Charli xcx’s ‘PARTYGIRL’ Rules The Night At LIDO Festival 2025 — A Euphoric Takeover In East London

East London was ablaze with brat energy on Saturday night as Charli xcx delivered a genre-defying, euphoric headline performance at the brand-new LIDO Festival, bringing her PARTYGIRL vision to life in spectacular fashion. Following in the footsteps of Massive Attack, Jamie xx, and Turnstile, Charli’s carefully curated takeover of Victoria Park’s Lido Field showcased not just her own pop prowess but a line-up handpicked to reflect the many shades of her sonic universe. The PARTYGIRL concept wasn’t just a headline slot — it was an immersive experience.

Taking to the stage to an eruption of strobes and heavy beats, Charli emerged with the now-signature neon green brat banner behind her, exuding confidence and control. “London, put your ******* hands up!” she yelled, launching into new-era anthems like 360. The drop of the ‘brat’ curtain marked a moment — and when Von Dutch hit, the crowd erupted into a massive singalong, bellowing, “I’m your number one, I’m your number one…” in unison.

The set fluidly moved between high-energy club bangers and raw moments of vulnerability. I Might Say Something Stupid brought a hush over the crowd, only for Club Classics to reignite the dancefloor vibe moments later. The anticipation for the ‘Apple’ dance reached fever pitch, and it was none other than Amelia Dimoldenberg who appeared on the massive screen to deliver her now-iconic moves, sending the audience into hysterics.

Charli’s set was packed with fan favourites, including Girl, so confusing and Everything Is Romantic, while Speed Drive came with a dedication: “This is for my friends who want to drive really, really, really, really fast.” Crowd energy surged once again for 365, and when Bladee — who had played earlier on Stage 2 — returned to join Charli on Rewind, the crowd reached a collective high.

Closing with the timeless banger I Love It, Charli danced on stage like it was her last night on Earth, and the crowd matched her energy beat for beat. “Hey, how you doing? Is that good? Are you doing good?” she smiled warmly. “I just wanna say this is a real pleasure. It’s a pleasure to play here. I hope you had as much fun as I did. Love you all, thanks. It’s not the end though.”

Before Charli stole the night, drag icon Jodie Harsh set the tone with a fire-starting DJ set on the main stage, remixing tracks like Nissan Ultima by Doechii and igniting the field with dancefloor abandon.

A. G. Cook followed with a genre-bending mix of originals and surprise covers — including The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony — that felt like both a rave and an art piece. Charli could be seen dancing in the crowd, beaming with pride.

Elsewhere, Magdalena Bay turned the stage into a synth-pop fantasy, with theatrical performances of Death and Romance and Fear, Sex culminating in a dramatic appearance from the red star Alien Doctor character — a surreal highlight of the day.

070 Shake’s emotionally charged set featured the dazzling Guilty Conscience, delivering sun-drenched catharsis as fans danced, cried, and held hands under the open sky. Over on Stage 2, Kelly Lee Owens took control with her minimalist yet powerful presence — a lone figure framed by strobes and visuals, making Dream State tracks hit even harder.

Indie darling The Japanese House added a summery sparkle to the day with a joyous opening of Touching Yourself. “Hell yeah, this is going to be fun,” she laughed, breezing through Sad To Breathe and Something Has To Change while declaring, “It was only an eight-minute Lime bike ride!”

Inside the second stage tent, The Dare lit a fire with Stateside, sending fans into a frenzy after teasing a PinkPantheress reference.

Gesaffelstein provided one of the most visceral experiences of the festival. Masked and isolated in a booth built from black crystals, his set was a throbbing, strobe-lit techno sermon — so powerful it pulled Charli back into the crowd for a dancefloor baptism.

Behind the scenes, LIDO’s ML3A sound system by Martin Audio, mixed by renowned engineer Robb Allan, ensured every whisper, beat, and scream rang out with pristine clarity — proof that the tech was as thoughtfully selected as the line-up.

LIDO Festival is unlike any other. Stretching across 10 days on Victoria Park’s Lido Field, this is a fan-first, artist-led event. Each day’s programming is shaped entirely by the headliner, from musical guests to visuals and stage design, ensuring each instalment feels intimate, curated, and personal. It’s a celebration of community, creativity, and sustainability right in the heart of Tower Hamlets.

As the sun set over PARTYGIRL, Charli xcx didn’t just headline LIDO — she owned it, body and soul. With London Grammar set to close out the inaugural edition on Sunday, the bar has officially been raised. And then some.

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