Chase & Status shut down All Points East with an unforgettable RTRN II DANCE takeover
London’s most stacked bass collective lineup fuses iconic sets from drum and bass legends with upcoming talent.
Photo: Chase & Status (@bethanmillerco)
Returning to Victoria Park, All Points East proved itself once again as a pinnacle live event in the East London music scene, spanning two weekends of multi-genre artists and sought after headliners. The first Saturday night set belonged entirely to a full day of drum and bass, UKG and jungle music with Chase & Status rightfully taking the headline slot.
With over two decades on the scene, Chase & Status have certified their stature as true drum & bass legends with their influence running through the veins of the UK bass community, inspiring the new generation of upcoming artists evolving the soundscapes of drum and bass and jungle music. Following a return to the mainstream with Baddadan and Backbone, as well as riding high on their BRIT award for Producer of the Year, Chase & Status set to capitalise on this success with their high-budget headline set at All Points East. True to form, they stacked their lineup bill with a handpicked selection, blending rising stars with some of their most trusted past collaborators, promising a showcase of genre-binding DJs.
The day kicked off at the Up Ya Archives takeover of the CUPRA North Arena tent, where 4am Kru immediately proved to festival-goers why they’re truly poised as the most promising live act in present-day contemporary jungle music. Rather than the stereotypical presence of a DJ hidden behind their decks, the duo take their live shows to the next level by layering live breakbeat drum instrumentation with their seamless mixing abilities between tracks, creating an unstoppable frenzy within the crowd’s flailing arms. The momentum didn’t stop there, as the self-proclaimed ‘Princess of Jungle’ Nia Archives took over the midday set, drawing an irresistible energy that pulled in the entire festival crowd. Closed-off barriers and adamant security guards didn’t stop attendees from storming the tent stage to catch even the slightest glimpse of her. She brought it all: live vocals, inventive mainstream remixes, and a flawless display of her own self-produced tracks. As expected, she won over the crowd playing her recent jungle rework of PinkPantheress’ Illegal, effortlessly mixing the appeal of catchy pop music with chopped-up drum loops and deep basslines.
A brief pause between set times of the day’s anticipated acts saw a chance to explore the X stage – an area dedicated to showcasing upcoming talent in the bass scene. Captivated by the overhanging X structure looming above the crowd, a detour from the tent stage seemed far too intriguing. IRAH stepped forward, recognised by the Chase & Status faithful as a frequent collaborator, showcasing his signature resonant vocals over the gritty bassline undertones. The set played like a prelude for what was to come later in the night, performing crowd favourites like Baddadan and Gunfinger as if to slowly lift the curtain without showcasing the full picture. The sense of atmosphere within the crowd was at its peak with strangers bonding arm in arm and finding myself sharing introductions with a group of Aussie backpackers, embodying the communal spirit of rave culture. The grip of the X Stage continued to deliver with a special back-to-back performance from SERUM and INJA, channelling the essence of early 2000s drum and bass.
Photo: Overmono (@jrcmccord)
A return to the anticipated acts saw Welsh duo Overmono take on the East Main Stage, challenged by the daylight setting unsuited for the usual scene of a rave. Determined to win the crowd over, their set tied influences from a range of breakbeat, UK garage and techno genres, showcasing their experimental approach to music, which has attracted so many fans. A mix of the slow-burning, emotional track of I Have Love and fan favourites such as Good Lies and Freedom 2 sensed a buzz of energy from the crowd. However, the speakers present on the main stage struggled to fully capture the weight of the bass-heavy style of their set, but this can be expected as All Points East is a festival spanning two weeks of multi-genre events more suited to these kinds of sound systems.
One of the many joys you can experience during a festival is the thrill of spontaneously stumbling across artists you’ve never heard of before. Whether it’s your friends dragging you to their favourite act or just pure curiosity pulling you towards a distant beat, there’s a magic in discovering a set that unexpectedly defines your day. This was the case for the journey towards the West Main Stage for Sammy Virgi, which ultimately ended in a seamless return to the tent stage for what I’d class as the best set of the day.
Wondering into a half-packed tent for SHERELLE B2B CLIPZ, having never seen either perform live before was something I’d do again without regret. Their relentless high-speed jungle rhythms immediately fuelled the crowd into a frenzy, transforming a semi-filled space into a pulsating epicentre of movement and energy. The set showcased not only technical mastery but also the unplanned exhilaration that festivals thrive on.
Photo: Tom Grennan (@jrcmccord)
And then came Chase & Status. With only a handful of special guests, it’s rare to see DJs command a stage with such authority, showcasing a masterclass in balance, effortlessly blending nostalgic drum & bass anthems with rave-ready new material.
Classics like End Credits and Blind Faith had festival-goers of all ages fully immersed in the moment, from original fans to a new generation discovering them live for the first time.
Their freshest tracks showcased the evolution of their sound, including innovative blends of modern-day London rap and grime, demonstrating how their artistry has grown and adapted over two decades in the game.
The production elevated the performance to another level: colossal stage design, bursts of pyrotechnics, and towering lasers reminiscent of the scale and spectacle of elite EDM festivals such as Tomorrowland and Boomtown.
Special guests defined the set with unforgettable appearances — IRAH, Flowdan, and Trigga performing their 2023 chart-topper Baddadan, while Tom Grennan made a cameo for the collaboration All Goes Wrong.
Regular MC Takura kept the crowd hyped throughout, declaring, “It’s a beautiful thing, this music, this culture that brings us together.” From start to finish, the set was non-stop, fast-paced, filthy dance music, capturing the raw energy of drum and bass while proving its rightful place on festival main stages rather than being confined to underground clubs and illegal raves.
Despite the absence of the typical dark tones and dazzling light shows usually associated with bassline culture, the daylight shone the mood across Victoria Park that Saturday with the energy synonymous with a classic underground rave. Ultimately being topped off with a spectacular performance from drum and bass legends Chase & Status, once again proving their everlasting nostalgic pull mixed with modern headbangers.