In all the buzz ahead of London’s robust and genre-stretching festival season, it’s hard to know which tickets to snap up first. Wide Awake is one of those not-to-miss events that I’ve found the majority of my friends making their way over to, year after year. This season’s lineup is no less exciting than the offerings of late-spring’s past. A chance to dive head first into early summer is part of this festival’s initial draw. On the earlier side of festival season, Wide Awake presents an ass-kicking lineup set to take place on May 23rd. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday. It’s like you’re able to get a whole festival in, and still have your entire weekend to look forward to before it even started. Hosted by well-known names like Bad Vibrations, LNZRT, MOTH Club and The Shacklewell Arms, you’d be silly to miss this treat of a festival.
One of the festival’s highlights is the sheer variety of genres it brings to the table. The lineup features Iconic heavy hitting feminist musician Peaches, who has no doubt been a facet of our listening histories for decades now. Aligned with her addictive musicality, showstopping queer performer Cobrah is set to leave a mark, pumping out high intensity slutty electronic tracks into the already high vibrational atmosphere. They didn’t stop there though, expect country-pop tunes by CMAT, performing alongside the list of star studded headliners. All said, you’ll likely find more than one reason to grab your tickets to Brockwell Park. Not to mention, all at a price you could blink away in a few pints at some of the bougier pubs in London Fields… What’s not to love?
Credits: Joshua Atkins
Credits: Luke Dyson
The festival is uniquely set up across the park in a way that runs few risks of overlaps. In the unlikely event that two of your favourite bands kick off at the same time, the grounds are small enough that you’d undoubtedly be able to make both sets without breaking a sweat. Trust me, I’ve done it for years now. Skipping stage to stage, lagers and chicken strips locked and loaded for a long day of dancing to the likes of folk to club hits. In previous years the lineups have hosted performers like Gretel Hänlyn and Jockstrap, which drew engagement that nearly necessitated mosh pits your nan better not look upon, lest she faint from the sheer amount of exposed skin. I’m speaking from experience as I witnessed a whole horde of girlypops flash The Dare all at once. Pints flying, screaming “I like the girls who!” in rhythmic unison. Audiences pressed together, sardine like, joyously screaming the lyrics and jumping almost entirely in sync.
Credits: Joshua Atkins
Credits: Joshua Atkins
Other noteworthy performers include multi-faceted electronic musician Sega Bodega who haunts the audience into submission with ethereal vocals and booming bass drops. Post-punk band Sextile, buffers up against mysterious alt rock band Luvcat as they glimmer alongside headliners, Kneecap and English Teacher. Wide Awake is high energy in a way that feels simultaneously carefree. There are some festivals that are so GO GO GO, that you can’t really enjoy it. You won’t find that at Brockwell Park. It’s the place you meet up with long lost friends of festivals’ past, for those surprise international reunions, laughter and dancing with strangers turned besties alongside the soundtrack of up and coming musicians and industry heavyweights all the same. It’s all waiting for you.
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Words: Lauren Bulla