Unruly to di World! Or Crystal Palace Bowl, as Popcaan fans attend sell out Unruly Fest in London this summer!
The sun was shining down on Unruly Fest, in partnership with South Facing Festival, hosted in Crystal Palace Bowl, London, on Sunday, July 28th, 2024. Unruly Fest has become an annual celebration of Jamaican music and culture, paying homage to Popcaan’s home country. Since 2018, the festival has featured performances from local and international stars, including Drake, Skillibeng, Beenie Man, and Tory Lanez.
The day started off great with DJ sets from Selecta Jay, Jay Knox & Big Man Zest, Rampage Sound and Sir DJ Corey, setting the tone for the performances from dancehall queen Spice and the man of the moment, Popcaan himself. The DJ sets got the crowd hyped, playing a mix of dancehall, reggae, bashment, R&B, old school garage, and more.
If you weren’t experiencing music from the main stage, the DJs in the Wray & Nephew VIP Lounge were doing mash-ups that had the crowd singing and bopping their heads, honestly giving vibes left, right, and center. The VIP Lounge also featured a photobooth and free tooth gems from Anya of Chai Beauty, adding extra sparkle to the teeth of those in attendance.
Of course, what’s an event without food and drink? Whether it was Wray and Nephew, Hennessy, or Monkey Shoulder, the festival offered the best cocktails, which could be paired with the many food vendors at the festival, from burgers and chips to Afro-Caribbean offerings. There was something for everyone, and we definitely ate and drank very well.
As the sun began to set, dancehall queen Spice really knew how to put on a show. With her distinctive blue hair and extravagant outfit, she set the stage on fire, performing classics and new songs from her latest album with one featuring Busta Rhymes. She even brought out some of the cast of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, with whom she performed a cypher with.
Then it was time for the man himself, Popcaan. A legend in the Jamaican music scene and he was dropping banger after banger. This was my third time seeing him perform, and he kills it every time, if not gets better. The London crowd, with the good weather, definitely gave good vibes, reciting every lyric to classics like “My Type” and “Family” word for word. There really is no one like him when it comes to stage presence, his vocal range and projection along with a live band really was chefs kiss.
Let’s just say Unruly Fest was 10/10, and I hope they come back next year because it was one of the best events I’ve attended so far this year.
South Facing has been hosting some of the biggest names in the music industry, as well as rising stars, showcasing the best of what the culture has to offer this summer, already having featured Grace Jones, Craig David, Noel Gallagher, Rudimental, and many more.
With artists still yet to perform, such as Yussef Dayes, The Roots, Major Leaguez, and more, you can buy tickets here.
Connect with South Facing Festival
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Credits: All phtography by YesYesKat
Leave a Reply