Gracie Abrams Shines at Mad Cool Festival: A Star Rising
There is something particularly special about witnessing how a promising artist rises to the status of a mass star. The vibe of the audience reacting for the first time, the palpable excitement, and the extraordinary connection fans feel with the songs—all of this came to life during Gracie Abrams’ performance at the Mad Cool Festival. The young artist drew a crowd of about 20,000 attendees, only five months after captivating a similar number during her two performances at the Vistalegre Palace in Madrid.
“You have the most incredible energy, and it’s the craziest thing to be back in Madrid,” she exclaimed, her voice ringing out over the enthusiastic throngs. “We are all so thrilled to be back here,” she added, praising the outfits of several front-row fans, calling one, “Oh, you look gorgeous.” Abrams urged everyone to sing along to ‘I Love You, I’m Sorry,’ a heartbreak ballad built to explode into a sweeping chorus. This is her territory: the emotional epic that takes on colossal intensity with every phrase and revelation.
Mad Cool Festival Highlights
Gracie Abrams offered a standout performance on the sweltering opening day of the Mad Cool Festival, which runs until Sunday in Madrid and aims to gather around 60,000 attendees daily. Besides the young American singer, the festival lineup included notable acts such as Iggy Pop and Leon Bridges. As this piece goes to press, the event still had headlining performances from Muse and Weezer to come. Upcoming artists on the schedule for the six-stage venue in Villaverde include Nine Inch Nails, Alanis Morissette, Olivia Rodrigo, Arde Bogotá, and Justice.
Always armed with her acoustic guitar to accentuate her image as a poignant singer-songwriter, Abrams began her set by eliciting a collective sigh with ‘Risk’—a song about desire, attraction, insecurity, uncertainty, and the whirlwind of emotions that comes with falling in love. Is it a ballad? Perhaps it could be mistaken for one if it wasn’t so impassioned and didn’t possess the elevation characteristic of pop songs that build towards a climax.
In truth, Gracie Abrams wants to be a star, but she doesn’t want it to look like she wants to be a star. She acts like a regular girl, sings like every other girl, and shares relatable tales of youthful love, though she is anything but ordinary. Born 25 years ago to J.J. Abrams, acclaimed filmmaker and television director, she is the girlfriend of actor Paul Mescal, a Chanel ambassador, and has the kind of fairy godmother any aspiring star would envy: Taylor Swift.
Unforeseen Moments of Connection
The stuff of which stars are made became apparent when the stage lights went out half an hour into her performance. As the break extended and no electricity returned, Abrams turned necessity into virtue, serenading the front rows “acapella”—a captivating moment of charisma that was captured by thousands of mobile phones. Was that paradoxically the best part of her set? Her thousands of fans would surely agree. Once power returned, only time for one final song remained: a staggering rendition of ‘Close to You,’ a piece of electronic pop reminiscent of Lorde, evoking the concept of crying on the dance floor.
With 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Gracie Abrams combines the qualities of singer-songwriter artistry with pop while presenting the carefully unkempt look of commercial indie, all stirred into TikTok’s algorithm. Very Taylor Swift, indeed. Her trembling voice, on the verge of a whisper, always appears to be revealing one secret after another, turning her songs into confessions. They feel like someone sharing vital and intimate things that awaken empathy. This air of sincerity and spontaneity is the fastest path to success for any young pop singer today, and Gracie Abrams likely understands this, even if she doesn’t want it to appear that way.
A Jam-Packed Festival Experience
The evening also delivered inexplicable experiences, courtesy of the wild growl unleashed by Iggy Pop during a thrilling hour. The 78-year-old punk legend claimed his legacy with a concert that could have easily veered into the absurd but ended up being nothing short of fabulous. The setlist comprised tracks from the 1970s— the blueprint of punk co-created with the Stooges when punk was still merely an idea. By the time this piece goes to press, he was singing with the audience ‘The Passenger’ in what became an unforgettable moment.
Iggy Pop during his performance at the Mad Cool festival.EFE
Mad Cool Festival makes its return for the fourth consecutive year at the Iberdrola Music venue in Villaverde, just a few hundred meters from Getafe. The maximum capacity remains similar to last year’s numbers, aiming for 60,000 daily attendees in a space of nearly 200,000 square meters, which houses six stages and numerous sponsor stands.
Before Gracie Abrams took to the stage, Leon Bridges charmed festival-goers with his soulful songs under the scorching 37-degree sun. His blend of southern soul-rock, country-folk, and rhythm & blues brought countless smiles and unrestrained dancing. For many, this Thursday marked the revelation of this outstanding Texas singer.
Dressed in vintage attire, Bridges didn’t come to innovate but instead perfectly embodied the quintessential American sound of the late 1960s, focusing on the primary goal: to make the crowd groove, whether vertically or horizontally. He recreated that retro style with taste, equipped with catchy compositions and a competent band featuring Hammond organ, syncopated acoustic and electric guitars, percussion alongside drums, and timely vocal harmonies. His upbeat songs were enjoyable, but his true strength lay in the nostalgic ballads and mid-tempos.
The festival also offered delightful sensations through acts like Royel Otis, who embodied the disheveled style of pop-rock characterized as indie pop, which some believe is outdated. Their approach was fresh, lively, and bursting with urgency, presenting anthems perfectly suited to festivals like Mad Cool.