For all our gripes with this city, there may be no better place in the world than a sunny Friday evening in London. From the moment we slam the laptop shut and release a collective sigh of relief, the capital comes alive with possibility for the 48 hours ahead. This past, glorious August weekend, Londoners flocked to All Points East – the annual festival held in Victoria Park and spread across multiple dates.
Kicking off day one’s impressive all-star lineup that included Kaytranada, Tems and Victoria Monét, was rising neo-soul star BINA. The south Londoner eased us into Friday with her sultry, raspy tones over at the L’Oreal Paris Stage. Soon after, as more people headed to the festival, Californian rapper Channel Tres gave them a warm welcome.
Bursting onto the East Stage accompanied by four male backing dancers, it was impossible not to smile at the contagious energy he brought to his set. By the end of his performance, the crowd had tripled in size – all of whom roared to the sound of Drip Sweat, the lead single from Kaytranada’s most recent album Timeless, featuring Channel Tres. It wasn’t the last time we’d hear the track that evening, a perfect teaser of what was to come.
While Zimbabwean-Australian rapper Tkay Maidza turned the party up a notch at the West Stage, Thundercat brought a chilled, soothing energy to the East Stage. “Are you guys already drunk?” he asked, the answer being: of course. The sun began to set to the sweet sounds of Dragonball .