Every summer, All Points East takes over London’s Victoria Park, raising the standard for festival programming by catering to today's fragmented fan culture with its meticulously curated daily lineups. By the time RAYE, the star of the moment, takes the stage, this year’s festival has already showcased D&B innovators Chase and Status, soul artists Sault and Cleo Sol, and the fresh tropico-house sensation Barry Can’t Swim. It's no surprise that today's event is completely sold out, and DIY is eager to dive in.
To kick things off, Chloe Qisha brings her infectious 80s-inspired alt-pop to the massive East stage. Her melodramatic and polished track ‘21st Century Cool Girl’ quickly gets the crowd singing along, while the lively ‘Sex, Drugs & Existential Dread’ gets hips moving, reminiscent of 1975’s ‘Love Me’ era. Just about a year into her performing career, the 26-year-old has already secured a supporting slot with Coldplay later this month—no pressure there! Today, her band is tight, and her charming banter is engaging. Despite needing some improvement in crowd interaction, it’s a promising debut.
Next up, Cat Burns arrives amidst a bold fanfare, exuding confidence as she kicks off with ‘alone’ from her debut album ‘early twenties’. Her new song ‘All This Love’ - a heartfelt exploration of grief from her forthcoming second project - demonstrates her gospel influences and her admiration for Ed Sheeran through its straightforward lyrics. “I thought there was gonna be about seven people here,” she jokes; a glance around shows the audience has significantly grown since she began. As she wraps up with her viral hit ‘go’, she has the crowd completely captivated.
Before long, the first major highlight of the day appears; dressed in a striking icy blue tracksuit with bold lip-liner, JADE captivates as she takes the East stage to launch into the audacious electro track ‘IT girl’. Accompanied by a band, backup singers, and dancers, the former Little Mixer quickly showcases her pop flair, rallying the audience to clap along while they bask in her club-like energy. Her new song ‘Plastic Box’ feels like a natural progression from her girl group beginnings rather than a departure; it's fulfilling to see JADE evolve genuinely with her audience. She elevates the energy further with a cover of Madonna’s ‘Frozen’, which transitions into an electrifying techno rave, before a medley of Little Mix tracks turns the cloudy Vicky Park into a festive summer celebration. Her happiness shines through as she talks about discovering her new path, her North East accent warm enough to melt steel, and she concludes with her entrancing genre-blending track ‘Angel Of My Dreams’. Festival performances don't get much more wholesome than this.
A short walk over to the West stage brings us to FKA twigs, who steps in last minute for the absent Doechii (too busy? Who knows). What follows is an astounding career overview that fuses music, dance, and performance art as twigs showcases her provocative, forward-thinking dance record ‘Eusexua’ featuring a group of striking dancers. The ensemble moves in a hypnotic fashion under stark white lights, with a massive backlit structure taking center stage, and twigs’ ethereal vocals cutting sharply through the experimental synths. In brief, it’s incredible, with every detail carefully crafted, positioning twigs as a true original. After the pulsating electronic set, she follows with a stripped-back version of ‘Cellophane’ over gentle piano, leaving the audience in complete silence. When she finally exits with a beaming smile, the cheers are the loudest of the day.
Then comes the main attraction. RAYE returns to All Points East for a triumphant victory lap following a rapid rise to fame despite initial delays. With her name illuminated and the stage filled with an orchestra and choir—the Flames Collective—she embodies vintage elegance as she launches into ‘Oscar Winning Tears’ and ‘The Thrill is Gone’ back-to-back. ‘Flip A Switch’ stands out early on, its trap beat harmoniously contrasted with the ornate arrangements; it’s loud, sophisticated, and quintessentially London.
Much like Adele, RAYE possesses an incredible vocal power, but her playful ad-libs are just as entertaining. “This next song is about addictions—woohoo!” she quips before diving into ‘Mary Jane.’ The festival sound system struggles to capture the full depth of her intricate arrangements, but the fusion of electric and orchestral elements still blends beautifully. She follows with a rendition of ‘It's a Man's Man's Man's World’, reaching an exhilarating peak as she passionately belts out James Brown’s unforgettable lyrics.
It's during the “nightclub section” of the set where RAYE truly flourishes. “I told you I love a big musical climax,” she beams, “we have
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JADE, Chloe Qisha, and the last-minute addition FKA twigs were significant highlights at the sold-out event in Victoria Park on Saturday.