Victoria Park Transforms into a Dusty Playground of Music and Magic
On a warm August bank holiday weekend, Victoria Park in East London took on a Burning Man atmosphere with a dusty summer haze in the air, and festival-goers with bandanas wrapped around their faces. Saturday was the penultimate night of All Points East festival, and the sellout event attracted 50,000 fans who danced their way through a female-led lineup. RAYE’s performance was the crown jewel of a stellar lineup that included Tyla, FKA twigs, former Little Mix star Jade, Montell Fish, Jyoty, NAO, Nia Smith, Sienna Spiro, Chloe Qisha, Cat Burns, Bimini and Eliza Rose. A musical celebration of female artistry was front and center of the event.
Drama Queen Energy with Jazz Glamour and Big Band Soul
RAYE’s heartfelt headline set was accompanied by a big band and her backing singers, Flames Collective. She seemed blown away by the size of the crowd and the reception they gave her, saying: “This is the kind of moment a little girl dreams of. Thank you, London, for making a little girl’s dreams come true. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope you’ve enjoyed yourselves.”
Channelling old-school Hollywood glamour in a fuchsia cocktail dress and retro curls, RAYE’s set was both theatrical and deeply heartfelt. “I’m a complete and utter drama queen,” she told the crowd. “And I’m unapologetic about that, which means a lot of dramatic endings this evening.”
She seamlessly blended jazz, soul, and pop–from her Mark Ronson-produced track Suzanne, to a spellbinding cover of James Brown’s This Is a Man’s Man’s World. For her finale she belted out breakout hit Escapism.
RAYE, a Brit School graduate, has drawn comparisons to legends like Amy Winehouse and Adele, and with good reason. Her vocal prowess, charm, and emotional depth place her firmly among London’s most iconic musical talents.
RAYE possesses the talent of Winehouse and Adele and has a similar wit and charm that only a true London girl inhabits. She emits a retro, old school Hollywood glamour combined with a voice that could be from the era of Ella Fitzgerald or Sarah Vaughan, yet she is a true original. Raye–real name is Rachel Keen–enjoyed a historic win at the 2024 Brit Awards, when she home six trophies, the most of any artist in one night. And her Brit school training has served her well, embellishing her star presence and mega-watt smile.
An Artist Grounded in Gratitude and Authenticity
Beyond her talent, RAYE’s authenticity was on full display. She dedicated Ice Cream Man to a superfan and paused her set to help alert medics when an audience member fainted. These small but powerful moments underscored the connection she has with her fans. RAYE’s star is rapidly ascending, and showstopping performances like All Points East–which comes hot on the heels of her star turns at Montreux Jazz Festival and Glastonbury- cement her status as a world-class musical star. It feels like a Las Vegas residency beckons in the future.
Wearing a fuschia pink cocktail dress with Monroe-esque movie starlet curls, she channelled old school glamour–telling the audience about her love of Jazz, before performing a spellbinding cover of James Brown’s This Is a Man’s Man’s World–and later closing her set with signature song Escapism.
Tyla Brings South African Heat to Her UK Festival Debut
South African superstar singer Tyla made her UK festival debut with a high-energy, dance-filled performance. Backed by a troupe of talented dancers and a scaffolding rig marked with the words “We’re here to party,” the 23-year-old Johannesburg star performed hits like Show Me Love, Push 2 Start, and viral smash Water.
Her set had a carnival spirit–getting the crowd moving and making it a perfect precursor to Notting Hill Carnival–with surprise guest appearances from Afrobeats star Wizkid on Dynamite and British artist Darkoo on Favourite Girl.
More girl power: JADE and FKA twigs
Former Little Mix singer JADE delivered a joyful set that included solo material like Angel of My Dreams and Plastic Box, along with fan favourites Wasabi and Touch from her girl group days.
FKA twigs stepped in last-minute to headline the West Stage after Doechi announced she could no longer perform, and she brought her singular artistic vision and high energy. Her set came ahead of her highly anticipated album EUSEXUA Afterglow, showcasing her distinctive fusion of performance art, choreography, and genre-defying music.
Girl Power Rules All Points East
With a lineup dominated by women, the penultimate night of All Points East was a celebration of talent, diversity, and creativity.
While girl power ruled with a female-heavy lineup, over on the West Stage, a highlight was American singer-songwriter Montell Fish, who gave a storming, guitar-heavy performance on the West Stage, delivering his own brand of neo soul meets R&B, and getting steamy with a rendition of Hotel.
RAYE’s headline set confirmed she’s not just having a moment, but shaping the future of British music.