Music
21 incredible moments from Red Bull Music Festival London
Red Bull came to the UK capital for four weeks of activity – from live gigs and concept shows to raging club nights and inspiring talks. Read on for a few of the highlights.
After four weeks of activity, 16 standalone events and over 100 artists, Red Bull Music Festival London wrapped up last weekend with a mind-melting show at London's Printworks, headlined by the electronica icon Richard D James – aka Aphex Twin.
The festival was a grand overview of creativity in the UK capital – taking in the sounds and sights of Notting Hill Carnival, the city's underground LGBTQ+ scene, the language of grime and drill and an entire show dedicated to the art of free improvisation. Along the way, a UK classic got the remix treatment, a famed newsreader broke out his best dance moves, and using empirical data, we determined the ultimate London Anthem.
Read on for all the highlights from a month to remember.
1. The visuals for Aphex Twin were something special
Woah.
2. Not to mention the laser show
The Aphex Twin laser show
© Andrew Whitton
The view from the back of the hall
© Andrew Whitton
Aphex Twin takes to the stage
© Andrew Whitton
306 LED panels hung from the roof, 10 roaming cameras throughout the venue, two hours of vintage rave and d'n'b peppered with Aphex originals – and Aphex Twin's visual collaborator Weirdcore causing all sorts of mischief throughout. It was the best rave ever, basically.
3. Man like Jon Snow got us all hyped for Notting Hill Carnival
3 min
Watch Jon Snow's guide to Notting Hill Carnival
The Channel 4 newsreader and all-round national treasure delivers a Carnival public service announcement you won't forget.
Nice moves, Jon.
4. Where Spice gave us all a lesson in the whine
Do you think he's got the moves?
© Fanatic
This guy was her most attentive student.
We also got an insight into the life of Spice as she sat down on the couch for In Conversation With Spice. Full video coming soon – watch this space.
5. And UK dancehall queen Alicai Harley teamed up with Jamaican legend Tony Matterhorn
Tony Matterhorn and Alicai Harley bring bashment hits to the Sound System
© Fanatic
It was the first outing of the pair's Hot Shots After-Dark Sound System, and it was a vibe – listen back in the Red Bull Radio player below.
6. Carnival Monday didn't disappoint either
Nailah Blackman guides the crowd over the bridge
© Fanatic
For the third year in a row, Red Bull joined forces with West London's premier Mas Band Mangrove to build a huge sound system for the procession. Here's Trinidad soca star Nailah Blackman on the mic as the truck rolled over a bridge.
7. Femi Koleoso didn't let a broken drum stick throw him off his stride
Jamming with Nik Void at Round Robin, a night of inspired improvisations, the Ezra Collective drummer didn't miss a beat.
8. And Joe Armon-Jones did his keys thing with an arm in a sling...
Joe Armon-Jones live at Round Robin
© Amy Heycock
You can watch him play two-handed in this brilliant live performance of his track Try Walk With Me in Red Bull Music Studios London.
8 min
Watch Joe Armon-Jones perform Try Walk With Me, featuring Asheber
The rising London jazz luminary performs the lead track from his new album Turn To Clear View.
9. L U C Y B2B with Oneman went off
Oneman B2B L U C Y at Red Bull Music Refractions
© Amy Heycock
The Refractions night at Fabric was full of inspired pairings, but none were better than this pairing between Bristol-bred DJ/producer L U C Y and pirate radio veteran Oneman. Just add Sgt Pokes on the mic as host and you've basically got a masterclass in dark grime and dubstep moods, ranging from Girl Unit's Wut to some vintage Wiley productions – and beyond. Listen to the whole thing in the player below.
10. And Special Request B2B Source Direct paired up two true veterans of the rave and jungle scene
Special Request
© James North
That set will be available to listen back on Red Bull Radio any minute now.
11. D Double dropped a new verse for So Solid Crew's 21 Seconds
Who gets a reload at a recording session? D Double E does!
12. Got to mention Ms Banks shelling it down too
13. The Sunday Club event brought out some more titans of the garage scene
Ms Dynamite
© Amy Heycock
So Solid Crew (L-R Megaman, Lisa Maffia, Harvey)
© Amy Heycock
Todd Edwards, DJ Q and MC Creed
© Amy Heycock
Happy to let you know that Sticky ft Ms Dynamite's Boo! still destroys a rave.
14. And some vintage whips – the show was in a car park, after all
A So Solid-customised Audi TT
© Amy Heycock
When So Solid Crew got their first royalty cheques, they all went out and bought Audi TTs.
15. object blue's captivating performance at Saint James Hatcham Church
Object Blue
© AmzyObr
In Figure Beside Me, London electronic producer object blue joined forces with visual artist Natalia Podgorska to create a 360-degree audio-visual installation that was both cerebral and deeply moving.
16. Drag, dance and spectacular costumes at We know that we can shape ourselves
A dancer walks the catwalk during BBZ's performance
© Aisyah Octavia
Vic Sin
© Aisyah Octavia
Shy One takes the mic
© Aisyah Octavia
Dancer from Last Years Interesting Negro
© Aisyah Octavia
A collaboration between London DJ-producer Shy One and the artist Vic Sin set out to bring together London’s rich traditions of drag, queer expression and club culture. The night centred queer womxn, non-binary and trans folk of colour, and also featured performance from Pxssy Palace, Last Yearz Interesting Negro, BBZ and Xana.
17. Nine8 took over a gallery space in West London for a day of creative activity
Nine8 in Westbank Studios, London
© Nic Bezzina
The day included screenprinting
© Nic Bezzina
Exclusive merch drops
© Nic Bezzina
Live performance from the whole Nine8 collective
© Nic Bezzina
The coolest creative collective in the city got the keys to a gallery and carte blanche to make whatever they wanted. Cue graffiti, customised merch, screenprinting, and an illuminating No Place Like Home discussion drilling into the inspiration they draw from their West London neighbourhood.
18. Drill in the British Library?
Bridget Minamore, AM and Wretch 32 at the British Library
© Isaac Cambridge
In Coded Language, the writer Kieran Yates chaired a discussion between Wretch 32, poet Bridget Minamore and drill rapper AM of Skengdo & AM, exploring the phenomenon of Multicultural London English (MLE) – a new, shifting dialect shaped by the changing currents of London's diverse population. Bridget's poetry was a highlight – as was her choice of her favourite slang, "pumplex" (you'll have to look that one up yourself).
19. You crowned Giggs' Talkin Da Hardest the ultimate London Anthem
It was a hard-fought thing, but readers of RedBull.com voted the 2007 Giggs track Talkin Da Hardest as the ultimate London track. Said Ezra Collective's Femi Kolesole: "Find me a 21 to 30-year-old that went to school in London that can't touch mic and deal with at least one verse, word for word. An iconic song. 'Covered in red like a portion of chips'. JHEEEEEZZEEEE!"
Read about 25 London Anthems, picked by the capital's best musicians, DJs, writers and artists in the story below.
Related
20. The Bass, Mids, Tops exhibition celebrated UK sound system culture
Bass, Mids, Tops exhibition
© Red Bull Content Pool
Journalist Joe Muggs and photographer Brian David Stevens’ new book, Bass, Mids, Tops: An Oral History Of Sound System Culture, traces the story of the bassline throughout UK music – from reggae and dub to rave, jungle and dubstep. Throughout the festival, Stevens' photos were on show in Red Bull's Covent Garden exhibition space – while on September 4, Muggs led a discussion featuring input from Mykaell Riley, Shy One, Cooly G and Noodles.
21. Afrodeutsche wound up the festival in style
Afrodeutsche recorded live at Printworks
© Andrew Whitton
Hand-picked by Aphex Twin to end his show at Printworks, Manchester producer Afrodeutsche reached for the ultimate rave anthem – The Prodigy's Out Of Space – and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
And that's it – Red Bull Music Festival London done.
Red Bull Refractions at Fabric
© James North
Thank you London – you always turn it up.