Madruga is a three-day festival and mansion party in the Black Mountains of Wales, accommodating up to 1000 guests, where the atmosphere is so compelling that the DJs choose to stay.
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Photography by Khris Cowley @asianprovocateur for Here & Now @wearehereandnow
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If music festivals were fairy tales, Madruga would be Goldilocks. It doesn't just take place in a house surrounded by a crowd of non-residents; it hits the perfect balance. With a capacity of 1000, it combines energetic vibes with an intimate feel; three days allow for hard partying without losing your sanity; and it's structured as an outdoor festival by day and an indoor mansion party by night.
The lineup is expertly curated, featuring a mix of established artists and newcomers, with plenty of daytime activities as well. There's yoga, sound baths, a wellness zone outfitted with four jacuzzis, a sauna, and a cold plunge. Additionally, a record store run by Recovery Records offers a spot to browse, and there’s a lounge area to relax in, along with delicious food options.
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Photography by Khris Cowley @asianprovocateur for Here & Now @wearehereandnow
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Now in its third year, one might assume Madruga is organized by an experienced team of event planners, but that’s not the case. The founders are a group of 27-year-old friends who met while studying event production and music at university in Bristol. Madruga is born from a mix of ambition, vision, and sheer determination.
“Every major festival at that time, like Houghton, We Out Here, Outlook, had its own sound and audience,” says Sammi Aljak, the festival's creative director and programmer. “No one had brought together the best artists from those different scenes to highlight where they intersect.”
In 2022, the Madruga team put down a deposit for Baskerville Hall to host a three-day festival with barely a plan—just the vision for an incredible party.
“Two weeks before the festival, we were alone, with no resources, facing a potential disaster,” Sammi recounts. “We met at Spoons every day after work, staying until 11 PM, trying to pull everything together, reviewing the numbers and the funds we didn’t have. We sold 80 tickets. We feared we might have to cancel and risk bankruptcy at just 23 years old. But we looked at each other and decided to just go for it. Let’s see what happens.”
Ultimately, they sold a few hundred more tickets, and although the first event ended up losing quite a bit of money, everyone agreed it was a triumph.
“I focused heavily on the lineup because we needed to grab attention,” Sammi explains. “We were inexperienced and frantic, just eight of us scrambling to make it happen. I don’t know how we managed it, but something clicked, and we realized we were onto something special.”
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The atmosphere at Madruga resembles that of an extended friend group. Artists like Dr Banana, Unai Trotti, Lukas Wigflex, KT, Hutch, Papa Nugs, DJ ADHD, Tristan da Cunha, Anthea, and Fonzo have all been part of the festival since its inception. Sammi ensures that everyone in the lineup either knows each other or is only a few degrees of separation apart. Performers tend to play better when their closest friends are in the front row, and that sense of community radiates throughout the crowd.
As attendees arrive on Friday afternoon and evening, Nick Clev, SSSLIP, Ollie Kirk, and Berwick kick off the freshly introduced Green House stage. It’s a snug dome adorned with hanging plants, decorated with records, lamps, and ornaments on shelves behind the decks. It feels as though you’re dancing in your living room, but with the stunning backdrop of the Welsh countryside and a Neo-Jacobean mansion.
Friday night is meant for guests to unwind. “The venue's licensing dictates that the outdoor music must stop by 10 PM, which we can’t change,” Sammi explains. “So, as it approaches 9 or 10 PM, we transition indoors, shifting from a festival atmosphere to a mansion party vibe.”
Festival-goers can be found enjoying Debba and Gem’s trance-infused techno in the Red Room, a club space lit with red lights lining the decks. Lukas Wigflex is back-to-back with Mella Dee, keeping the dance floor alive until 6 AM. Meanwhile, down a corridor, Jacob Tr!p provides a mesmerizing psychedelic house set in the Club Room, a luxurious space enhanced by a four-point sound system that resonates through your body. The night continues with a dynamic Cartulis takeover, featuring powerful sets from Free Zing, Vass, and Unai Trotti.
Afterward, attendees spill outside to enjoy the fresh Welsh air, continuing the festivities in the chill-out area
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Madruga is a three-day festival and mansion party in the Black Mountains of Wales that accommodates 1,000 people, creating such a great atmosphere that the DJs stay the whole time.