Rock night at Mad Cool 2023 delivers a lineup that feels like a reunion with seasoned friends. On the second day, Queens Of The Stone Age, Mumford And Sons, and The Black Keys act as the engines propelling the festival into orbit, delivering a dose of pure energy that fans have been craving. The night becomes a vivid showcase of guitars and drums fueling the entire crowd, a reminder of why this festival remains a favorite in both Canada and the United States for rock lovers seeking bold, live performances.
Across the spectrum, the sets span from the rawest rock textures to grooves that flirt with funk and folk. Each artist brings a distinct flavor to the same core recipe: high-octane guitar work, driving percussion, and a rhythm section that keeps the audience moving. A recent tally marks 67,000 attendees as organizers celebrate the expansion of the Iberdrola Music area on the southern edge of the city, a development that enhances the festival experience with more stages and tighter sightlines for concertgoers in North America too.
Earlier in the festival, the Madrid edition opened with a warm-up focused on pop and soul. The heat peaked again over 30 degrees in the afternoon, but the real obstacle was logistical: the first artists were slow to arrive, and the mood needed a spark. The singer-songwriter scene demonstrated its strength with a rallying energy, while the Dutch band dEUS laid down grounded, danceable foundations that kept the crowd energized as the day progressed.
One upbeat moment saw Sam Smith take the stage amid the bright glare of the sun. The performance leaned into melodic pop and intimate moments, a contrast to the heavier, more soul-inflected offerings that followed. The artist wore a striking gold ensemble paired with a vivid purple dress, delivering a set that included tracks like Stay with Me, Promises, and Unholy. The production showcased Smith’s melodic precision, backed by a formidable live band and massive stage visuals that amplified the experience for fans gathered on the festival meadow and near the towering centerpiece statue.
As night settled, the American rock legends took center stage. Queens Of The Stone Age opened with Nobody Knows, a punchy kick-off that set the tone for a high-powered show. It’s a moment that recalled the band’s memorable Madrid visit five years earlier, when Josh Homme encouraged fans to surge toward the front and even over the perimeter barricades to get closer to the action. This time, the set was more restrained in crowd choreography but equally infectious musically, weaving in selections from the latest album, In Times New Roman, alongside enduring favorites such as …Like Clockwork and A Song for the Dead, to satisfy longtime listeners and new fans alike.
Marcus Mumford spoke with the crowd, acknowledging the festival’s energy and hinting at a potential surprise later in the evening. Mumford And Sons have rediscovered momentum in Spain, a market that hadn’t hosted them prominently in recent years despite their strong early-2000s folklore revival. The band’s return to Madrid was celebrated for its nuanced instrumental palette, including banjo, dobro, and double bass, which enriched a catalog that blends intimate acoustic textures with rock vitality. The anniversary of their most iconic releases has reinvigorated a live show that many hoped would translate their studio warmth to the arena stage, and the performance did not disappoint.
The Black Keys continued the momentum, tracing the duo’s evolution from their early blues-rock punch to more expansive, studio-polished arrangements. The performance underscored how Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have kept their sound fresh across four albums since their 2010s peak, culminating in the 2022 Dropout Boogie. The set served as a bridge between the festival’s heavier acts and the upcoming headliners, closing on a note that promised the night would culminate with an earth-shaking finish. The energy in the crowd built toward a crescendo that set the stage for tomorrow’s anticipated capstone acts, with the possibility of further surprise appearances adding to the excitement for attendees in North America following the event. [Attribution: Mad Cool Festival coverage]