Day 2 at Kalorama Madrid 2025: Wild Mix of Protest, Pop, and Joy (Review)
Madrid, Spain – If Friday night at Kalorama was all dreamy vibes and psychedelic wonder, Saturday came in like a glitter bomb. With 10,000 people packing out the Caja Mágica on the first official day of summer, the festival’s second day felt bigger but still strangely intimate—like a secret party that just happened to have Pet Shop Boys, Azealia Banks and Scissor Sisters on the guest list.
Opening with Fire (and a Mic Drop)
The day kicked off around 6pm with poet and performer Laura Sam, who didn’t just open the stage—she set the tone. Her spoken word pieces landed like punches: smart, emotional, and angry in all the right ways. You could feel the crowd actually listening, which isn’t always guaranteed at a festival.
Then came PUTOCHINOMARICÓN, and everything turned neon. With glitchy visuals, razor-sharp lyrics, and a voice full of wit and rage, they turned their set into a celebration of queer rebellion. If Laura Sam made you think, PUTOCHINOMARICÓN made you dance while thinking.
Madrid locals El Buen Hijo followed with warm guitar pop that tugged on memories and teenage feelings, offering a brief emotional breather before the chaos to come.
Chaos, Catharsis, and Vocal Magic
Model/Actriz didn’t hold back. Their set felt more like a purge than a performance—screaming, dancing, sweating, and dragging the audience into their world of noise and movement. You didn’t watch them, you survived them.
After that intensity, Maria Arnal brought something totally different. Her voice? Unreal. She floated through electronic textures and Catalan poetry with dancers weaving around her like living metaphors. It was part concert, part ritual, and completely mesmerising.
Boy Harsher arrived just as the sky started to bruise, wrapping the venue in darkwave synths and late-night mystery. Their set felt like slipping into a dream you weren’t sure you wanted to wake up from.
The Dancefloor Awakens
A sudden storm delay pushed things back, but when the Pet Shop Boys finally took the stage, it felt like the whole place collectively exhaled. Their Dreamworld tour does exactly what it says on the tin—every hit, perfectly delivered, with visuals that looked like they’d been pulled from a museum of future nostalgia. “It’s a Sin” hit like gospel. “West End Girls” still goes hard. And the U2/Frankie Valli mashup? Totally bonkers, totally brilliant.
Queens, Icons, and Inflatable Props
Then came the wildcard. Azealia Banks, often unpredictable, showed up and absolutely owned it. No drama, no tech issues—just bars, bass, and her signature bite. “212” nearly tore the place apart.
And to close it all? Enter the Scissor Sisters with a full technicolour blowout. Giant inflatable scissors, disco lights, camp theatrics—Jake Shears commanded the stage like it was Broadway, Studio 54, and your dream house party rolled into one. “Take Your Mama” brought pure joy; “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’” ended the night on an absolute high.
The Verdict
Day Two of Kalorama was everything a festival should be: political, playful, loud, emotional, and full of moments you want to bottle up and keep forever. Whether you came for the club classics, the experimental edge, or the glittery queer energy, it delivered. Summer has officially started—and Kalorama made sure we all felt it.
