Gala returned to South London for its tenth edition, proving once again why it is London's coolest music festival. The event took place at Peckham Rye Park over the late May bank holiday weekend, drawing thousands of attendees with its refined experience and stellar lineup.
A Decade of Dance Music Excellence
Since its inception in 2016, Gala has steadily grown into an unmissable highlight of London's dance music calendar. This year, Grime icon Giggs headlined, continuing the festival's winning formula. The small, walkable site offers easy navigation, chill-out areas, and diverse food and drink options. The stages operate at a higher level than contemporaries, with crystal-clear sound systems that prioritize quality over volume.
Iconic Stages and Eclectic Lineup
Stages like the spherical Pleasure Dome and the open-air Patio, flanked by white cubes with plants and trees, have become iconic. The three-day festival featured an ever-eclectic lineup, starting Friday with grime artists, rappers, and DJs spinning garage, jungle, dubstep, and UK bass music.
- Surusinghe kicked off Friday at Donna's stage with a bumpy mix of international influences.
- D Double D and Sir Spyro delivered a blistering 30-minute set at the Patio stage, with wheel-ups and classic bars.
- CASISDEAD performed dark, introspective tracks on the main Joy stage, joined by Eliza Rose for their new track Pingers and her hit B.O.T.A.
- Tim Reaper at the 1908 stage offered a high-energy hour-and-a-half of jungle selections, with the DJ grinning throughout.
- Todd Edwards closed Friday at the Patio stage with a feel-good UK Garage set, mixing pop bangers with garage beats.
Giggs' Homecoming Headline
Giggs, the hometown hero, headlined Friday with a performance titled 'The Homecoming'. He spoke of his youth in Peckham Rye Park, and the crowd returned every lyric. His set included the unofficial UK national anthem Talkin' da Hardest, capping off an unforgettable first day.
Saturday and Sunday Offerings
Saturday focused on faster techno, while Sunday featured House DJs. Gala promises the cream of contemporary dance music regardless of the day attended.
