Grace Jones - South Facing Festival 2024 Review

 

 

 

Now firmly established as an attractive and diverse series of concerts in the south-east of London, South Facing Festival has picked up the moribund Crystal Palace Bowl and defibrillated it back to its former glory of a picturesque and splendid concert venue. It’s a crime to not utilise a venue that hosted Pink Floyd or Bob Markey’s last UK appearance after all, and South Facing, now settled since its inaugural 2021 year, has already seen Noel Gallagher, Richard Ashcroft, Supergrass and the English National Opera amongst others headline. Local Tickets are available for neighbour-residents at discount prices and there’s a real south London community spirit to these events, delivering musical offerings with Brockwell Park and Clapham Common as scenic locations for those south of the river to get their festival fix.

 

The 2024 edition of South Facing Fest kicks off with a fun disco-themed night co-promoted by Love-Motion - with the powerhouse Grace Jones headlining supported ably by Roisin Murphy - long since broken away from Moloko fame, and Dimitri From Paris. Future Islands, Popcaan and Jesse Glynne are some of the headliners booked for other evenings. 

 

 

 

As for this gloriously sunny opening Friday, the rather-packed crowd spread warmly across the Bowl’s ground creating a sense of confined intimacy fused with a dancey crowd. DJ Horse Meat Disco comfortably filled the in-between slots, when disaster hit the festival organisers when it soon transpired that at the eleventh hour and at the very-last-minute Roisin Murphy had pulled out due to medical advice. Rumours as to why this really happened spread like wildfire amongst the Crystal Palace crowd, but everyone understandably realised that there was little the promoters could do to find a replacement so late in the logistical day. What transpired was Horse Meat Disco asked to fill the Roisin gap and all expectation and anticipation were then transferred solely towards Grace Jones. Luckily, the infusion of disco music fused with a relaxed and sunny Friday aesthetic rendered the crowd in an understanding mood. 

 

 

Grace Jones, supermodel, singer, pop star, actress, diva of all divas, supreme power was set to hit the stage at 9pm; twenty-five minutes later and still no sign of her did little to put the crowd at ease as to whether they were going to see any live performances that evening. When Grace eventually floats onto stage with a golden skeleton mask with suitable model pose - all is forgiven. She’s a proper headliner with proper monstrous strength of character. Whilst always jovial and smiley - and utterly stunning at her youthful age of 76, you are always forcibly reminded of her fearsome she is, whether she’s barking that there’s “so much shit on the stage” as she exits stage right for one of many costume changes, or whether to demand her glass of wine from anyone who can accommodate. The setlist is the usual greatest-hits-Grace Jones package that fans will be accustomed to, with Night Clubbing all the way to Ms. Jones hula-hooping whilst belting out Slave To The Rhythm. She’s so visually powerful and impressive, that it’s nigh-on impossible to take a bad picture of her. Her frosty demeanour is all bark and no bite, when the disco queen is carried along the front barrier to interact with crowd whilst a bubble machine sprays bubbles into the mix; the crowd are so charmed by seeing Grace Jones up close that it could have been thunder and lightning and no-one would have noticed. After the disappointment of Roisin Murphy pulling out, Grace Jones was the perfect and fitting main course for the Crystal Palace fans and Love-Motion, against the odds, still pulled off a fab South Facing Fest Friday night opener.

 

South Facing Festival 2024 continutes with...

1st of August: Soundcrash and South Facing present the classic hip-hop line-up featuring The Roots, De La Soul, The Pharcyde hosted by Shortee Blitz - from £44.25

2nd of August: Cloud X Festival featuring Bellah, Berwyn, Ghetts, Jaz Karis, Priya Ragu, Sam Tompkins, Skrapz and various DJs - from £39.20

3rd of August: Balcony Mix London with Major League DJZ and special guests Oscar Mbo, Morda, Andre Power, Nick Summers B2B Charisse C - from £39.20

4th of August: Yussef Dayes Presents: Summer Dayes - from £50.40

9th of August: Jess Glynne and Cian Ducrot - £55.45

10th of August: Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley, Steel Pulse, Kabaka Pyramid, Romain Virgo and Channel One Sound System - from £43.70

https://southfacingfestival.com/

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