Mad Cool 2025 takes place next month. With a lush, astroturfed arena and a lineup featuring the coolest pop, rock and dance acts around, it’s got more in common with Coachella than any of the soggy festivals taking place in the UK this summer.
We’re not going to sit here and tell you to check out the headliners because, really, how much convincing do you need to go and see Olivia Rodrigo fresh from headlining Glastonbury? There’s also the pulverising force of Nine Inch Nails, Weezer’s power-pop anthems and Gracie Abrams’ heart-breakingly relatable songs that have set her on course to become the next Taylor Swift. All brilliant, all obvious picks.
Instead, we’re going to recommend you go and see some of the artists that are displayed in a slightly smaller font on Mad Cool’s impressive lineup poster. From buzzy newcomers to living legends, there’s something for everyone.
Royel Otis
Royel Otis’ 2024 debut ‘PRATTS & PAINS’ was full of dreamy, blissed-out summertime anthems that were made for afternoon festival slots, while last year’s huge UK headline tour proved the Sydney duo could make even the coldest of winter nights feel warm. Since then, they’ve toured with Halsey and teased a bunch of new music – with recent single ‘Moody’ a playfully upbeat jam that will sound perfect with a glass of Sangria in one hand.
Stick around to hear: ‘Sofa King’
PVRIS
Rock has been on a weird journey over the past decade and PVRIS have been one step ahead of every sudden bend and crumbling pothole. Lynn Gunn has constantly pushed at genre boundaries and chased excitement with every release. This summer, she’s taking a quick look back to celebrate the tenth anniversary of debut album ‘White Noise’ and will be performing at Mad Cool a few days after headlining 2000trees.
Stick around to hear: ‘My House’
Kaiser Chiefs
We’re not going to call Kaiser Chiefs the perfect festival band, but the Leeds mob are celebrating 20 years of their boisterous, deliciously odd debut album ‘Employment’ this summer, so this has all the makings of a flawless festival set. ‘I Predict A Riot’, ‘Oh My God’, ‘Everyday I Love You Less And Less’ and ‘Modern Way’ have become timeless karaoke anthems that are sure to go off after a couple of Mahous and they’ve even dusted off fan-favourite b-side ‘Take My Temperature’ for the festivities.
Stick around to hear: ‘I Predict A Riot’
Alessi Rose
Last November, Alessi Rose announced a UK and European tour that sold out in less than ten minutes. Since then, she’s appeared on the cover of Dork and released the brilliant ‘For Your Validation’ EP. As well as Mad Cool, she’s got support slots with Dua Lipa on her huge stadium run, and playing before Tate McRae on her massive ‘Miss Possessive’ arena tour in the diary, alongside a big ol’ UK headline run of her own. Basically, she’s going to be your new favourite pop star before the year is out, so why put it off?
Stick around to hear: ‘Same Mouth’
St Vincent
St Vincent reinvents herself with every record, but the follow-up to the rustic theatrics of 2021’s ‘Daddy’s Home’ has seen Annie Clarke take a more stripped-back approach to music. There’s no complicated concept or smirking meta narrative to 2024’s All Born Screaming, just a thundering collection of guitar anthems about life, death and living in the moment. Talking to Dork, she’s promised “a pummeling and an ecstatic rave before a bleeding heart.” See you down the front.
Stick around to hear: ‘Broken Man’
Mad Cool Festival 2025 takes place 10th-13th July. Tickets are available here.
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