RALLY 2024 through five key performances

Still relatively small and only in its sophomore year, the festival has quickly cemented itself as one of the best day parties in London

Typical British downpours of rain and a subsequent one-hour opening delay were nothing to stop keen revellers away from Southwark Park for this year’s RALLY, and they weren’t disappointed. The programme itself was seamlessly curated, with an array of electronic artists spanning from elusive duo Two Shell to ghettotech champions HiTech, as well as dreamy vocals from the likes of ML Buch, Armand Hammer and the ever-enchanting Chanel Beads.

On the selector front, key acts like Hessle Audio’s Pearson Sound, Tash LC and Danielle came through with memorable mixes packed with tent-shaking grooves that made us feel bliss and complete oblivion with the rain falling from above.

This year, there was a strong emphasis on visual installations from local London artists. RALLY collaborated with institutions like Ormside Projects, Camden Art Centre and Goldsmith’s University to facilitate these displays, with several artists billed to perform at the festival also crafting beautiful pieces to show – entirely separate from their musical endeavours. As well as performing a stellar b2b set with 404 eros, illustrator and NTS DJ anu displayed a digital animation piece about acceptance and loving yourself and your community, while Joseph Richmond-Seaton (a.k.a. Call Super) showcased a selection of his paintings and artworks in a small tent just metres away from the dance.

A true celebration of London’s music and arts communities, RALLY championed forward-thinking creative talent with a strong ethos of embracing discovery, beating the algorithm and resisting monoculture that will ensure its place in the city’s festival scene for years to come.

Here are five performances that still have us talking.

Fabiana Palladino

Fabiana Palladino finally shared her self-titled AOTY-contender debut with us earlier this year and gifted RALLY with a performance filled with hits from the album. The artist’s captivating vocals perfectly match her glamorous, synth-heavy production to craft a modern, unique take on 80s pop. Taking influence from the soul and R&B of that era, Palladino mesmerised the main stage with her presence, delivering tracks like I Can’t Dream Anymore in the pouring rain – which made for the perfect, high-drama setting to admire her.

James Massiah

The pre-Carnival vibes hit hard immediately after the arrival of James Massiah to a packed Millhouse tent. Having already performed spoken word earlier in the day, the artist, poet and DJ completely switched up the vibe with a rapid, no-nonsense live set that sent the entire place into a frenzy. With a one-in, one-out policy in force, ravers were lining up to see him perform his dizzying, club-ready raps, with the sun slowly creeping out as soon as he dropped Hot Forever.

Bar Italia

The industrial Agnes stage was the perfect set-up for enigmatic trio and Crack Magazine cover stars Bar Italia’s live set. Under a unique, two-tiered steel structure, the band fought through a few technical difficulties at the start before blessing us with an exceptional performance once things were up and running. The crowd was enthralled despite the setbacks, with a few mosh pits even breaking out amongst the chaos.

Actress (live)

Multifaceted wizard Actress also performed at RALLY’s Agnes stage, opting for a set that opened with a hazy ambience before building up to blood-pumping techno that you could feel deep in your chest. With just himself on stage and a live production set-up, the artist took the audience on a voyage through tracks of the past, with some lifted from his latest album, Statik. A bucket list-ticking moment for many.

Mount Kimbie

Following a stirring performance by Nilüfer Yanya, Kai and Dom of Mount Kimbie were billed to close proceedings at this year’s event. RALLY saw the duo return to South London after first making music together at a home studio in Peckham some years ago, now joined by Marc Pell and Andrea Balency-Béar. 

The band lined up a set filled with heaters from their extensive catalogue of 15 years and constant reinvention, including highlights from their last two albums, Love What Survives and The Sunset Violet. Marilyn, Four Years and One Day were standouts alongside their King Krule collaborations, with the group closing their set with the 2013 single Made to Stray to send everyone home happy.