Legend alert! With Madness, yet another musical monument is heading to Cactusfestival. Ever since their debut album ‘One Step Beyond’ in 1979, the British band has been known as the biggest crossover ska band in the world. With their “nutty sound”—a catchy, festive blend of Jamaican ska elements, pop melodies, and a generous dose of humour—Madness left an indelible mark on pop music.

Born in the British 2-Tone era, Madness quickly grew into the most successful band of their scene. Their music, with party classics like ‘One Step Beyond’, ‘House of Fun‘, ‘Baggy Trousers‘, and ‘Night Boat to Cairo‘, as well as more pop-leaning hits such as ‘My Girl’, ‘Our House’, and their Labi Siffre cover ‘It Must Be Love’, immediately struck a chord with a wide audience. It made Madness the ultimate family band—beloved by young and old alike.

Partly thanks to the band’s habit of making their concerts accessible to teenagers, Madness influenced an entire generation of young Britons in the 1980s. Their working-class themes can be heard in Oasis, while the mix of dry British humour and pop music echoes in Pulp. Damon Albarn has openly cited Madness as an inspiration—unsurprising if you listen to Blur’s Parklife era.

Even though the genre they helped champion drifted out of the mainstream throughout the 1990s, Madness remains a towering pop monument. In 2026, after 50 years of career, the group is still known as a fantastic live band, stringing together their unforgettable hits into a celebration for all ages.