Mad Soul Music + Arts Festival Live at the Central Florida Fairgrounds!
- Jade Read
- Dec 8, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
On Saturday December 6th, Mad Soul Music + Arts Festival celebrated its tenth year with a fresh start at its new home at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. Beginning in 2015 as a small idea between three friends, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost and his friends Niyah and Chris. They wanted to build a space where local music, art, and social impact could all be seen in one place.
Ten years later, that idea is still at the heart of Mad Soul. Frost joked about the early days and said, “The first one had sixty-five people at it, and in good DIY show fashion, half of them were the performers.” This year's festival opened with smaller local sets and ended with a big closing performance from Magdalena Bay.
As the day went on, nearly 4,500 people crowded the fairgrounds. The pay-what-you-can system made the event accessible to everyone, and gave back by donating part of the proceeds to activists groups across Orlando and Florida.
With each set the crowd grew in size, showing how much the local scene is expanding. Mad Soul has grown with it, beginning as a small gathering of friends into a community festival led by young people who deeply care about the city and the artists in it.
Mirror Parts
The up and coming, Mirror Parts took the stage at 3:30 for their biggest show yet. The Orlando group played for both familiar and new faces, mixing rock, pop, and electronic sounds shaped by the ideas of Nick Ramsay.
The band includes Ramsay, Arian Esteller, Jarobi Watts, and Ely Colcol. They're well known in Orlando’s underground scene and can be seen playing frequently at venues like Will’s Pub, The Social, and The Beacham. Their set at Mad Soul was a major step forward and an exciting sign for what’s ahead for them.
Raspberry Pie
Raspberry Pie brought one of the most upbeat sets of the day, showing real showmanship from the start. Their blend of funk, soul, and rock was apparent as ever, and their tight musicianship was easy to see.
They’re known around Orlando for lively performances and for involving audiences, and their Mad Soul appearance showed exactly why people keep coming back.
The Pheromones
Playing in the late afternoon, the girl-led punk band The Pheromones helped pick up the festival’s energy. As a familiar name in Orlando’s music scene, they mostly see support from peers at their alma mater, UCF. Their set at Mad Soul was an important moment for them, wooing the audience with their explosive rendition of the classic These Boots Are Made for Walkin’, possibly making some new fans along the way.
Jay Safari
Jay Safari started his set with a small crowd, but people kept walking over until the whole area filled up. Once he got going, the energy picked up quickly. His mix of hip-hop and R&B pulled in a lot of new listeners, especially people who were surprised to learn he came from just up the road in Ocala. As he keeps playing more shows in the area, this felt like an important moment in his rise.
Renaissance Theatre Company
Renaissance Theatre Company brought a fun and unexpected moment to the festival with a medley that immediately pulled people in. The crowd got even bigger once they noticed Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost sitting in on drums. The group is already well known in Orlando, but seeing them outside their usual theater setting gave everyone a new appreciation for what they do.
Aly & AJ
When Aly & AJ were about to go on, people rushed from the food trucks to get as close as possible. By the time they started, the entire front area was full. Their set mixed newer music, from their recent tour, with songs many attendees grew up with, creating an almost instant connection you could feel throughout the crowd. Their long career meant a lot to this audience, and every song reflected that.
CUCO (Cumbia DJ Set)
As CUCO took the stage, a large audience gathered almost immediately. His set resonated deeply with the Hispanic community at the festival, and many fans felt a personal connection to both his music and his presence.
Magdalena Bay
One of the most anticipated sets of the night was Magdalena Bay. Fans waited all day to see them, lining up to the front of the stage decorated in the band's iconic blue "imaginal disk" makeup. Congressman Frost personally arranged for them to be there revealing they were his number-one artist on his Spotify Wrapped. Their Miami roots, only four hours away, made their appearance especially exciting for local fans.
Their stage design included coral and aquatic-themed props on their keyboard stands and other parts of the stage, giving their set a unique look. It was clear how much the band added to Mad Soul, and we can only say thank you for being part of it.
Summary
By the end of the night, Mad Soul proved it had another strong year. The festival brought together new artists, well-known performers, and local fans in a space centered on community. With its pay-what-you-can system and support for local groups, Mad Soul continued to show why it matters to people across Central Florida. This tenth-year event marked steady growth and a solid step forward for the festival.
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