As the gates swing open for Mad Cool's final full day of music - excluding Sunday’s inaugural Brunch Electronik event - it's immediately evident that there's just one name on everyone’s mind today. Groups of teenage girls are literally racing across the grounds, homemade signs in hand, eager to secure the best possible spot at the main stage for their idol, even though Olivia Rodrigo won’t perform for another six hours. The atmosphere is filled with anticipation and excitement, an energy that is joyfully palpable; everywhere you look, there are fans dressed in merchandise, determined to experience the night of their lives.
Additionally, there’s a similar, though smaller, enthusiasm among the sizable audience gathered at the festival’s third stage for girl in red. The Norwegian alt-pop artist receives a warm welcome, with a wave of banners and enthusiastic cheers, especially when she introduces her 2018 single ‘girls’ with a brief yet moving story about how it helped her come to terms with her sexuality (“I’m a L E S B I A N,” she spells out for those unfamiliar). If screaming is the common thread uniting today’s performances, then FINNEAS’ set on the Orange Stage continues to impress, as his light-hearted, summery songs — perfectly suited for the sunny venue — are met with deafening shouts every time he gestures, moves, or attempts to dance. For those Olivia fans who haven’t decided to cling to the main stage barrier, this evening’s golden hour slot offers a chance to enjoy a different, more unconventional blend of pop-rock from the unique St Vincent. As Annie Clark scans the sunlit crowd, she notices many young faces looking back at her — young girls who will likely leave tonight with unforgettable memories. Oscillating between a whimsical pixie vibe (complete with air kisses and gentle whispers) and a sexually charged performer, her unpredictable movements suggest both joy and pain. Presenting her latest work (2024’s ‘All Born Screaming’) with the determination of an artist who refuses to compromise, even at a foreign festival, she captivates her audience.
Like the Kaiser Chiefs the day before and St Vincent earlier, Glass Animals’ performance on Mad Cool's smallest outdoor stage seems somewhat understated; beyond the core group standing front and center for the former DIY cover stars, many more enjoy tonight’s uplifting set from a distance, relaxing with cervezas. Led by the energetic Dave Bayley, the band realizes this pre-headline slot is essentially setting the mood for the night ahead, and they deliver a set that effortlessly transitions from lively indie to vibrant, atmospheric electro-pop. Although they come across as humble and endearingly awkward, Glass Animals excel at making their tight-knit fan community feel acknowledged; the appearance of a stray pineapple or Pokémon plushie in the crowd, along with the cheers for viral hit ‘Heatwaves,’ serves as a reminder that this band has (accidentally) capitalized on the power of internet inside jokes to their advantage — much to everyone else's enjoyment.
Now, onto the main event. For someone who has never had so many eyes on her — following her triumphant headline performance at Glastonbury just weeks prior — Olivia Rodrigo appears unfazed. Bursting onto the stage as the final notes of The Go-Go’s ‘We Got The Beat’ fade away, she stands at the crossroads of pop idol, rock star, and contemporary Disney princess: an artist of both style and substance who, if fairness prevails, is poised for Taylor Swift-level global success. Despite only releasing two albums, the strength of her songs gives tonight's setlist a feeling akin to a greatest hits collection: tracks like ‘vampire’, ‘bad idea, right?’, ‘love is embarrassing’, or ‘driver’s license’ would easily warrant an encore, yet here they are nestled into the performance, each one somehow elevating the excitement — and the crowd’s volume — to even greater heights.
Similar to Glastonbury, the show incorporates a few select set pieces — an underfoot camera and later, a scaffold rig with a megaphone — but Olivia requires no elaborate concepts or props: all it takes is her performance of ‘All I Want’ (a rarely performed High School Musical soundtrack song) for fans to feel they’ve experienced a significant Moment. Because what she and her all-female band provide goes beyond glittering joy: it is a powerful source of inspiration for a new generation of girls who, through her music, feel emboldened to express themselves loudly and authentically. To paraphrase Olivia Rodrigo's own words: she recognizes her place, and this is it.
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