Clash Live in collaboration with WeAre8...
A blend of nostalgia and modernity unfolded at Victoria Park…
This year's All Points East, marking its 6th edition, was curated by electronic music titans Chase & Status, showcasing a wide array of innovative electronic sounds.
The festival featured a lineup of some of the most prominent names in UK dance music, including Joy Orbison, who seamlessly fused nostalgia with his distinct genre-defying style. His live set was enhanced by a rare collaboration with the legendary drum and bass MC, SP:MC, who skillfully guided the audience through Joy’s thoughtfully curated, genre-spanning tracks. Classic post-dubstep hits like Orbison’s ‘Hyph Mngo’ were blended with his fresh dancefloor anthems like ‘Flex FM’.
Joy’s close collaborators, Overmono, also graced the East Stage, delivering a powerful mix of their tracks, including a collaboration with UK rapper Kwengface on the intense track ‘Freedom 2’.
The lineup also featured up-and-coming garage star Sammy Virji. The London-based producer kicked off his performance with the energetic ‘Cops and Robbers’ featuring Skepta. However, despite the impactful start, the remainder of his set felt somewhat predictable, as the bassline-heavy speed garage edits became a bit monotonous over time.
The crowd’s enthusiasm for popular DJs meant that some of the more nuanced artists were overlooked, with fans rushing to other stages. It was disappointing, for instance, to see the impressive collaboration of SHERELLE b2b Clipz performing to a tent that was less than a quarter full.
Another promising collaboration – Jyoty b2b Ahadadream – suffered due to a lackluster sound system. This has been a recurring critique of All Points East, as their high-energy selections didn't resonate as powerfully as they could have in the early afternoon due to the muted sound. Fortunately, this issue was rectified before the headline performance later in the evening.
The day wrapped up with curators Chase & Status, who took the audience on a journey through their classic hits. Their set evoked nostalgia with tracks like ‘Eastern Jam’, the euphoric drum & bass anthem ‘Take Me Away’, and deeper cuts like ‘Machine Gun’ featuring Pusha T. MCs IRAH, Flowdan, and Trigga energized the crowd with an extended version of their track Baddadan, flowing into ‘BACKBONE’ featuring Stormzy.
As fireworks and pyrotechnics lit up the night, the crowd erupted in excitement, concluding the 90-minute set and reaffirming Chase & Status’ status as icons in electronic music. Their enduring influence is complemented by their commitment to promoting the next generation while honoring the legends who paved the way for their success.
Words: Angus McKeon
Photography: Isha Shah, Bethan Miller, Jennifer McCord
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Nostalgia combined with modernity in Victoria Park... The lineup for Saturday at All Points East was organized by electronic music legends Chase &