Emotional RAYE thanks fans for 'making a little girl’s dream come true' as she headlines All Points East
RAYE was taken aback by the number of fans who turned out for her headline set at All Points East.
An emotional RAYE was overwhelmed by the size of the crowd as she stepped out on the All Points East main stage on Saturday (23.08.25).
The British singer-songwriter headlined the music festival at London’s Victoria Park for the fifth day of the festival.
Addressing the audience, RAYE said: “London, are you joking me?”
Backed by her phenomenal brass band and backing singers, the star didn't mess around, opening with the huge ballad Oscar Winning Tears.
After facing problems with her former record label, Polydor, and the long wait to put out her debut album, RAYE was released from her contract in 2021 and became an independent artist.
Since then, her life has changed dramatically. In 2023, the South London singer finally released her extremely successful debut album, My 21st Century Blues, which earned her a Mercury Prize nomination. She also made history at the 2024 Brit Awards, winning six out of the seven categories she was nominated for.
During her set, RAYE reflected on the major turnaround in her career, recalling the “s*** gigs” she did when she started out.
She continued the show with the new song Where Is My Husband?, due for release on September 19. The singer focused on turning her set into a “safe space,” speaking openly about her addictions before performing the hit Mary Jane.
RAYE - whose real name is Rachel Keen - also noted how her second album is "going well", despite having to start it again after her car containing her songwriting books was stolen.
The show was also marked by moments when the artist had to stop her performance to ask security to help a fan who had collapsed in the crowd. Later on, it happened again, with RAYE urging the audience to applaud the security team. She also addressed the “dust situation,” as many fans had complained about high levels of dust at Victoria Park.
The most moving moment of the night came as the singer prepared to perform Ice Cream Man, which she explained with tears in her eyes as the song is about sexual assault.
She declared: “I’m not alone as I sing this song, sadly."
The singer’s set also featured highlights such as a cover of James Brown and Betty Jean Newsome’s It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World, her collaboration Suzanne with Mark Ronson, and the hit Secrets, which launched the “nightclub” section of the gig.
Towards the end of her set, RAYE performed Black Mascara and Prada, which came with bursts of flames on the stage. She then closed the night with her global hit Escapism.
She concluded: “This is the kind of gig a little girl dreams of. Thank you, London, for making a little girl’s dream come true."
Earlier in the day, former Little Mix star JADE and South African singer Tyla took to the East Stage.
The festival also featured a performance on the West Stage by FKA Twigs, who stepped in after rapper Doechii cancelled her performance.
