyLuv has already taken her worldwide, from the Coachella desert to the Bali mountains. With festival-ready house anthems including viral 2022 hit ‘365 (Thr33 6ix 5ive)’, she’s more than capable of reaching the same heights as Peggy Gou or SG Lewis.
Festival anthem: ‘365 (Thr33 6ix 5ive)’
Jet Vesper
Who: Former NME 100 graduate bringing glorious sun-kissed vibes
Why you should see them: A self-proclaimed ‘woozy romantic funk addict’, Jet Vesper’s brand of upbeat indie-pop leaves plenty of room for more jazzy, intricate flavours. Brought to Mad Cool by way of Canberra, Australia, his infectious sound is already tailor-made for the festival stage.
Festival anthem: ‘Slide Don’t Make A Cruise’
Julia Sabaté
Who: Atmospheric electro-pop that keeps you on your toes
Why you should see them: Coated in layers and introspective lyricism, the Spanish-Dutch artist effortlessly intertwines bombastic pop with her luscious vocal delivery. With just four tracks to her name, her live show will only wet the appetite for even more from an artist who radiates sound and colour.
Festival anthem: ‘La Ladrona’
Kneecap
Who: Alternative rap trio making headlines wherever they go
Why you should see them: Belfast’s buzziest new trio blend hip-hop beats with shrewd social commentary, unapologetically standing up for what they believe in. Coming fresh off their Glastonbury debut, their Mad Cool set will be a landmark stop as they take their powerful message all over the globe.
Festival anthem: ‘Get Your Brits Out’
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