The well-known Ferris wheel of the Mad Cool Festival
We have all been novices at a festival: we have burned ourselves, we have gone with the mobile at 30%, we have been cold, hot, we have soaked... But always, always, we have returned, more prepared than the previous year.
The ** Mad Cool Festival 2018 ** is just around the corner, with a line-up that will make the capital vibrate every day July 12, 13 and 14.
Pearl Jam, Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, Dua Lipa, Franz Ferdinand, Snow Patrol, Tame Impala, Kasabian...
We know you have the bracelet prepared and stored like a treasure in its little box. We know that you have been repeating the lists of your favorite groups on Spotify for months.
For this reason, we have prepared this guide of plans and tips very ‘cool’ so you can enjoy those three days to the fullest. Let's start!
Alex Turner, leader of the Arctic Monkeys, one of the most anticipated groups of the festival
1. THE UBICATION
The third edition of the Madrid festival opens a venue to the north of Madrid, in Valdebebas-Ifema. The baptized as Mad Cool Space It has been designed to accommodate 80,000 people (35,000 more than the previous edition) in its 100,000 square meters, expanding the five scenarios from last year to seven.
On the festival website you can book your parking area, both for one day and for all three and its hours are from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
What do not you want to take out the car? -a very good choice-, the suburban C1 leaves you in Valdebebas in 20 minutes. Do you prefer the bus? The buses 174 and 171 They stop at Juan A. Samaranch - Gta. Antonio Perpiña and from there you can walk to the site.
One last tip about transportation: the lines to get a taxi back can be scary, but they go fast. You will avoid waiting (or despairing) if you leave a little before closing.
The Mad Cool Festival 2018 has a new location and expands the five stages from last year to seven
two. TIME
Yes, it may seem silly, it is the month of July,… But don't trust –or perhaps you don't remember the universal flood of Burriana?–.
Nail Sunglasses for evening concerts, a jacket (or sweatshirt for the night) and a oilskin. No, don't put your head in your hands just yet. We have thought of everything, also that it does not look like you are going to ride on the water trunks of the amusement park. The transparent raincoat will be your ally!
For them? A parka with a hood, like this one from Pull & Bear and ready to endure the (possible) downpour.
This is redundant, but yes, heels have been seen in Mad Cool, and no, it couldn't be more uncomfortable, incoherent and other adjectives ending in -in. Put on your favorite sneakers and jump!
The transparent raincoat: the essential garment at any festival
3.**THE PLAN (MUSIC)**
And we come to one of the points that leads those who do not want to miss a concert: the overlaps. The first step is to accept it. The second, organize a plan.
Download the schedule on your mobile (with drums, please) and decide which artists you can't miss, which ones you don't mind watching from afar, and which ones you're going to pass up (if you can).
And speaking of batteries, when you want to realize it, it turns out that your hundred thousand Instagram Stories have left you with 5%. Carry a spare and it will save you in more than one emergency. Still, it doesn't hurt to establish a meeting point in case someone gets lost.
Neil Young during Mad Cool 2016
Four. THE SURVIVAL KIT
Go over this list before you leave home so you don't "leave feeling like you've forgotten something": the festival wristband (if we say it, it is because more than one has reached the door without it), cash (a "just in case" that will come in handy), tissues and some painkiller (in case you have to listen to Justice next to the speaker or you have a hangover from the day before) .
Important: a backpack or fanny pack. They are comfortable, they leave your hands free and your belongings theft-proof. Apply this mother's advice so as not to regret theft: the backpack always in front!
5. BEYOND THE STAGE
In addition to the new restoration area (if things are like last year, you won't be able to bring in food or drinks from outside), the festival has two spaces dedicated to creativity: the Mad Cool Gallery and the Art Market.
Mad Cool Gallery was born from a contest in which 462 photographic proposals and 396 illustrations have participated. The jury has selected 25 works from each category that will be exhibited during the festival, in addition to receiving their corresponding prizes.
The Mad Cool during the 2017 edition
6. EAT AND DRINK
Whether your plan is to show up at the door at 3:30 p.m. or go to the concerts at night, we have a few Madrid addresses to the test of all palates.
** Grosso Napoletano ** (Santa Engracia 48) for lovers of Italian food, **the Gracias Padre taqueria** (Ortega y Gasset, 55) if Mexicans love you or **El Buda Feliz** (Tudescos, 5) for Chinese food lovers.
Do you prefer something healthy? **Superchulo** (Manuela Malasaña 11), **Honest Greens** (Castellana 89) and Planet Organic (Castelló 63) are your places.
And to start picking up rhythm, the star combo: beer + tapas. La Latina, the Mercado de San Fernando or the Mercado de Vallehermoso never disappoint.
Super cool mural
7. ACCOMMODATION
What do you come from outside Madrid? No problem, on the Mad Cool website you will find the official hotels of the festival, all of them with direct connection to the enclosure by public transport.
We are Chamartín (10 minutes near the venue) or Cat's Hostel (approximately 20 minutes) are two good options.
Cat's Hostel, a place to start (and end) your festival day
8.**SHOPPING (MUSIC)**
The vinyl lovers they will find their paradise in **Radio City** (Conde Duque 14). Don't forget to visit ** Cuervo Store ** (Velarde 13), where in addition to the best music, you will find books, leather jackets, Crosley record players, Dr. Denim jeans… And they even have a open studio for everyone who wants to enjoy making some music!
Cuervo Store: music, books, clothes and even a studio for the most daring!
9. EASTER SUNDAY
After three days from stage to stage, it's time to rest... no! Let's finish squeezing the weekend! The best plan? Soak the Mad Cool hangover and with views of the entire city: those of the Room Mate Óscar , the Urban or the Emperador will not disappoint you.
For those who prefer to walk, we will not go around with alternative plans and secret places, the best place to walk, lie on the grass and relax is without a doubt retirement.
Yes, it is also one of the favorite places for tourists, but answer this question: have you ever gone beyond the Crystal Palace? Be sure to stop by the terrace of Florida Retiro.
Another of the urban oases that you will love is Crown House And the outdoor yoga classes they organize on Sundays!
Now yes, the countdown begins for one of the most anticipated appointments of the year. Long live music!
Hotel Emperor
FROM STAGE TO STAGE AND I SHOOT BECAUSE I HAVE TO
These are, by day, the schedules of the groups that make up the head of the Mad Cool poster. Put on comfortable shoes, let's start!
THURSDAY, JULY 12:
tame Impala will go up to the Madrid stage at 9:40 p.m. while preparing to go on the Mad Cool stage at 11:20 p.m.
The dilemma of the night will be to choose at 1:30 between Kasabian (on stage Madrid) and Justice (The Loop stage). At 2:50 there is no doubt: MGMT on the Mad Cool stage.
Artists will pass through the Koko stage Ivan Ferreiro Y Post Malone. Polar Response Model and Biznaga will do the same on stage Thunder Bitch.
FRIDAY, JULY 13:
On Friday at 20:45 it will be the turn of Snow Patrol (Mad Cool stage) that will give way at 22:00 to J ack White (Madrid stage).
At 11:50 p.m., the Mad Cool stage will host one of the most anticipated groups of the festival: Arctic Monkeys, that after almost five years, they have just released their sixth studio album: Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino.
At 1:30 go running to the Madrid stage, because Franz Ferdinand arrives with his new album, Always Ascending, fresh from the oven. At the same time, massive attack will perform at The Loop stage.
At 2:50, alarm! Overlap between The Bloody Beetroots (Mad Cool stage) and FASHION (Koko stage).
SATURDAY JULY 14:
And to close the festival, more main courses: Queens of the Stone Age will jump onto the Mad Cool stage at 9:35 p.m., the same time as the rapper Kase.O on the Koko stage.
Do not get distracted because at 22:55, Depeche Mode They will be at the Madrid stage. On the same stage, but at 2:05, Dua Lipa, another of the most anticipated.
underworld will close the Mad Cool stage performances at 3:15. But if you want to finish in the most fun way, elyella djs and his mythical mask will be at the Mondo Sonoro stage until 4:15.
You can also check all the schedules here.
*This article was originally published on Monday, June 4 and updated with festival times on Thursday, June 7.