LIDO Festival: Day 4 – Charli xcx presents PARTYGIRL in Victoria Park takeover (Review)
SATURDAY 14 JUNE: Charli xcx delivered a spectacular headline set as she took over London’s new LIDO Festival with ‘PARTYGIRL’.
Charli xcx’s bill followed Massive Attack (June 6) and Jamie xx (June 7), as well as Outbreak Fest headlined by Turnstile (June 13). On Sunday, London Grammar round off the first ever LIDO festival in Victoria Park.
In her headline slot, Charli xcx appeared along with her green ‘brat’ banner after an explosive opening of beats and lights. “London, put your ******* hands up,” said Charli, preparing fans for absolute anthems like ‘360’. When the Brat curtain came down, it was ‘Von Dutch’ and the communal singing really began: “I’m your number one, I’m your number one…”
‘I Might Say Something Stupid’ was a moment of tenderness before the beats came back in for ‘Club Classics’.
The talk around the site, ahead of the gig, was about who would do the ‘Apple’ dance and it was famed presenter Amelia Dimoldenberg who showed her famous moves on the huge screen.
Among the adoring crowd were ‘Lennon and McCartney’ – Harris Dickinson and Paul Mescalwill play John Lennon and Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes’s forthcoming film series about The Beatles.
Fan favourites including ‘Girl, so confusing’ and ‘Everything Is Romantic’ followed.
“This is for my friends who want to drive really, really, really, really fast” she said before ‘Speed Drive’.
Tracks like ‘365’ had the whole park bouncing and Bladee, who played earlier on Stage 2, made an appearance for ‘Rewind’.
No song chimes on a dancefloor like closer ‘I Love It’ and nobody connects with their fans like Charli xcx – and PARTYGIRL was the night for them.
“Hey, how you doing?” said Charli. “Is that good? Are you doing good? I just wanna say this is a real pleasure. It’s a pleasure to play here. I hope you had as much fun as I did. Love you all, thanks. It’s not the end though”.
To kick things off, drag icon Jodie Harsh hit the main stage with a bang, remixing songs like ‘Nissan Ultima’ by Doechii, which had the crowd going crazy. Her set was pure energy, setting the perfect tone for the ‘PARTYGIRLl’ experience.
A. G. Cook enjoyed an ecstatic crowd in the sweltering heat, treating them to the likes of ‘Von Dutch’ and The Verve’s ‘Bittersweet Symphony’. Charli herself showed her appreciation from the crowd.
Magdalena Bay captivated the screaming crowds as they danced across the stage to ‘Death and Romance’ and ‘Fear, Sex’. The iconic red star figure, sometimes referred to as the ‘Alien Doctor’, made a performative appearance to finish the songs off with a bang.
The renegade anthems of 070 Shake, including a gorgeous ‘Guilty Conscience’ had the crowd dancing in the sun, hands aloft. And on the second stage Kelly Lee Owens, a solitary figure on stage in front of frenetic visuals and dry ice, dominated a packed tent, throwing herself and her voice behind the beats that made Dream State such a mammoth dance record.
The Japanese House, aka Amber Mary Bain, and band kicked straight in with the hooks of ‘Touching Yourself’ – summer guitar pop at its best. “Hell yeah, this is going to be fun,” she said. The tunes kept coming, with the likes of the bittersweet ‘Sad To Breathe’ and ‘Something Has To Change’. “I’m so happy to be here. How are you guys doing? And it was only an eight-minute Lime bike to ride!”
In the second stage tent, The Dare lifted an already rapturous crowd with the words: “I don’t know if you guys have heard of PinkPantheress…” A huge ‘Stateside’ sent the fans over the edge.
Masked and encased in a booth seemingly made of black crystals, Gesaffelstein‘s thunderous beats drew Charli back into the main stage crowd. The French star presented a sharp figure on his podium, all in black and lit by strobes and spots.
LIDO Festival features a cutting-edge ML3A sound system from Martin Audio. Supplied by Solotech and mixed by renowned sound engineer Robb Allan, the system delivered crystal-clear audio that filled the park.
LIDO is putting artists first and handing them control, for a festival entirely programmed by the headliners. They will bring their favourite artists, collaborators, newly tipped artists and their own style to each day. From the acts to the artwork and stage design – every aspect is personal to them. Named after Victoria Park’s Lido Field, the 10-day event will offer hand-picked music line-ups with a strong focus on sustainability, as well as community events during the week.