On Sunday night, Sacramento alternative metal iconsDeftonesbrought chaos to London’s Victoria Park forAll Points EastpresentsOutbreak Fest.
Photo by Clemente Ruiz
Curated by the UK’s premier festival devoted to underground music’s thriving counterculture Outbreak Fest, the third full instalment in All Points East’s 2026 programme was a genre-amorphous celebration of boundary pushing sounds in all forms featuring the likes of IDLES, Amyl & The Sniffers, AFI, EsDeeKid, JPEGMAFIA, SALEMand more.
Topped by headlinersDeftones, their 95 minute set spanned over three decades of some of the world’s most uncompromising alternative music. Pulling from tracks across their discography, from 1994’sAdrenalinealbum to 2025’sPrivate Music, the California four-piece dazzled a capacity Victoria Park; weaving a spell on 50,000 revellers that refused to let up until the final notes on ‘7 Words’ rang out.
Frontman Chino Moreno took a pause, telling the crowd“What a fucking wonderful day today. So much good music, so many beautiful faces. And it’s Sunday night, go figure. You guys are awesome, thank you so much”
Elsewhere, Bristol post-punk greatsIDLESput on a show that fused the introspective and confrontational, bringing a raucous atmosphere to their first London performance since 2024. Pub rock iconsAmyl & The Sniffersraised the dust clouds into the capital’s skies on the East Stage, while the biggest international scouse export since Trent Alexander-ArnoldEsDeeKidcaused a frenzy in the North Arena, bringing out collaboratorRico Aceon top of a castle onstage while performing hits such as ‘LV Sandals’ and ‘Phantom’ to mass singalongs. Rap took centre stage further with incendiary artist, producer and cultural disruptorJPEGMAFIAlaunching a full-scale assault on the horde that had amassed at the East Stage.
Electronic music was represented through witch house pioneersSALEM’s triumphant return to London after 15 years, causing a literal snowstorm within All Points East’s blue big top for a truly unique display, with multi-genre Japanese selector¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$Ubringing unbridled chaos to the festival’s early evening slot and with UK electronic experimentalistBlawanpresenting an explosive new live set on the X Stage.
The energy was electric from the outset of the day with artists such asShow Me The Body, Basement, Deafheaven, Mannequin Pussyand more blowing away any Sunday morning cobwebs that might have lingered, while new music across the gamut of alternative sounds made a huge impact throughout the festival with the likes ofOvergrown, VILLANELLE, Reclus.ÉandEternal Rindrawing packed crowds across multiple stages throughout the festival’s programming, with the latter saying:“Thank you so much for letting me take you on a journey this afternoon. To be at this festival, on this line up, and have so many of you here with me, blows me away.”
Topping what was the biggest celebration of countercultural music London has ever seen, Deftones’ headline set at All Points East presents Outbreak Fest was a historic moment not only for all the bands on the line up, but for all in attendance. All Points East continues next week with a double header headlined byTyler The Creatoron Friday 28th and Saturday 29th August, andTwenty One Pilotson 30th August to close out two triumphant weekends of contemporary music in the capital’s East End.
Lido Festival takes place on Bank Holiday Monday (31 August) with headlinerMaribou State.
For ticket info, visitwww.allpointseastfestival.com