The second day of London’s groundbreaking LIDO Festival was a euphoric, rain-soaked celebration of genre-defying brilliance, as Jamie xx took the reins with a line-up as eclectic, thoughtful and thrilling as his own discography. From high-energy B2B DJ sets and Venezuelan avant-pop to a rare and emotional reunion of The xx, Saturday proved to be not just a musical journey but a cultural landmark for London’s summer calendar.
Jamie xx @ Lido Festival 2025
As the rain fell over Victoria Park, the crowd refused to be deterred. Instead, they danced harder, sang louder, and embraced every moment of a day programmed to perfection by East London’s own Jamie xx—whose curation blurred the lines between electronic, pop, R&B and experimental soundscapes. Celebrities like Harry Styles and Sharon Horgan were among those spotted soaking in the atmosphere.
The day was powered by LIDO’s state-of-the-art Martin Audio ML3A system, supplied by Solotech, ensuring a pristine listening experience even under stormy skies. The clean, crystal-clear sonics provided the perfect platform for Jamie’s line-up of boundary-pushing artists, all selected with care, vision, and a nod to the city’s rich musical undercurrents.
The headline moment arrived late into Jamie xx’s set. As the pulsating beat of his hit Waiting All Night filled the park, he was joined on stage by fellow The xx bandmates Romy and Oliver Sim. The moment was intimate and electric. The three embraced warmly after the track ended, visibly moved by the moment and by the crowd’s ecstatic reaction. “We love you, London,” Romy called out, her voice echoing into the East London sky. The xx hadn’t performed together on stage in years, making the reunion a deeply emotional centrepiece of the day—testament to the personal significance of Jamie’s curated bill.
Jamie xx @ Lido Festival 2025
Jamie’s solo set was a masterclass in club culture: a kaleidoscopic blend of genres that captured the past, present and future of East London nightlife. He moved from the industrial breaths of Gosh to a thunderous Loud Places (with Romy’s vocals once again providing the emotional lift), and into darker textures with tracks from his 2024 album In Waves, including the haunting Breather, whispering: “You deserve to be happy.”
He dropped an explosive rework of All You Children—his collaboration with The Avalanches—and scattered in nostalgic snippets of Mazzy Star’s Into Dust and Ramzy Bailey’s I Hate Hate. But it was the euphoric pulse of Let’s Do It Again that finally sent the crowd into full-blown rapture.
Earlier in the day, Jamie xx and Skrillex opened the main stage with an unexpected and exhilarating back-to-back set. A first for the two, their set was packed with high-energy remixes and euphoric nostalgia. A wild reworking of Sugarhill Gang’s Apache (Jump On It) had the crowd jumping, followed by a stomping version of House Of Pain classic Jump Around. Skrillex’s energy was contagious, shouting: “Yo, good morning, good afternoon—make some noise for Jamie!”
Jamie xx & Skrillex @ Lido Festival 2025
Taking to the stage barefoot and unbothered by the rain, John Glacier delivered a poetic, abstract set of lo-fi production and lyrical dexterity. “This is my local park so hello,” she announced, before wryly thanking the drenched but devoted crowd for sticking it out.
John Glacier @ Lido Festival 2025
Sampha later delivered one of the most powerful sets of the day—effortlessly weaving together jazz percussion, soulful vocals, and euphoric moments. Tracks like Suspended and Can’t Go Back showcased the emotional depth and genre-bending boldness that has earned him a reputation as one of Britain’s most vital musical voices. “It’s a pleasure to play for you,” he said. “Today’s a day that really builds character!”
Sampha @ Lido Festival 2025
Panda Bear, aka Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox, added a shimmering jangle to the afternoon. Tracks like Defense and 50mg brought a dreamy, indie groove that gave the crowd a moment to breathe between sonic workouts. His set drifted from sun-kissed warmth to psychedelic bliss, all grounded by steady, infectious rhythm.
By evening, the rain had lifted just in time for Venezuelan icon Arca to take the main stage. With a thunderous, thrumming set of glitchy, erotic avant-pop, she mesmerised the crowd. Songs like Rakata and Prada were met with ecstatic screams, her fans singing every word. Arca’s charisma was undeniable, purring into the mic and joking about body heat: “Let’s keep each other warm.” It was a set of pure chaos and power, blending club and art with wild abandon—leaving no doubt as to why she’s one of the most captivating performers in the world right now.
Arca @ Lido Festival 2025
Over on Stage 2, DJ Villager launched the day with an irresistible remix of Kylie Minogue’s hit 2001 single Can’t Get You Out of My Head, setting the tone for a high-BPM, rave-heavy atmosphere. Tim Reaper followed, warming the decks ahead of jungle royalty Shy FX, who delivered an explosive drum’n’bass set that had the crowd skanking nonstop. He closed with Original Nuttah, triggering absolute bedlam. The final B2B saw Todd Edwards—the garage legend—join forces with bullet tooth, creating a genre-smashing set that pushed boundaries and kept energy sky-high.
Before the xx reunion, Romy had already lit up the park with her solo set—effortlessly straddling club culture and pop sensibility. Her voice was as powerful as ever on tracks like Lifetime, Always Forever, Enjoy The Life, and The Sea. Closing with Strong, she delivered a set of pure, unfiltered joy—a celebration of identity, love and community.
Romy @ Lido Festival 2025
Away from the main stages, Jamie xx introduced The Floor, a smaller, more intimate space inspired by his acclaimed residency at South London’s Venue MOT. Curated like a secret club within the festival, it featured extended sets from DJ Harvey, Shy One, Wookie, livwutang, and Stresshead, turning Victoria Park into a pulsing, after-hours paradise. The Floor, much like LIDO itself, reflects Jamie’s vision for a more intimate, artist-led festival experience—one rooted in community, curation, and sonic discovery. After successful runs in New York and Los Angeles, this UK version brought the concept full circle.
Jamie xx @ Lido Festival 2025
Saturday’s programme followed a landmark opening night from Massive Attack, who powered their set entirely by green energy in what is already being hailed as one of the most sustainable large-scale music events in the UK. Still to come at LIDO Festival 2025: OUTBREAK Fest (Friday 13 June), Charli xcx’s Party Girl Festival (Saturday 14 June), and a finale from London Grammar (Sunday 15 June).
LIDO is more than just a new festival—it’s a platform redefining how we experience live music. Artists are given full creative control, curating every detail from line-ups to stage design. Rooted in sustainability, artist ownership, and cultural relevance, it’s already shaping up to be the capital’s most essential new festival.
Jamie xx @ Lido Festival 2025
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