Pop girls bring the heat to All Points East 2025

Tyla turned the East Stage into a live party, JADE turns Madonna's 'Frozen' into a ravers anthem, and more

While Victoria Park’s dust turned All Points East into a scene from Mad Max: Fury Road, that didn’t stop festival-goers from enjoying a star-studded female-led line-up on 23 August. While it’s still disappointing to have to point out the rarity of having so many trailblazing women in music on the same festival bill in 2025, it’s a large feat to celebrate – and that was what All Points East’s Saturday felt like; a celebration. From emerging alternative artists performing like seasoned veterans – Ava Joe and Chloe Qisha – to pop mainstays effortlessly proving their star power – Cat Burns, JADE and Tyla – here are our highlights of All Points Easts pop and alternative day. (For our thoughts on headliner, RAYE, read more here.)

The indie acts

Ava Joe

The Ordinary Stage allowed fans to discover new music and grab a handy free SPF serum, which is how I was able to find the sultry indie pop of vocalist Ava Joe. For the music lovers who miss ‘Boy Who Murdered Love’-era Diana Vickers, Ava Joe’s siren-like vocals called fans to her set like sailors to a lighthouse. Performing earnestly and in an understated fashion, Ava Joe and her band – affectionately referred to as “her boys” – performed a set that felt like watching the next big thing on the verge of stardom. Her vulnerable lyrics allowed festival-goers to connect with her intimately, even without having heard her music before, garnering a sizeable crowd who ditched the freebie line to experience her enchantment without distractions. “I can’t believe there are so many of you here!” – we definitely could. If you like confessional pop dressed up as an old Hollywood vignette, catch Ava Joe at her opening for Jalen Ngonda on his UK tour this October.

Chloe Qisha

The ’21st Century Cool Girl’ was right at home on the East Stage, which is why her comment about only starting to perform publicly in October of 2024 came as a surprise to the audience. “I only started releasing music just over a year ago”. Clad in a HAIM-esque all-black leather outfit, with a bright red screen that had “CHLOE QISHA” in all black letters, Chloe showed how less was more. No need to prove that she’s a star, the Malaysia-born London-based singer-songwriter allowed the tongue-in-cheek lyrics of her infectious upbeat indie pop to do the talking. And by the end of her set, it was clear that with just two EPs under her belt, Chloe Qisha is already vying for a top pop main girl spot. Her vocals were crystal clear, with effortless breath control and a giggle in between songs. Chloe Qisha is the cool girl you both want to be, and be friends with. “I guess I’ll see you sexy people later” she signed off – and we definitely will, at her headline UK tour this October.

Absolutely

When your sister is a bonafide vocalist, it can be hard to establish that you are a force to be reckoned with in your own right. But Absolutely’s set at the Cupra North Arena showed that both she and RAYE were worth the All Points East ticket. After years as a sought-after songwriter, the south London artist has stepped into her own spotlight with R&B and soul leaning pop ballads that allow her powerhouse voice to shine and move audience members to tears. The crowd swayed in unison to her recent single ‘I Just Don’t Know You Yet’, which unbelievably sounds even better live than the already anthemic studio version, and that is the power of Absolutely. The power to connect through poetic lyrics and the raw emotion in her vocals, the power to draw new fans in, the power to be present and authentic on stage. If her festival performance is anything to go by, her opening slot on Reneé Rapp’s BITE ME tour will have you grabbing your besties and singing at the top of your lungs.

The pop stars

Cat Burns

“There are so many people here today!” Cat Burns’ disbelief that she is a leading voice in UK pop is endearing, even after the massive success of her breakout hit, ‘Go’. “I can’t believe it!” The energy of her set was uplifting and tender, with her laidback demeanour allowing the audience to feel included and close, despite the grandeur of the East Stage. It felt like catching up with an old friend and sharing life stories, especially when she would break between songs to talk to us. Her latest single ‘All This Love’ – from her upcoming album, How To Be Human – depicts her feelings on grief. “I wanted to write about how grief is just love with nowhere to go” she told us, being vulnerable enough to share how while she’s lost people close to her, she also wanted to highlight the joy of being able to love someone even when they’re no longer with us. It’s this vulnerability that makes Cat Burns relatable, as she turned the East Stage into a celebration of love, life, crushes, loss and what it is to be human.

JADE

“Ladies and gentlemen. Theys and thems. Hold on tight, the performance is about to begin.” Ncuti Gatwa‘s inimitable voice from the intro of JADE’s ‘Midnight Cowboy’ was the start of a very special set. Kicking off with the song, JADE emerged in a fierce oversized 90s rave-inspired tracksuit on an industrial pyramid on stage, ready to show us how its done. Even though its only been a year into her debut as a solo artist, that Little Mix-level performance quality and background permeates throughout her set. This is not her first rodeo, and it’s always exciting to watch JADE’s creativity, theatrical choreography and undeniable vocal talent on stage. The set was high-octane from the start, breezing from ‘Midnight Cowboy’ to ‘It Girl’ to ‘Plastic Box’, with no chance of the letting the energy drop at any point.

She hits whistle-tone notes, rides a dancer on all-fours as if they’re a horse, gives fans hyper-pop reimaginations of Little Mix hits ‘Shout Out To My Ex’ and ‘Wasabi’, even turns Madonna’s ‘Frozen’ into a Berghain-ready rave hit. But the true highlight was her unwavering support of marginalised and oppressed communities during ‘FUFN’, where she encouraged the audience to scream “F*ck you!” after listing the structural abuses of power that harm communities worldwide – “Homophobia? F*ck you! Transphobia? F*ck you! Misogyny? F*ck you! Racism? F*ck you! Justifying genocide? F*ck you!” An activist, an icon, a star.

Tyla

There’s only one person who can turn a stage into a party, and that’s Tyla. The South African pop star – clad in body glitter, gladiator stilettos, and a sparkly pink miniskirt reminiscent of 2010s pop girls – stepped on to the East Stage with a commanding presence. No need for preamble, no need to explain too much, Tyla wants to party and we’re going to party with her. From her dancehall-inspired hit ‘Push To Start’ to her more amapiano hits ‘SHAKE AH’ and ‘Bana Ba’, not one note or step was missed. Her dancers each got a chance to shine, showing off their impressive skills and celebrating popular moves from amapiano dance trends and culture.

It’s refreshing to experience, as Tyla made it clear that her South African heritage is paramount to her music and creativity, and for just one day only, Victoria Park was home to a South African “groove”. She had interludes to enjoy dancing in a circle with her dancers, and even a moment to shoot Tyla T-shirts out of her merch gun. And that wasn’t enough star power, Afrobeats mega star Wizkid joined her on stage for a live rendition of their song, ‘DYNAMITE’.