All Points East festival kicked off Friday and set the bar high for all festivals across the capital. Taking place in Victoria Park, the festival spared no expense to ensure the best experience for festival goers. With a new set of stages all equipped with great soundsystems it seemed like All Points East was off to a very good start indeed.
Friday was headlined by New York band, LCD Soundsystem, who since forming back in 2015, have been steadily touring and successfully released their critically-acclaimed new album, American Dream. Every time I see this band I am not disappointed and Friday night was no different, LCD Soundsystem’s musicianship is incredible and each band member plays a pivotal role in making their sound, sound so special. As well as playing new tracks from the band’s 2017 album, American Dream, LCD Soundsystem also played classic tracks such as I Can Change, Dance Yourself Clean and finished their set with live favourite All My Friends. The sound having much improved at Victoria Park added enjoyment to the performance, which was both nostalgic and visually mesmerising.
Also playing at the festival on Friday were fellow NYC rockers the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who had not played in the UK since 2013. Having seen the band at their last UK concert, I could not miss seeing them back and what better place to do this than at All Points East. Karen O has not lost any of her stamina and proved that rock and roll is alive and well. The band played hits such as Gold Lion, Pin and Heads Will Roll. You couldn’t fault their performance nor Karen O’s vocals, which are still completely flawless.
Elsewhere George FitzGerald delivered a great live set at the West Stage. The young producer and DJ is still exceeding expectations and having missed him at every festival I attended last year, I was delighted to finally experience his atmospheric blend of house music. Phoenix on the North Stage also gathered a big crowd and frontman Thomas Mars was in good form, crowd surfing and singing the bands biggest hits from 1901 to Ti Amo.
Yet to come at All Points East, The XX, Flying Lotus 3D, Beck and Bjork.
LCD Soundsystem setlist:
1. You Wanted a Hit 2. Tribulations 3. I Can Change 3. Get Innocuous 4. Call The Police 5. Someone Great 6. Tonite 7. Home 8. I Want Your Heart 9. How Do You Sleep 10. Oh Baby 11. Emo Hair 12. Dance Yourself Clean 13. All My Friends
Yeah Yeah Yeahs setlist:
1. Y Control 2. Black Tongue 3. Down Boy 4. Pin 5. Gold Lion 6. Zero 7. Sacrilege 8. Soft Shock 9. Maps 10. Cheated Hearts 11. Heads Will Roll 12. Date With The Night
Phoenix setlist:
1. J-Boy 2. Lasso 3. Entertainment 4. Lisztomania 5. Trying To Be Cool 6. Too Young 7. Girlfriend 8. Ti Amo 9. Armistice 10. If Ever Feel Better 11. Rome 12. Fior Di Latte 13. 1901 14. Ti Amo Di Piu
All Points East – Friday 25th May line-up
LCD Soundsystem / Yeah Yeah Yeahs / Phoenix / Glass Animals / Richie Hawtin / Dixon / Nick Murphy fka Chet Faker / Chromeo / Young Fathers / George FitzGerald Live / Hercules & Love Affair / Roman Flugel / DJ Tennis /Gerd Janson / Superorganism / Hookworms / Oscar and the Wolf / Confidence ManEclair Fifi / Fort Romeau / Knox Fortune / Lo Moon / Despacio / Hot Chip (DJ Set)/ Vessels / Nik Void (Factory Floor) / Bakar / Mavi Phoenix / Yonaka / Mellah / Two Feet
