Leave the house? Seems quite likely with all of this going on.
GIG OF THE WEEK
TAYLOR SWIFT, WEMBLEY STADIUM (15TH, 16TH, 17TH, 19TH, 20TH AUGUST 2024)
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour touchdown at Wembley Stadium is as much a meticulously curated exhibition of a key aspect of pop’s current landscape as it is a show. Swift, playing the role of both headliner and astute gallery curator, has assembled a lineup that reads like a who’s who of “ones to watch” and “glad you watched.”
Opening night sees Sofia Isella take the stage, her ethereal soundscapes serving as an amuse-bouche for the feast to come. Isella’s music, all atmosphere and introspection, suggests what Enya might sound like if she discovered Radiohead and a decent wi-fi connection. Her inclusion nods to pop’s expanding boundaries, where genre labels are treated more like polite suggestions than hard and fast rules.
Holly Humberstone follows, armed with lyrics so raw they should come with their own emotional trigger warning. Humberstone’s unflinching honesty feels like the natural evolution of Swift’s own confessional style, updated for a generation that treats oversharing as a love language. Watching her perform, one can almost imagine a young Taylor nodding approvingly from the wings.
Suki Waterhouse brings her particular brand of dreamy nostalgia to the proceedings on the third night. Her transition from model to musician might raise a few eyebrows, but in an era where careers are more fluid than a lava lamp, it feels almost passé to be surprised. Waterhouse’s hazy indie pop serves as a perfect palate cleanser, bridging the gap between Swift’s recent folkloric musings and her more polished pop productions.
Maisie Peters arrives with the swagger of an heir apparent, her sharp lyrics and earworm melodies eerily reminiscent of Swift’s early work. It’s like watching pop music’s circle of life in action, minus the talking animals and questionable geography. Peters offers a masterclass in storytelling through song, a skill Swift herself has honed to near-perfection.
RAYE rounds out the solo supports, her genre-defying sound a testament to pop’s current anything-goes ethos. Fresh from her David-versus-Goliath triumph over industry machinations, RAYE’s inclusion feels like Swift passing the torch of artistic integrity – or perhaps more accurately, sharing a flame that shows no signs of dimming.
And then there’s Paramore. Their evolution from angsty teens to alternative rock stalwarts provides a neat parallel to Swift’s own journey. Hayley Williams, like Swift, has navigated treacherous waters in the public eye with admirable dexterity, managing to mature artistically without sacrificing her edge – a feat akin to growing up without growing old in pop years.
As the Wembley crowds filter in each night, they won’t just be getting a show; they’ll be witnesses to a carefully orchestrated cultural moment. The pop present and future, as approved by Taylor Alison Swift. Those Eras just keep on coming.
FESTIVAL FOCUS
ALL POINTS EAST (WEEKEND ONE): LONDON’S SONIC MELTING POT
Victoria Park transforms into a microcosm of London’s vibrant music scene for two weekends, offering a lineup as diverse as the city itself. All Points East isn’t just a festival; it’s a cultural snapshot, a place where grime meets indie, electronica rubs shoulders with pop, and genre labels become increasingly meaningless.
This year’s lineup reads like a ‘Best Of’ playlist come to life. For the first weekend, Kaytranada will bring the grooves, his beats as infectious as a rush hour tube ride is not. Mitski continues to thrive – nobody is doubting her ability to top the bill here, while Loyle Carner offers a moment of introspection amidst the festival frenzy.
The real magic of All Points East lies in its ability to juxtapose the established with the emerging. One moment, you’re singing along to hits you’ve known for years; the next, you’re discovering your new favourite artist on a side stage. It’s a festival that allows you to reminisce about the past while simultaneously glimpsing the future of music. In true London fashion, All Points East is a melting pot of sounds, styles, and experiences – just with better weather and fewer tube strikes.
7th-10th August, Tøyenparken, Oslo, Norway
ALL POINTS EAST’S WEEKEND ONE TOP EIGHT
KAYTRANADA
Kaytranada, the Montreal maestro of genre-blending beats, is set to turn Victoria Park into his personal dance laboratory. Fresh off his Grammy-winning hot streak, Kay is less a DJ and more a mad scientist of groove, concocting potions of electronic, hip-hop, and R&B that could make even the stiffest British upper lip quiver. Expect to see even the trees swaying.
MITSKI
Mitski returns to the UK armed with her latest album, ‘The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We’ – a title that sounds less like a record and more like a passive-aggressive note left on a roommate’s door. Fresh off her European tour, Mitski is the poet laureate of millennial angst. Her set promises to be an emotional rollercoaster, albeit one designed by a brooding art student with a penchant for complex metaphors. Prepare for a performance that will have you questioning your life choices, your relationships, and possibly the fundamental nature of existence itself – all set to hauntingly beautiful melodies.
LOYLE CARNER
South London’s own Loyle Carner is bringing his particular brand of heart-on-sleeve hip-hop to All Points East, proving once and for all that British rap isn’t all grime and bravado. With his latest album ‘Hugo’, Carner has perfected the art of making vulnerability sound cool. His set promises to be part therapy session, part poetry slam, and all soul. Tissues not provided, but strongly recommended.
VICTORIA MONÉT
Victoria Monét is here to remind us all why we should pay attention to the names in the songwriting credits. After years of penning hits for pop’s elite, Monét has stepped into the spotlight, armed with ‘Jaguar II’ and enough star power to give Victoria Park’s lighting rigs a run for their money. Her set promises to be a masterclass in R&B excellence, showcasing vocals so smooth they should come with a warning label. Part history lesson in pop craftsmanship, part religious experience.
TEMS
Tems brings her Nigerian-infused soul to All Points East, promising to turn Victoria Park into a satellite campus of the Lagos music scene. With a voice that could melt steel and rhythms that could make a statue move, Tems is here to prove that Afrobeats is more than just a trending hashtag. A transcontinental journey of sound, no passport required.
ANDRÉ 3000
In a plot twist worthy of an M. Night Shyamalan film, André 3000 returns to the UK stage not with his trademark rapid-fire rhymes, but with… a flute? The OutKast alum’s new jazz odyssey, ‘New Blue Sun’, is less ‘Hey Ya!’ and more ‘Hey, what’s that sound?’ His set could be equal parts baffling and brilliant, a sonic journey that will have hip-hop purists scratching their heads and jazz aficionados nodding theirs. Prepare for a performance that defies expectations, genres, and possibly the laws of physics.
ETHEL CAIN
Ethel Cain brings her Southern Gothic charm to East London, proving that you don’t need a dusty porch or a banjo to channel the spirit of William Faulkner. Hot off the success of ‘Preacher’s Daughter’, and with an upcoming second album to maybe tease, Cain’s sets are part exorcism, part group therapy. Southern comfort never sounded so uncomfortable.
SUKI WATERHOUSE
Suki Waterhouse, the model-turned-actress-turned-singer (because apparently, some people just can’t settle on one form of creative expression), brings her dreamy indie-pop to All Points East. Fresh from impressing the flower crown brigade at Coachella, Waterhouse is here to prove that she’s more than just a triple threat – she’s the Swiss Army knife of the entertainment industry. With new album ‘Sparklemuffin’ on the way, and a Swifty support slot on the cards too, Suki is on a charge.
ARCTANGENT: THE MATHEMATICIAN’S MOSH PIT
In a world of 4/4 time signatures and predictable chord progressions, ArcTanGent stands defiantly complex – a celebration of sonic intricacy, where guitar pedals outnumber attendees and the term “easy listening” is treated as a mild insult.
Meshuggah headlines, promising to turn Fernhill Farm into a whirlwind of polyrhythmic madness. Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky will provide epic soundscapes that are perfect for lying in a field and contemplating the vastness of the universe – or trying to predict the next time signature change.
Elsewhere, you’ll find bands like Three Trapped Tigers delivering their swan song and Animals As Leaders melting faces with their jazz-infused prog metal. ArcTanGent is where genre boundaries dissolve, replaced by a shared appreciation for music that challenges as much as it entertains. Pack your calculator – you might need it to keep up with these rhythms.
14th-17th August, Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, UK
GREEN MAN: WHERE THE WILD THINGS PLAY
Nestled in the rolling hills of the Brecon Beacons, Green Man feels less like a festival and more like stumbling into a magical realm where music, nature, and perhaps a bit of Welsh mythology collide. Here, wellies are as essential as your ticket, and the main stage backdrop puts most desktop wallpapers to shame.
The lineup is a mix that makes perfect sense in this enchanted setting. Sleaford Mods will bring their uniquely British brand of social commentary, while Jon Hopkins will transform the Welsh countryside into an ethereal dance party, his electronic soundscapes merging with the mist rolling off the hills. There’s also Big Thief, Sampha, Ezra Collective, Moonchild Sanelly and loads more.
Between sets, lose yourself in the Far Out tent, where up-and-coming acts vie for your attention. Or wander into Einstein’s Garden, a hub of science and nature activities that feels like what would happen if Neil deGrasse Tyson curated a music festival. Green Man isn’t just about the music – it’s about the experience, the exploration, and the sense that around every corner lies another discovery.
15th-18th August, Glanusk Estate, Brecon Beacons, Wales
ELECTRIC PICNIC: IRELAND’S CULTURAL CARNIVAL
For one weekend, a corner of County Laois becomes the centre of Ireland’s cultural universe. Electric Picnic isn’t just a music festival – it’s a national event, a place where music, art, and craic converge in a celebration of creativity that could only happen on the Emerald Isle.
The main stage boasts a lineup that mirrors the festival’s diverse appeal. Calvin Harris will turn the field into Ireland’s largest outdoor nightclub, while Kylie Minogue promises a masterclass in pop perfection. For those seeking something a bit more introspective, Noah Kahan offers a folk-infused respite from the electronic beats.
Venture beyond the main stages, and Electric Picnic reveals its true character. In the Mindfield area, you might stumble upon a heated debate about Irish literature or an impromptu poetry slam. As night falls, the woods come alive with secret gigs and immersive art installations. Electric Picnic is more than a music festival – it’s a choose-your-own-adventure story where every choice leads to a new discovery, all set against a soundtrack that spans genres and generations.
1st-3rd September, Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois, Ireland
LOWLANDS: A DUTCH DETOUR INTO FESTIVAL UTOPIA
For one weekend, a theme park in the Netherlands sheds its usual identity and emerges as “A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise” – a name that manages to be both absurd and entirely fitting. This isn’t just a music festival; it’s a temporary city where art, music, and ideas intersect in unexpected ways.
The lineup is a testament to Lowlands’ eclectic tastes. Fred Again.. promises to turn the main stage into a communal catharsis, his emotive electronica uniting strangers in dance. Soft Play, Spiritbox, Wunderhorse and more will be there to remind everyone why rock and roll will never die, while Jorja Smith offers a soulful counterpoint to the festival’s more frenetic moments.
What sets Lowlands apart is its commitment to being more than just a series of gigs. Between bands, you might find yourself engrossed in a cutting-edge theatre performance, debating philosophy in a late-night discussion group, or marvelling at art installations that defy easy categorisation. It’s a place that understands a truly great festival should leave you with more than just ringing ears – although you’ll probably have those, too. Lowlands is a utopian experiment in what a festival can be, a place where music is just the beginning of the experience.
16th-18th August, Walibi Holland, Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
Leave a Reply