Politics, playful trickery, and piano house come together...
Pop absurdism defined the second Friday of 2025’s All Points East as Myd, from Ed Banger Records, kicked off the event at the Cupra North Arena, teasing his upcoming sophomore album, ‘Mydnight’.
The pulsating lead singles ‘Song For You’ and ‘The Wizard’ came with a bold, irreverent twist on the traditional festival visual style. Blending performance art with an elaborate prank, Myd guided a large afternoon crowd through a mix of driving electro and surreal oddities, presenting a DIY visual display that kept a tongue-in-cheek attitude.
Although this was an unfairly early slot for such a distinctive talent, whose comedic flair seems better suited for evening sets, it’s clear that Myd’s performances are on a path toward mainstage prominence in the future. He’s definitely one to watch.
This carefree vibe set the stage for a diverse afternoon filled with delightful acts, including DJ Heartstring, The Blessed Madonna, and Interplanetary Criminal among others, across the festival's five stages.
Meanwhile, pop provocateur Shygirl showcased her Club Shy at the East Stage, delivering an exhilarating performance that walked the line between bedroom disco and explosive hyperpop excitement. Crowd favorites ‘mr useless’ and ‘365’ made obligatory appearances, energizing the audience and showcasing the experimental producer’s effortless skill in igniting a party, no matter the hour.
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Shygirl perfectly primed the atmosphere for Confidence Man, who, as usual, brought inflatable decor and a famously chaotic array of web 2.0 visuals. Hits like ‘Now You Do’, ‘I Can’t Lose You’, and a surprise guest appearance by JADE for their recent single ‘Gossip’ resulted in a vibrant, chaotic display that elevated absurdism to high art.
On the West Stage, Orbital concluded the day with a dizzying blend of political gravity and carefree fun. The flashlight-wearing ravers began with the provocative Sleaford Mods collaboration ‘Dirty Rat’. A vocal sample from Greta Thunberg declaring “Our house is on fire” served as a poignant rallying cry before the Hartnoll brothers launched into an energizing set of rave classics, featuring tracks like ‘Satan’, ‘Lush’, and ‘Halcyon + On + On’.
An unexpected remix of Bon Jovi’s ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’ and Belinda Carlisle’s ‘Heaven is A Place on Earth’ was well-received, leading into Orbital’s unique piano-house interpretation of the Spice Girls’ ‘Wannabe’. The surprises continued as Confidence Man made a speedy appearance onstage to join them for a jubilant Orbital-infused version of ‘Holiday’.
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To close the day, Barry Can’t Swim celebrated his 33rd birthday with his first major festival headline performance. Supported by a full band, complete with horn and string sections and grand visuals, this event felt appropriately monumental – with piano house enhanced by live orchestration that resonated throughout the crowd. Guest performers Lapsley on ‘Woman’ and somedeadbeat on ‘Deadbeat Gospel’ kept the energy high, while the enduring ‘Sunsleeper’ turned Victoria Park into the festival’s largest dance floor in its final moments.
Despite some issues – namely, the dry and dusty setting we’re still recovering from and the typical challenges posed by strict noise regulations in a public space like Victoria Park – this edition felt like a notable improvement from last year’s Friday, where headliners LCD Soundsystem were nearly inaudible from various points in the venue.
The audio setup might still not meet expectations and that seems unlikely to change, but this edition felt like a stranger, more playful, and more urgently political take on All Points East. A joyous enigma, indeed, but a strong reminder that quirkier line-ups truly have their rewards.
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Words: Paul Weedon
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Politics, playful pranks, and piano house intersect... Pop absurdism was distinctly the theme for the second Friday event of the 2025 edition of