The penultimate day of London’s All Points East had been hotly anticipated for its welcoming of Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii – that is, until she dropped out with less than a week to go before gates opened. For many of the attendees, it was the American artist, who was due to headline the festival’s West Stage on Saturday 23rd, that was the main attraction. The disappointment was palpable, but organisers were quick to bolster the female-led line-up with acclaimed singer-songwriter FKA twigs.
Adding to the woes of those behind All Points East, an unusually dry forecast and days of festival-goers stomping over the hard ground at Victoria Park resulted in something even more unexpected than an absent headliner. Warnings of clouds of dirt were issued, and face masks recommended, which, judging by the amount of uncovered-faces, was either missed or ignored by the majority of visitors.
Despite a tumultuous run-up, the festival unfolded almost without a hitch, offering an unmissable line-up of established names and rising stars. London-born Cat Burns brought her smile-inducing energy to the East Stage, amplified by the vivid blue backdrop and playful, cloud-inspired font behind her. The legion of fans who showed-up early to enjoy her set were treated to a mix of songs from her upcoming album and old favourites, including the cathartic, post-breakup anthem ‘Go.’
Over on the West Stage, Montell Fish delivered a genre-defying set with a slick production and abstract visuals. The alternative R&B and neo-soul artist showcased his powerful falsetto on the track ‘Who Did You Touch?,’ serenaded the audience with ‘Fall In Love with You,’ and bounced around the stage to ‘Every Night,’ resulting in one of the most captivating and exciting moments from the day.
As the evening went on, former Little Mix singer JADE proved that she is a superstar in her own right, Sienna Spiro filled the Cupra North Arena with stunning vocals, and Nao finally had her moment, performing a flawless and fun-filled set to thousands of fans – a contrast to her show at SAULT’s All Points East billing last week, where, due to a scheduling error, she played to an almost empty field. Unfortunately, Nao’s time was unexpectedly and inexplicably cut short, and many of her best-loved songs went unheard for the second time in a week.
Preparing the East Stage for headliner Raye was South African star Tyla, where attendees were met with a low-energy show which relied heavily on dance breaks and choreography. Even during the performance of her multi-platinum song Water, when the crowd were in a frenzy, her stage presence was lacking. Still, there was plenty more to see before the night was over.
Headliner on the West Stage and last minute stand-in for Doechii, FKA twigs captivated her audience with a show that was executed to perfection. Experimental, industrial dance-pop tracks were interspersed with hypnotic, vocal-led ballads, accompanied by relentlessly energetic and mesmerising choreography. Watching in awe, the audience stood silent as she sang a particularly moving performance of ‘Cellophane,’ which ended with tears rolling down the artist’s cheek. Dripping with style, her performance was one of the most well-established of the night, cementing the fact that FKA twigs is a headliner-worthy act with an authentic, yet otherworldly sound.
As the day came to a close, festival-goers gathered below the main stage for Saturday night’s top-billing – Raye. Appearing on the vast retro-style stage in a rose-hued 1950s-style dress, it is easy to forget that the Brit-award winner, born just down the road in London’s Tooting, is still only just 27 years old. Bringing a dose of big-band energy to Victoria Park, Raye showed off her smooth, soulful vocals on tracks including ‘Genesis,’ ‘Oscar Winning Tears’ and ‘Flip A Switch’.
Introducing the song ‘Ice Cream Man,’ Raye opened up about her personal experience dealing with the aftermath and trauma of sexual assault, and the subsequent rendition became an intensely moving experience, witnessed by a crowd in complete silence.
With her towering vocals and magnetic charisma, Raye charmed the All Points East audience, leaving the dirt-covered crowd in awe of her confident and distinctive performance.
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Words: Sophie Meeson
Photographer: Sophie Vaughan