It felt almost too late, but equally reassuring.
Sat on the hill over at the Terminal stage, KOKOROKO echoing over the chatter, the sun taking rest after beating everyone up all day, Cross the Tracks made perfect sense.
The day before, we’d taken the gruelling journey to Alexandra Palace for Dan’s birthday because you can bring your own tinnies to their street food event and save 15 pounds.
We could feel those savings at Cross the Tracks.
Luckily, because we were extremely savvy and protected our coffers that night, we were able to pay the festival price to fix the hangovers and return our purse to zero again.
We still managed to make it early to catch Brooke Combe, who, despite being punished by the sun at its strongest point, delivered her usual punchy soul bangers and charming stage presence. One of the few acts that can make a whole crowd feel like they’re her best pal.
After walking across the savanna to the Locomotion stage, we caught Bricknasty, who are part of this extraordinary wave of Irish artists taking the world by storm. Not long before, you’d attribute this new wave of Irish influence to Fontaines D.C., but with Bricknasty’s jazz roots and soul grooves, they’ve carved a new path, and crowds are lapping it up.
I was sweaty at this point. Seemingly more than anyone else.
And continued to be throughout the day.
Like a beginner who’s just signed up to a professional boxing gym by accident. With the facial expressions to prove it.
It was HOT.
This didn’t seem to hinder Obongjayar. At all. He was running up and down that stage as if he were trying to keep warm. The air guitar dance moves, the incredible energy and vocals. I had him down as the party starter of the festival.
But Fabio & Grooverider and the Outlook Orchestra were on par. They had one goal, and it was to get everyone in the crowd at the main stage moving, and they succeeded gracefully. They were always going to be a hidden gem. No released tracks as a whole unit, but everything always sounds better with an orchestra. Good show.
It was at this point that we needed a sit-down.
Peacefully zoned out at the crest of the Terminal stage hill. My vision became a time-lapse of hundreds of people coming and going. Rushing.
And that is when KOKOROKO started.
Dan was asleep. We had nowhere to be. We could just be.
This is what I mean when I say it made sense. It wasn’t that it didn’t make sense before, but there was a lot of running around trying to catch acts.
It’s hard to stop at a festival, but it turns out that is exactly what you need to do.
Cross the Tracks is perfect for that.
You could be sitting or standing, at any of the artists that played today, and just detach from the noise.
When you’re thinking about missing the next act, you’re missing the current act right in front of you.
I was extremely grateful.
Cross the Tracks does have that charm about it. You can have it all, you can do nothing, and you’ll still have a good time.
It was my third time there this year, and it keeps improving. I’ll always say it’s the start of London summer, and anyone would struggle to argue with me here.
Cross the Tracks is already on our list for 2027, and it should be on yours too: Early bird here
