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The essential guide to Victoria Park’s All Points East and Field Day Festival 2023

All Points East returns to Victoria Park in August 2023 with a strong set of headliners and supporting acts that will make this a summer to remember.

East London favourite All Points East has announced its return to Victoria Park this August. The festival leads with some big names, including grime royalty Stormzy and American indie rock favourite The Strokes. For local East Enders or those travelling halfway across the world to realise lifelong ambitions, All Points East in Vicky Park will provide the perfect setting to enjoy the music we love.

All Points East is spread across two weekends, first on Friday 18, Saturday 19 for Field Day and Sunday 20. There is a short gap until the bank holiday weekend when festivities resume on Friday 25, continuing on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 and rounding off on Monday 28. ‘In the Neighbourhood’, All Points East’s free community programme, returns on Sunday 20 August and ends Wednesday 3 September.

See All Points East tickets here.

All Points East lineup

Here is the daily lowdown on the headliners for both All Points East and Field Day.

Friday 18 Headliner: Stormzy’s curated ‘This Is What We Mean’

Stormzy wearing a white sweater posing for a photo with an all white background.
Stormzy

By now grime star Stormzy has already secured his place in UK music heritage. From rapping in a South London car park with some friends before his hit song Shut Up blew up, to headlining Glastonbury, Michael Omari has earned his stripes. After the release of his most recent album, This Is What I Mean in November 2022, Stormzy became the first British rapper to have three number-one albums in the UK. 

To kick off All Points East Stormzy has curated a special roster of musical talent for Friday 18 August, taking from the name of his most recent album. ‘A summer thing, outside, for the people, always my people’– the ethos behind the day that will feature a wide selection of established and upcoming rap, hip-hop, grime and R&B. 

Artists to look out for are Kehlani, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer comparable to the likes of Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu; Sampha, whose poignant and soulful debut album Process won the 2017 Mercury Prize; and North London’s Knucks, a rapper who has collaborated with the likes of Loyle Carner, Sainte and Stormzy himself.

Saturday 19 Headliner: Aphex Twin to electrify Field Day

Aphex Twin's trademark logo with a wooden background
Aphex Twin

Aphex Twin or Richard David James is respected worldwide by all true electronic music heads. James’s mesmerising sounds range from the sublimely relaxing piano of ‘Avril 14th’ to the pulsating break-beats of ‘Vordhosbn’, often accompanied by cinematic music videos. Expect an entrancing audio-visual experience whether you are a grizzled dance music enthusiast of the 90s or a more recent fan of the genre. As a much-beloved musician who rarely takes to the stage, this set promises to be one to remember.

Other elusive, cryptic DJs also feature in Field Day’s roster. After years of being MIA, the widely acclaimed SBTRKT takes to the stage following the release of his widely anticipated album The Rat Road. The Mercury Prize-nominated Jon Hopkins– a frequent collaborator of Brian Eno–is also set to perform.

Electronic musician Bonobo to perform at Field Day, Victoria Park, East London
Bonobo

Bonobo stands as another act to look out for. Known for his atmospheric albums, such as Cirrus, Simon Green’s sounds will provide audiences with serene electronic beats to enjoy amid the crowd, or from a nice distance by the bar.

Other major performers include Arca, Fever Ray, Sudan Archives, Kelela and LSDXOXO.

This year’s Field Day explores the full breadth of electronic music, from ambience and Intelligent Dance Music to acid house and techno.

Friday 25 Headliner: The Strokes play All Points East

The Strokes band of five posing for a photo against a light blue tiled background.
The Strokes

American indie rock band The Strokes provide instant anthems that get people dancing. The band’s iconic debut album Is This It was critically acclaimed and with good reason: The Strokes forged a new path in alternative rock. Their discography includes the number-ones Last Nite, Someday, and Reptilia.

Fellow New Yorkers Yeah Yeah Yeahs also feature on the bill. Led by fashion icon Karen O, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have a unique and powerful take on indie rock. Their discography includes the instantly recognisable track Heads Will Roll.

Another act to look out for is Angel Olson, an idiosyncratic singer-songwriter. Olsen flits between vengeful, head-bashing rock to the softer sounds of the track Ghost On from her 2022 album Big Time

You won’t want to miss the indie-pop legend Girl in Red who is famous for her songs about the highs and lows of queer love. Another female-led act, the punk rock band Amyl and The Sniffers, also feature high on the bill.

Saturday 26 Headliner: Jungle

Electronic duo band Jungle posing for an artistic shot back to back against a pale black-brown background.
Jungle

For the release of their fourth album, Mercury Prize-nominated Jungle will take the reins on Saturday. Jungle– made up of West Londoners Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland– present a blend of electronic, soul and funk, appealing to disco and house lovers alike. 

Saturday also features the iconic Erykah Badu, dubbed the Queen of Neo-soul. Her 1997 album Baduizm is widely recognised as one of the most influential R&B albums of all time, bringing together R&B, jazz and funk topped off with Badu’s rich liquid vocals.

Singer Erykah Badu performing
Erykah Badu

RAYE features high on the bill. RAYE is one of the most streamed artists in the world: the singer-songwriter’s take on pop has amassed over three billion streams. RAYE’s first independent album, My 21st Century Blues, was met with critical acclaim, with lead single Escapism topping the charts in the UK. Rapper 070 Shake, who features on the aforementioned track, is also set to perform.

For more uptempo funk, jazz, house and electronic music, the lineup offers veteran DJ Folamour, The Blessed Madonna and the up-and-coming Nia Archives. 

Ragz Originale–the producer behind Skepta’s seminal grime album Konnichiwa, as well as of the exploratory and soulful sounds of FKA Twigz and SOPHIE– also takes to the stage, with his solo work rooted in R&B and soul.

Sunday 27 Headliner: Dermot Kennedy takes the reins

Dermot Kennedy Irish singer-songwriter performin on stage with a mic in his hand.

Dermot Kennedy tops the bill on a Bank Holiday Sunday dedicated to singers and songwriters. Kennedy is known for his unique brand of melancholic contemporary folk music. The artist started by busking on the streets of Dublin and has since developed a sound that blends poetic lyrics with pop melodies. On a Sunday afternoon Kennedy’s set will bring in amiable crowds, young and old.

Sunday also features the powerful voice of Olivia Dean, whose music touches on R&B, pop, soul and jazz; Aurora, the Norwegian singer-songwriter known for her ethereal lyricism and soothing electronic rhythms and SG Lewis, the singer-songwriter/DJ who has worked with the likes of Dua Lipa and Tove Lo.

Other artists include James Vincent McMorrow; Nick Mulvey; Novo Amor; Moncrieff; Rachel Chinouriri; Aby Coulibaly; Aine Deane and Lexie Carroll.

Monday 28 Headliner: HAIM leads billing of top female artists

American rock band HAIM posing for a photo in front of what looks like a meat counter, with salamis and bottles in the background.

Rock band HAIM closes the Bank Holiday weekend with a European-exclusive performance. Made up of three sisters, their nostalgic yet uplifting sounds are ideal for ending festivities on a high. The Grammy-nominated band gained fame with iconic songs The Wire in 2013 and Want You Back in 2017. Even Taylor Swift could not resist collaborating with the Californian outfit for the song no body, no crime, which became HAIM’s most streamed Spotify track.

Music royalty does not end there with pop icon Tove Lo sure to banish any Monday blues. Ethereal electronic music producer and DJ Avalon Emerson also never disappoints, having frequently played sets at Berlin’s legendary Berghain nightclub.

If that isn’t enough, you will also have the opportunity to see Snail Mail a.k.a Lindsey Jordan. Whilst Jordan’s music can be categorised as indie rock, her 2018 album Lush is appreciated as a refreshing take on the genre, a marvel of songwriting and technical composition. 

For Local Businesses and Residents

Engagement Fair

All Points East ran their Local Business and Organisation Engagement Fair on Wednesday 22 March 2023. More than 20 local businesses and arts organisations attended in order to take advantage of the opportunities associated with the festival.

Community Information Session

All Points East are committed to ensuring that the event takes place with minimal disruption to park users and the local community. The event management team ran through operational plans during an online meeting on Wednesday 19 April 2023.

NBHD: In the Neighbourhood

In collaboration with Tower Hamlets Council and local businesses and suppliers, All Points East presents In the Neighbourhood. This is a programme of free activities and entertainment in Victoria Park from Sunday 20 August to Wednesday 23 August. In the Neighbourhood includes a free outdoor cinema, street food, pop-up bars and children’s activities. Find out more here

Win tickets to All Points East

Tower Hamlets Council and All Points East are giving Tower Hamlets residents the chance to win tickets to the festival. There are 12 VIP tickets available for each day. Find out more about if and how you can enter here.

Check out our article on Stormzy’s carefully curated ‘This Is What We Mean’ day.

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One thought on “The essential guide to Victoria Park’s All Points East and Field Day Festival 2023

  • A nice article but the truth is, there will be again:

    – unbearable noise pollution around the park
    – tons of litter including broken glass in the grass
    – millions of nitrous oxide capsules everywhere
    – intoxicated yobs harassing people
    – public urination (including indecent exposure)
    – ticket touts and drug dealers on every corner
    – late night disturbance when the crowds head home
    – fights, shouting, abuse and a lot of blue lights and sirens

    No one offers any protection against all these issues for local residents.

    – Police say it is all not crime but anti-social behaviour so it is not of interest to them
    – Council say it is not to do with them but we should contact organisers
    – Organisers make enough money not to care

    These events are out of proportion, extremely poorly managed and only profit driven. Community events associated with them are only a smokescreen. Security provisions are amateurish and the damage caused to the park immense.

    Reply

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