Foo Fighters launched Mad Cool Festival in Madrid with a two-and-a-half-hour set. The band drew 57,000 attendees, delivering a high-energy performance. International visitors made up over a third of the crowd.
Mad Cool Festival opened its ninth edition in Madrid with Foo Fighters delivering a headline performance that drew 57,000 people to the Iberdrola Music venue in Villaverde. The band, led by Dave Grohl, took the stage at 22:00 on Wednesday, setting the tone for the festival’s first of four nights. Grohl, now 57, appeared in his signature black attire, moving energetically across the stage and engaging the crowd from the outset. The audience responded immediately, singing along to the opening track, All My Life, as the band launched into a set that would last two and a half hours.
The night’s attendance included a significant international presence, with organizers reporting that 37% of ticket holders were from abroad, the majority hailing from England. Foo Fighters, one of the few remaining mass-appeal rock bands from the 1990s, dominated the evening with a show that highlighted both their longevity and the enduring appeal of live rock music. Despite the genre’s lower profile on streaming platforms, the band’s performance demonstrated its continued ability to attract large crowds in Spain.
Throughout the concert, Grohl emphasized the group’s 31-year recording career, promising songs from every era. The setlist spanned nearly 30 tracks, including These Days, Times Like These, This Is a Call, Big Me, Best of You, and My Hero. During My Hero, the music paused to let the audience take over the vocals. The band also paid tribute to Motörhead by merging No Son of Mine with Ace Of Spades, and notably chose not to focus on their latest album, Your Favorite Toy, released just three months ago.
Each band member was introduced with a nod to their musical roots, performing snippets from previous groups such as Sunny Day Real Estate, the Germs, and The Wallflowers. Drummer Ilan Rubin briefly took the microphone, while Grohl returned to the drums, recalling his early days with Nirvana. The concert included quieter moments with songs like Wheels and Aurora, the latter dedicated to Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters’ drummer who passed away in 2022. The show concluded with an energetic rendition of Everlong, ending with a guitar feedback reminiscent of Nirvana’s live finales.
Earlier in the evening, Wolf Alice brought their eclectic pop-rock sound to the main stage, with lead singer Ellie Rowsell remarking on the heat as the sun still beat down at 20:30. The War on Drugs followed, delivering extended, Springsteen-inspired rock numbers, while Adam Granduciel’s guitar solos stood out. The first night’s surprise came from Arde Bogotá, who performed under the name Bigger Splash, referencing their new single. Moby also played, but his set overlapped with Foo Fighters, forcing many to choose between the two acts.
Mad Cool’s opening night underscored the festival’s status as a major event on Spain’s music calendar, attracting both local and international audiences. The festival’s ability to draw such a diverse crowd mirrors the growing trend of international participation in Spanish cultural events, as seen in other large gatherings like the San Fermín festival, which recently expanded its global reach and media coverage, according to recent reports on Pamplona’s iconic celebration. With Foo Fighters setting a high bar, the remaining nights of Mad Cool are expected to maintain the festival’s reputation for standout live performances and vibrant atmosphere.
For context, Mad Cool Festival has become one of Spain’s leading music events since its launch in 2016, regularly attracting top international acts and tens of thousands of attendees. The Iberdrola Music venue in Villaverde, south of Madrid, is now established as a key location for large-scale concerts in the capital. The festival’s mix of rock, pop, and electronic music reflects broader trends in Spain’s live entertainment sector, which continues to recover and grow following recent global disruptions. The presence of bands like Foo Fighters highlights the ongoing demand for live rock music, even as digital consumption patterns evolve. The festival’s international draw also contributes to Madrid’s profile as a cultural destination, supporting local businesses and reinforcing the city’s role in the European music scene.
