Usually, 2.30pm at All Points East is quiet. There are not yet streams of guests filtering into the Victoria Park site, especially on a Friday. But this All Points East date was for the R&B lovers, and you’d be hard pressed to find more dedicated music fans.
With Jorja Smith and Tems headlining, and Smith co-curating the line-up alongside her FAMM label, this was almost entirely a day of British music, which compared to most festivals these days is hard to come by. Promoters might assume local fans aren’t as keen to see homegrown acts because they’re easier to catch live. But they would be mistaken, because by mid-afternoon, the site was heaving with fans criss-crossing the dusty park, and by early evening, I wouldn’t be surprised if all 45,000 ticket holders were inside.
Alongside the aforementioned headliners, the line up contained another (sadly) uncommon phenomenon of being heavily female. With artists like , , , and each pulling huge crowds of their own, the men were outnumbered. This was also true of the DJs, where we welcomed the likes of Tash LC, Keyrah and Saint Ludo to the decks.
The first act I managed to take in was alternative rap artist, Wesley Joseph. Hailing from Walsall, the same town as Jorja Smith, Joseph performed on the West Stage (the second largest) with a very respectable crowd for only the second act. He looked comfortable performing tracks from his latest album, ‘Forever Ends Someday‘, as well as some very promising unreleased ones. With the sun shining down amidst threatening clouds, this felt like a good omen for the rest of the day.
After catching a few snippets of close-by stages, trying to win brand giveaways and buying a Rinkoff’s doughnut (thereby increasing the average food stall quality) we headed back to the West stage for certified legend, Katy B. Even though it’s been 15 years since her seminal album, ‘On A Mission‘, I had never witnessed the woman who soundtracked so many parties live. With her signature flaming red hair, Katy launched onto the stage with her second biggest song, ‘Lights On’, to which the crowd erupted. The backdrop showed clips of the accompanying music videos, which was welcome nostalgia for the classics. Somewhat surprising to someone who grew up listening to Katy, is how many younger fans were in the massive audience. This indicates just how successful her return has been, because not only did they know her new music, but they were singing her older tracks word for word too. Finishing with a mini Drum & Bass segment, this was definitely one of the best sets of the day.
En route to the main stage, we were stopped in our tracks quite literally by the Red Bull Zone which had morphed from a bar with music to a full on dance battle, surrounded by people craning to get a look. With a DJ and MC on hosting duties, this felt like a real break from live music, but also something entirely connected to the day. Unlike some other brand activations which feel tone deaf and content-hungry, this fit right in.
kwn’s career has taken an almost vertical rise in the past few years. Her audience are some of the most diehard you will ever come across, and the way she commanded the main stage makes you see why. With a retro design including a white globe TV and a pink armchair, kwn and her band really showed how R&B can hold a festival crowd, no matter the BPM. She also brought out close friend and collaborator, Destin Conrad, on a yet to be released new track. Being the first artist we caught on the main stage, it was notable how the immersive, curved screens made a huge visual impact, no matter how simple the displayed graphics.
From here it was the hike across site to watch one of the most rapidly rising UK artists, Odeal. With a full band and three dancers, this was quite possibly the highest production set of Odeal I had seen, and it paid off. In a sky blue, pony hair jacket, and light denim Gucci jeans, Odeal began with the people’s favourite from his brand new EP, ‘Bluey Vuitton’. The entire 45 minutes was a smooth journey through his discography, with the poise one has come to expect from this magnetic artist. Having just toured with LVRN label mate , and fresh off his latest project, this summer more than ever feels like we’re witnessing a superstar in the making.
For the last walk back to the main stage, we joined the mass exodus in the dusty golden hour to watch co-headliner, Tems. Having seen Tems two years prior at the same festival, I was keen to see how she had evolved. Safe to say, Tems made the main stage her home. In a stunning, beaded macrame dress, she was truly mind-blowing. She would have been just as impressive singing acapella, but her extensive band and pyramid stage design did elevate the experience. Perhaps the biggest surprise was bringing out Dave for their hit track ‘Raindance’. Although this is Dave’s hometown, I don’t think anyone expected to see him that day, and it was a beautiful moment. Clearly overwhelmed by the crowd’s adoration, Tems repeatedly told the crowd how much she loved them and what this meant to her. For someone of her global reputation and talent, this felt as humble as you could get.
And then there was one. Having just toured the world as Harry Styles’ support act, has been warming up for this headline performance for months. But this show was most definitely bespoke to All Points East, and the preparation showed. Even before Smith stepped on stage, the crowd is hearing a ‘radio’ tune in and out of “Jorja FM”, with real DJs voicing the snippets of made-up stations, already setting the scene for a night of UK greatness. Smith begins with the heavenly ‘Blue Lights’ with a full band and vocals behind her, and the 90 minute set doesn’t falter from here. Appearing in a form-fitting, semi-sheer corseted dress and signature slicked back hair, Smith is a vision while her voice carries across Victoria Park with ease.
Fans expect special guests for a headliner, especially for an artist who has plenty of collaborators, so it was just a matter of whom. But what felt even better than seeing her on stage with the likes of Odeal or Loyle Carner, both of which were heartwarming to watch, was that she also paid homage to artists who influenced her. Smith brought out Funky House legend Kyla to perform ‘Do You Mind’, and later, after playing a genuine video of Smith in school uniform singing ‘Katy on a Mission’, Katy B herself appears and they perform the track together. Smith also brought out Nia Archives, fresh from her own set across the site, to perform their joint song, ‘Get Me Down’. Nia stays on stage for a few more tracks on a raised platform, while AJ Tracey comes out to play the banger, ‘Crush’ and the classic, ‘Ladbroke Grove’. She also brought out the choir she established in her hometown for females ages 10-20, The Blue Lights Choir, to sing ‘Greatest Gift’.
Ending with uptempo favourites ‘Little Things’ and ‘On My Mind’, this set wasn’t just a celebration of Smith’s 10 years as an artist, it was a celebration of everyone and everything that had got her here. In keeping with her album name released the same day, ‘What Are The Odds‘, Smith’s gratitude and humility was present in every set decision. It could have been much more self-serving with far fewer guests, but she chose to spotlight those most important to her career past and present, and she did it with grace.
Words: Nicola J Davies //
Photography: Haruki // @haruki.design