Music lovers in London are being treated to a diverse range of music festivals this weekend, from electronic to jazz.
More significantly, the promoters of the forthcoming festivals in Brockwell Park in south London have declared that their festival series including Wide Awake will go on as scheduled in spite of a High Court decision that determined the events lacked the required planning approval.
Here are all the music festivals worth checking out this Bank Holiday weekend.
Friday, May 23
Wide Awake
Brockwell Park, SE24 9BJ
Wide Awake has a very diverse lineup for May 23 that includes electronica, techno, post-punk, indie, and more.
Irish rap sensations Kneecap are this year's main attraction. The band have confirmed they are still set to headline despite group member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh being charged with a terror offence this week, over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a London gig last November.
The Mercury Prize-winning indie band English Teacher, electroclash veteran Peaches, DJ prodigy Daniel Avery, and country music icon CMAT are just a few of the artists who will also be performing at Wide Awake.
GALA
Peckham Rye Park, SE15 4HA
This year marks the tenth year of Peckham Rye's electronic music extravaganza GALA.
With a fantastic three-day lineup put together in collaboration with NTS radio and featuring some of the city's most well-known music and nightlife brands, such as Horse Meat Disco, Rhythm Section, Jumbi, Chapter Ten, and The Cause, the festival is celebrating reaching double digits and returning to its regular time slot over the late May bank holiday.
With dozens of top-notch DJs, the lineup is enormous and promises a weekend filled with beats that transcend genres.
Saturday, May 24
Field Day
Brockwell Park, SE24 9BJ
After a brief stay in east London, the electronic-heavy event will return to Brockwell Park in 2025. This time, the lineup will feature more DJs and producers than the variety of live artists and selectors that we've seen at the festival in previous years. Expect a day of nonstop dancing with a variety of international selections on the bill.
The line-up includes: Bubble Love (Stage name: Ross From Friends), Peggy Gou, Jungle (DJ set), James Blake (DJ set), VTSS, Special Request b2b Yung Singh, Fatima Yamaha, Girls Don't Sync, and Mala.
Sunday, May 25
Cross The Tracks
Brockwell Park, SE24 9BJ
In addition to offering good street food and artisan beer, Cross the Tracks is renowned for its tasteful, groove-heavy selection of jazz, funk, and soul.
People of all ages can be found enjoying a good time at the festival because of its relaxed and inclusive atmosphere.
You have a lot to be excited about this year, including Jordan Rakei, Baby Rose, and Michael Kiwanuka.
Monday, May 26 (Bank Holiday)
City Splash
Brockwell Park, SE24 0NG
The annual City Splash event, which takes place at Brockwell Park, is the largest autonomous one-day celebration of Caribbean and African culture in the world. The biggest stars are coming for the 2025 edition, with dancehall icon Popcaan at the top of the list.
With established artists like Ms Dynamite and King Tubby scheduled to perform alongside up-and-coming artists like Afrobeats sensation Qing Madi and Yeshie Renee, the rest of the lineup is equally impressive.
Why are London festivals under scrutiny?
Legal issues over planning restrictions and worries about the park's environment and community have put London events, especially those in Brockwell Park, under scrutiny.
The festivals at Brockwell will go ahead despite last week's successful High Court challenge against Lambeth Council.
The Lambeth council was sued by local resident Rebekah Shaman, who is a member of the Protect Brockwell Park group, over the usage of portions of the park for the festivals.
The main focus of Ms Shaman's argument was that parks can't have their uses changed for more than 28 days a year without further planning permission according to planning regulations.
Mr Justice Mould, who presided over the case, discovered that the park will be used for these activities for up to 37 days.
According to the court, his verdict merely addressed whether the council's decision to authorise the extra days was legal.
Following the High Court's decision, the parent firm, Summer Events Ltd, requested for a new certificate of lawfulness for a period of 24 days, according to a Lambeth Council spokesperson on Monday.
A statement read: “The council is urgently considering that application. That consideration does not stop the events proceeding.”
A different spokesperson for Brockwell Live said in a statement confirming the festivals for this summer are going ahead: “Brockwell Live can confirm that all events in the series will go ahead as planned, including the Lambeth Country Show.
“Friday's High Court ruling dealt with a particular point of law and whether an administrative process had been carried out correctly. We wish to make it clear that no event will be cancelled as a result of the High Court's decision.”
While Jen Hawkins, a campaigner from Protect Brockwell Park, said in a statement: “We're taking legal advice as to next steps. It seems to us Brockwell Live are carrying on regardless, and Lambeth are allowing them to do that. This is exactly what Lambeth have been repeatedly criticised for, by us and others.
“This whole thing started because Lambeth refused to go through a planning process, do proper assessments and allow proper scrutiny, and instead issued legal certificates last minute to try to shut us out.”
