© Photography by Jake Davis of Khroma Collective (www.instagram.com/khromacollective)

Approaching GALA Festival; London’s Genre-Bending Summer Event

The hugely diversified programme delights party-goers across the UK as we approach London’s famed GALA festival in a few weeks. This year’s festival will feature performances by Little Dragon, Palms Trax, Charlie Bones, Hunee, Nubya Garcia, DJ Harvey, Soichi Terada, and Sons of Kemet. 2022 will be its sixth instalment, taking place over the June Bank Holiday weekend (2nd-4th June) at Peckham Rye Park.

GALA will expand on the success of the sold-out event in 2021 with a celebration of dance music’s rich and varied history, including house, jazz, disco, drum & bass, garage, acid house, and afrobeat. Giving individuals access to a diverse choice of genres ensures that every member of your group is satisfied.

Thursday will be a new chapter for the event, with a focus on live music and bands. Swedish contemporary soul four-piece Little Dragon will headline the line-up, which now also includes Shabaka Hutchings’ jazz group Sons Of Kemet, Mercury-nominated Nubya Garcia, and Moses Boyd’s new project Binker and Moses, presented by Brilliant Corners’ Giant Steps and South London collective Born N Bread. Hunee, the fearless selector, Anu, the much-loved NTS host, and Do!! You!! Charlie Bones, the boss, has also been added to the cast. They join the already announced lineup, which also includes rave pioneer A Guy Called Gerald, drum & bass pioneer Goldie, and respected soul trio Children of Zeus.

GALA’s more conventional style returns on Friday, with widely acclaimed DJ Harvey making his GALA debut. Worldwide FM will include boss Gilles Peterson, returning favourite Dan Shake, and the legendary Awesome Tapes. Soichi Terada, a legendary Japanese DJ and producer, and Yen Sung, one of Lux’s longest-serving residents, are two more prominent new arrivals, joining Gerd Janson, Job Jobse, Move D, and Shanti Celeste in the initial round of announcements. While Refuge Worldwide returns to Peckham Rye Park, they will be joined by London favourites Amaliah, NIKS, and daytimers affiliates Riva & Saachi.

GALA welcomes back long-term partners Rhythm Section, Rye Wax, and Horse Meat Disco for the closing session on Saturday as part of the festival’s ever-expanding family. Homoelectric’s Luke Una and Jamie Bull, London fave Artwork, boogie pioneers Leroy Burgess and Saving Coco, Detroit native Marcellus Pitmman, elite selector Palms Trax, and the prolific Roman Flugel have all been revealed to join Jeremy Underground, Paula Tape, DJ Tennis, and others. 

Exclusively this year, the legendary Charlie Bones will broadcast his much-loved Do!! You!! show. Throughout the three days of the festival, a radio show will be broadcast live from the festival grounds.

GALA Festival is a safe and welcoming setting where music comes first, and it offers a variety of music not found at any other UK event. The festival will also welcome and raise cash for the Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers, as well as other community and inclusion initiatives.

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Words by Izabel Rose