KAYTRANADA, Tems, Victoria Monét, Thundercat, and Tkay Maidza launched Uber One Presents All Points East 2024 yesterday [Fri 16th August], marking the return of East London’s celebrated 10 day music festival which launched six years ago.
KAYTRANADA presented a genre-defying headline set in front of 45,000 fans – “Need It” was a crowd-pleaser as was a blast of Beyonce’s “CUFF IT”, greeted with a mass of voices bellowing the lyrics back at the stage.
Victoria Monét brought high production values, choreographed dances, and a huge party to London in a U.K. exclusive performance. The US superstar and three-time Grammy winner delivered a set that dipped into nostalgic 00s r&b and modern pop. With fan fave songs such as “Alright”, “Jaguar”, “Party Girls” and Grammy-winning track “On My Mama”.
The appearance of Channel Tres to duet on their song “Drip Sweat” made for a firm festival moment in KAYTRANADA’S set.
“Intimidated” was met by a sea of phones from fans keen to capture the moment, as was “Be Your Girl”, which also saw the entire crowd singing as one.
“I love you London from the bottom of my heart,” KAYTRANADA announced from behind his DJ platform.
With a diamond encrusted microphone clenched between his fingers, Channel Tres brought the party vibe on the East Stage. The eighties electro pulse of “Acid in My Blood” and the Prince-like summer-soaked slink of ‘Cactus Water”, along with the funk-fuelled rendition of his Jungle collaboration “I’ve Been In Love”, went down a storm.
Instructing the crowd to follow his command, he disappeared from the stage and was filmed roaming the backstage area as the music built towards its climax. Tres ordered the audience to “bounce” when he re-emerged. ”What a beautiful day to be in London,” remarked the Compton L.A.-born artist.
“This energy is crazy. I wasn’t expecting this,” declared Tems on the West Stage. “This is massive for me, this crowd is massive,” she gushed, before acknowledging her journey by performing the very first song she ever wrote, “Mr Rebel”. It was the biggest crowd ever seen on All Points East’s West Stage.
At one point, the Nigerian producer and singer paused to say that the love from the audience was making her “blush”. Fans lapped up such bangers as “Burning”, “Wickedest”, “Love Me JeJe”, “Higher” as she delved deep into her acclaimed debut album “Born in the Wild.” The set closed with the ballad “Me & U”.
The king of collaborations, in demand bass player extraordinaire Thundercat – aka Stephen Bruner – brought his virtuosic soloing and smooth sounds to the East Stage before a vast crowd. “It’s a beautiful day today! Time to start singing some weird shit,” he told the fans. Offering up tracks such as “Dragonball Durag”, “Funny Thing” and “Them Changes” to a great response.
Tkay Maidza dispatched grooves galore with her early evening set on the West Stage. With a backdrop depicting a blood red moon, and a DJ behind her, the exuberant Aussie was eager to show why second album “Sweet Justice” is such a breakthrough. Her first London festival, tracks such as “What Ya Know” and “Ghost!”, and her signature song, “Ring-A-Ling” sounding superb in her 45 minute set, which closed with “WUACV”.
Additional highlights from APE Day One included Jyoty, TSHA b2b KILIMANJARO, Blanco, Kitty Ca$h and more, while the day kicked off on the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage with sounds spun by the British DJ, Yyre.
Saturday night sees Loyle Carner make his debut festival headline performance supported by a stellar line-up including Nas, André 3000, Ezra Collective, Lianne La Havas, and more.
The rest of the headliners include Mitski (Sunday 18 August), LCD Soundsystem (Friday 23 August), APE presents Field Day (Saturday 24 August) and The Postal Service / Death Cab For Cutie (Sunday 25 August). In The Neighbourhood returns for free activities from Monday 19th August to Thursday 22nd August.
Photos by: Eljay Briss (1), Khali Photography (3), Sharon Lopez (1), Ishashah Photography (4)
