Mad Cool Festival 2024 Day Four: The Killers, Bring Me The Horizon and Arlo Parks see out a glorious weekend of music

14 July, 2024

Bring Me The Horizon at Mad Cool 2024.

Well, what fun we’ve had. As the sun set on Day Four of Mad Cool 2024, punters enjoyed performances from all across the musical spectrum: house, pop-punk, indie and more. A huge lineup, new names and cool vibes throughout made for a brilliant final day of this year’s festival.

The Killers gave us a headline show to remember, Bring Me The Horizon made sure to spread the love and Arlo Parks shared a sense of intimacy with her crowd. Over and out, these were our favourite moments…

Words: Liberty Dunworth, Hollie Geraghty, Laura Molloy, Sophie Williams

HoneyLuv (7pm, The Loop)

The bass vibrations from HoneyLuv’s pulsating set sent shockwaves beneath our feet before we were even inside Mad Cool’s transportive dance venue, The Loop. Beneath neon zigzagging lasers, the DJ and producer threw a party fitting for last day festivities with a sizzling mix of tropical dance tracks. A set highlight came in the shape of her remix of Cat Dealers and Lukas Vane’s ‘Hey Hey (Heard You Say)’, which she switched-up with an intoxicating trance twist. (HG)

Arlo Parks (7pm, Region Of Madrid)

As soon as she bounded onto the stage donning a Nine Inch Nails t-shirt, it was clear Arlo Parks was here to pay homage to 90s rock – a welcomed continuation from the more alternative soundscapes that defined her 2023 album ‘My Soft Machine’.

It’s a theme that continued as she shared how Radiohead’s ‘Weird Fishes’ served as the sonic inspiration for ‘Eugene’, which unravelled into a swirling guitar solo and compelled fans to sway under the piercing sun. Though her set took the audience on an emotional journey, contemplating yearning and unconditional devotion, it wasn’t all sombre. “I want everyone to get loose,” she told the crowd as the first bars of ‘Too Good’ began to play. “We’re in the sun, we’re in Madrid! Let’s have some fun.”

Picture Parlour (7:45pm, Mahou Cinco Estrellas)

“This has been one of my favourite fucking gigs ever,” Katherine Parlour shouts into the microphone as Picture Parlour wrap up their set over at the Mahou Cinco Estrellas stage. There was a quiet confidence from the band throughout the performance as they effortlessly broke out renditions of tracks including ‘Norwegian Wood’, ‘Face In The Picture’ and even some unreleased material.

Start to end, they commanded the stage, and made sure to solidify themselves as one to watch out for next time around. (LD)

Picture Parlour at Mad Cool 2024. CREDIT: Daniel Cruz

Avril Lavigne (8:15pm, Mad Cool)

“Here’s to never growing up,” toasted Avril Lavigne before spraying champagne all over the fans parked at the main stage’s barrier. Launching into her defiant track of the same name, there was a palpable feeling of elation from fans that we’re still getting to watch the punk-rock icon do her thing 22 years later.

Wrapping up the last European date of her ‘Greatest Hits’ tour under a perfect blue sky, she performed favourites like ‘Girlfriend’, ‘Complicated’ and ‘I’m With You’ for the sprawling Madrid crowd, before we were showered in a sea of red confetti while rocking out to ‘Sk8er Boy’. A truly joyful Mad Cool highlight. (HG)

Avril Lavigne at Mad Cool 2024. CREDIT: Javier Bragado

Bring Me The Horizon (9:25pm, Region Of Madrid)

“Sorry if we were late, it was not our fault. Well, it wasn’t the band’s fault,” said Oli Sykes by way of introduction to Bring Me The Horizon’s electrifying appearance on the Region Of Madrid stage. Arriving almost 30 minutes later than scheduled – with no real clarification as to why – the band still put on a blockbuster show, replete with confetti and flamethrowers galore.

But even with all the supersized production, the band remained self-aware, preventing proceedings from ever getting too cartoonish. A triumphant rendition of ‘Drown’ made for a real emotional highlight: wearing a fan’s fluffy Kuromi hat, Sykes exchanged hugs and selfies with the front row, making core memories by the second. (SW)

The Killers (11pm, Mad Cool)

What better way to bring in the end of Mad Cool 2024 than with a huge set from Las Vegas rock icons The Killers. The band were on top form, with frontman Brandon Flowers delivering powerhouse performances of hits including ‘Somebody Told Me’, ‘Mr Brightside’ and more.

To top it off, the band even continued their longstanding tradition of inviting a fan onstage to perform ‘For Reasons Unknown’. After a finale like that, we’re already counting down the days to the 2025 edition. (LD)