Following a career-spanning performance from rock royalty Bring Me The Horizon on Friday, All Points East 2019 continues its second weekend with Mumford & Sons’ Gentlemen Of The Road curated day of exceptional music, on a sunny Saturday.
“It’s good to be home” exclaimed Marcus Mumford, after one of the UK’s biggest bands took to the stage for their only festival performance at All Points East. Having assembled a “f****** great day” of music, with the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Leon Bridges, The Vaccines, The Staves, Marika Hackman, Gretta Ray and many more, Mumford & Sons stepped into the spotlight to play a well deserved homecoming set.
The London quartet brought in the crowd pleasers early on with a dizzying version of their best loved hits ‘Little Lion Man’, with the audience joyously singing the chorus. The Staves joined them on stage for a rousing version of ‘Beloved’, from their latest and most critically acclaimed album to date Delta. More old favourites followed, including ‘Lover Of The Light’ from 2012’s breakthrough Babel, before returning to Delta and a moving rendition of ‘Woman’.
The two encores featured artists from the day, with Gretta Ray helping out on vocals for ‘Forever’, a massive version of their biggest hit ‘I Will Wait’, before they brought the house down with absolutely everyone joining in for a fitting cover of The Beatles’ ‘I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends’.
Before Mumfords’ career defining set and only metres away from a key catalyst in the ascension of grime on Roman Road, Dizzee Rascal brought it home to Victoria Park tonight. Starting with a throwback of songs including ‘I Luv U’, ‘Fix Up, Look Sharp’ and ‘Jus’ a Rascal’ from his first album Boy in da Corner, he followed up with a song from his most recent album ‘Raskit’ called ‘Space’. “There’s something missing today in Victoria park, sumin ain’t right, I need some bass.” Dizzee then launched into the hit ‘Bassline Junkie’, before ending the perfect set, all the hands in the air, with ‘Holiday’ and ‘Bonkerz’ from Tongue n Cheek.
Warming up for Dizzee were indie heroes The Vaccines, who strolled on stage to the mighty Queen, echoing Freddie’s flamboyant style with a gold and glittering drum set. The East Stage also hosted the rising star of country-charred rock with a killer set of pipes Jade Bird, whose self-titled acclaimed debut came out earlier this year. Expressing gratitude for her meteoric rise and wearing a powder blue suit, Jade admitted “this is the biggest stage we’ll play this summer, so thank you for watching” and continued the trend for covers today with her take on The Bangles’ ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’. Indie pop quartet Mosa Wild opened the festival with a flurry of catchy guitar tunes, winning over the crowd with a duo of covers; Waterboys’ ‘Whole Of The Moon’ segueing into The Who’s iconic ‘Baba O’Reilly’.
Meanwhile Leon Bridges got the party started and drew a packed out crowd to the North Stage. He strutted out in double denim (his initials embroidered on the jacket) and a white net top, seizing a gold glittered mic and matching mic stand. People were dancing and throwing their hands up in the air, sending the audience screaming when he sauntered to a far corner of the stage. His dancing got the crowd going - “Can I do some moves? We’re gonna do it the Texas way” , followed aptly by a raucous version of his 2018 single ‘If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be)’.
Continuing her transformation from folk to laid back rock, Marika Hackman played a set filled with tracks from her Britpop influenced 2017 album I’m Not Your Man, before launching into her new single ‘I’m Not Where You Are’. Exquisite vocal trio The Staves followed, their unearthly harmonies floating across a sun-drenched Victoria Park as they brought yet more covers to the weekend, with heavenly versions of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘I’m On Fire’ and the second version of The Waterboys ‘Whole Of The Moon’ today. They graced us with new song ‘Next To You Next Time’, before announcing that they’re working on a new record.
Other highlights included Rosie Lowe who, exuding South London cool, has collaborated with everyone from Floating Points to Jamie Lidell and Kwabs for her latest offering, YU. Playing a typically slick set, her recent single ‘Pharaoh’ went down a treat to a packed crowd on the Jagerhaus stage.
Today sees the enigmatic Bon Iver headline, closing out the second edition of All Points East in style, with an all star supporting cast that includes Mac DeMarco, John Grant, Snail Mail, Ezra Furman, Julien Baker and more.
