All Points East 2025: Sault, Cleo Sol and Chronixx
All Points East kicked off in Victoria Park this Friday with a sold-out lineup headlined by Cleo Sol, Chronixx and R&B/soul collective Sault. The festival also featured stellar performances from Gotts Street Park – who thrilled the crowd by bringing out R&B favourites Pip Millett and Celeste – as well as Nao, Mariah the Scientist and Sasha Keable. It was a strong opening to what promised to be an unforgettable weekend. Fans were especially drawn by the rare appearance of Sault, who have only performed live once before. The mysterious group, known for concealing their identity behind masks, made this feel like a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Despite the main stage commencing an hour late, this did nothing to dull the dramatics of what ensued. Dancers entered wearing billowing robes and performed synchronous ritualistic choreography to the 12-minute instrumental number Solar, played by a live orchestra. It was a bizarre beginning, particularly due to the overstretched spoken-word segment that made no sense in relation to the group. Still, Sault’s mysterious aura perhaps made this something to be expected.
Evident relief washed over the crowd when Cleo Sol took the stage, delivering a stunning rendition of Free that captivated the entire park. From that moment, the energy shifted. Sault’s signature blend of disco, funk, soul and R&B brought the festival to life with favourites like I Just Want To Dance, Strong, and Why, Why, Why, Why, Why – the latter was met with ecstatic screams as Cleo Sol led the vocals.
A well-received surprise feature for the night included the appearance of Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), who later performed a solo set that included a moving rendition of UMI Says.
One of the most striking moments came when an anonymous singer ascended a sculptural mountain set to deliver a near ten-minute solo. Her crystalline, soulful voice was transfixing – yet unfortunately, the impact was softened by yet another meandering spoken-word piece that had preceded her. The disjointed pacing of the show often tested the audience’s patience.
Chronixx later brought the energy back with their wondrous blend of reggae and funk. Despite a partially thinned audience, the set – including Here Comes Trouble, as well as Survival from the upcoming Exile project – reinvigorated the atmosphere.
Visually, the set design stood out: dystopian and mystical, audience members remarked on its resemblance to the Star Wars franchise. A real-time sky projection on the screen provided a clever backdrop, ending the evening dotted with thousands of stars.
Overall, the whole affair felt like a fever dream – sometimes spellbinding, other times simply bewildering. While the narrative elements often missed the mark, the music ultimately triumphed. For fans lucky enough to witness Sault’s second-ever live show, it was a flawed but thrilling experience.
Emily Downie
Photos: Matthew Pull
For further information and future events, visit Sault’s website here.
Watch the video for Why Why Why Why Why here:
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