All Points East 2024: Day 2

Under a warm London sun, my day at the festival began within the intimate confines of the Cooper Tent, where Navy Blue, a rising star from New York, took the stage. He is one of my favourite MCs of the past few years, and he wasted no time making an impact during his short but potent set. With spiritual, introspective lyrics layered over jazzy instrumentals, Navy Blue captivated the crowd, pausing only to express his gratitude for the impressive turnout (and to share the Arsenal score). His performance set a perfect tone for what would be a wonderfully sunny and reflective day. 

Next up was the soulful Lianne La Havas. Initially, I found myself in an awkward spot, surrounded by oblivious chatters that threatened to spoil the quiet beauty of her performance. I managed to shuffle forward, only to be cursed again by more intrusive conversations - a huge problem for many gigs and festivals. Fortunately, all distractions were swiftly silenced by her powerful rendition of “Bittersweet”, a moment that cut through the noise with breathtaking force. 

Perhaps the standout set of the day—if not for many others as well—was delivered by the impeccable Ezra Collective. The South London jazz group accomplished what often seems impossible at festivals: they got the crowd to stop talking and start dancing. At the request of drummer Femi Koleoso, pockets of dance circles formed, and even this humble writer found himself going to the centre and busting out some of the worst dance moves ever witnessed, much to the amusement of my partner and friends. In a time of turbulent and divisive British politics, their set served as a poignant reminder that dancing and love can be acts of powerful defiance. 

After grabbing some delicious grub at one of the many excellent food stalls on offer, I hurried off to see one of my most anticipated acts: André 3000. The rap legend, whose music soundtracked much of my youth through classic OutKast albums and unforgettable guest verses, was not here to perform his hits. Instead, he brought a completely different experience, having launched a new chapter in his career just last year with a meditative ambient jazz album titled New Blue Note. For those who have followed André’s eclectic journey, this shift should come as no surprise; he’s always been avant-garde, and his sightings playing the flute in unexpected locations have only added to his mystique. His set was entirely improvised, with 3 Stacks opting to “Go With the Wind”, wielding a vast array of woodwind instruments to create a calming, contemplative atmosphere. 

The festival’s headliner and co-curator, Loyle Carner, followed in the footsteps of his fellow Londoners Ezra Collective, by making a poignant statement on unity in the face of recent race riots that have tainted the summer. Guest speaker Athian Akec delivered a modified version of his stirring Parliament speech (sampled in Carner’s “Blood on my Nikes”) against knife crime, which called out politicians who fail to address the root causes of violence. A mainstay on the British festival circuit, Carner has honed his live performance skills over the years, and it showed in this polished set. The latter part of his performance saw collaborations with friends Tom Misch and Jordan Rakei joining him for fan favourites like “Damselfly”, “Angel”, and “Ottolenghi”. It’s safe to say that with this show, Loyle Carner cemented his status as a UK rap icon.