Chronixx, Cleo Sol and SAULT … One to remember

CHRONIXX PROMISED to bring some of the ‘new cuts’ to ‘All Points East’, he did that and then some. His performance wasn’t too shabby either.

In fact, there wasn’t a bad word to say about any of the artists that did their thing on the multiple stages at Victoria Park in east London yesterday (August 15).

London’s essential festival opened with a truly unique show for 2025 with Cleo Sol, Chronixx and SAULT delivering the epic production ‘Provenance’, set in a monumental mock desert landscape and introduced as “a celebration of Black excellence.” 

The East Stage was transformed using new giant wraparound screens and a walkway out to a pyramid in the midst of the 40,000-strong crowd. 

‘Provenance’ opened with choir and orchestra before the collective, SAULT, led a show as bold as has ever been seen at a London music festival – but, despite the high concept, this was a show about “good vibrations”. 

With the drama of the scene established, the arrival of bass set off the audience for the likes of Cleo Sol’s ‘Life Will Be’, the disco pop of ‘Why Why Why Why Why’, which had the audience singing and clapping along, a sumptuous ‘Pray For Me’. 

If the stage was spectacular, so were the costumes, all flowing robes moving with the music on the 20-strong dance troupe. 

On a sweltering day, a joyous set from Chronixx brought warmth to the festival with tracks including ‘Legend’ and ‘Survivor’: “All Points East, this is the time to have faith and be strong,” the Jamaican told the attentive audience. 

The star brought on a guest in the form of Kelissa for ‘Way You Make Me Feel’. 

A surprise appearance came in the form of Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and his collaborator The Alchemist for their Forensics project.  

It was the performance of a hip-hop master and featured a rendition of his classic ‘Umi Says’ and modern works such as ‘Condition of Terms’. 

Cleo Sol and the artists around her value the communities around them, as does All Points East itself, and organisations including Boroughs United, Hackney Caribbean Elderly Organisation, Rising Tide and The Pilion Trust were each given a moment in the spotlight on stage. 

Cleo herself topped off the groundbreaking event, resplendent in a silver evening dress.

With songs like ‘Know That You are Loved’ and ‘Rose In The Dark’ she has a genuine claim to a clutch of modern soul classics. 

“Thank you for being here. I don’t take this for granted. I appreciate you singing along. We feel the energy up here and it’s beautiful,” she told the audience. 

‘There Will Be No Crying’, ‘Things Get Better’ and ‘Reason’ were sublime before an ecstatic ‘Sunshine’ and the salsa of ‘Don’t Let It Go To Your Head’. 

Cleo Sol’s set topped a sweltering summer day in which Ms. Dynamite brimming with energy, burst onto the X Stage to the sound of her signature tune, ‘Dy-Na-Mi-Tee’ and on the West Stage Sasha Keable treated fans to songs from her just-released album, Act Right.

This year’s All Points East also includes headliners: Chase and Status (August 16), Pete Tong (August 17, free show), Barry Can’t Swim (August 22), RAYE (August 23), and The Maccabees (August 24).

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