Brockwell Park has seen many versions of me.
It’s seen me happy, grieving, lonely, surrounded by friends, any and all emotions all tucked up on one bench that had the perfect view of the London skyline.
On Sunday 25th May it saw me euphoric albeit slightly stressed. Walking back into the park, down the same familiar path to my bench for a pre-festival debrief felt like a fever dream to say the least. You’re probably wondering why I’m talking about a park so much and … I get it! This park became somewhat of a safe haven for me when I lived here, during a period of time that was extremely chaotic and unstable.
Back to my pre-festival debrief. I’d like to think it was my aura or general whimsy people say I exude, but it was in fact my mic in hand and Kate holding up my phone that caught the attention of two police officers, who asked if I was going into the festival to make TikTok’s. I wish it was that easy miss and mister officer, but no, that wasn’t the case. However, with the sheer talent I apparently radiate, maybe I should have tried to make more of them.
Cross The Tracks with its unforgettable line up of funk, soul and jazz made me miss South London and the life I had there. So much so, that honestly if someone were to offer me a job in London, I might just take it. I felt like that one Florence and The Machine song ‘South London Forever’ … because yeah, it really is forever isn’t it? No matter where I move to, wherever I find myself, I always seem to come back with that same longing to live in my little West Dulwich flat again, making dinner in the check tiled kitchen and singing along to Ella Fitzgerald.
I have to be honest, I did embarrass myself pretty early on, when I misunderstood a UGC general debrief was also for me too. In all fairness, this was my first festival and I just assumed that maybe they would go through photo pit restrictions or something … I couldn’t have been more wrong. This then resulted in me standing there dumbfounded, just waiting for someone to say something to me.
That was all soon put behind me when I was standing in the middle of a crowd, hands in the air and trying to let go of all of the worries I had accumulated that week. I say this every-time, but having people dancing in-front, behind and to the side of me never seems to get old. The knowledge that people are happy and they are enjoying themselves was enough for me to relax a little and enjoy myself too.
I even got recognised on my way home! I was in the coach station when this girl came up to me and said, “I recognise you, you were at the festival right? You were the photographer? I was right at the front and saw you working!” When I tell you, my jaw hit the floor and I walked away from that interaction feeling like I was some famous pop star trying to get back into my hotel after a show. Gobsmacked would probably be dramatic to say, but also would describe how I felt. Safe to say… I’m famous now, so I guess it’s time to start taking applications for a PA! Jokes aside, I feel incredibly honoured to be seen in that way, and honestly, that made my whole day.
The day itself was a lovely blend of bumping into friends and musical highs. Seeing Michael Kiwanuka was like seeing God, or at least it felt like it. Dressed in all white and gracing us with the most heavenly set, his soulful voice and angelic backing band wrapped the crowd in a warm embrace. It was pure bliss, a moment of profound calm to end the day, I practically floated out of Cross The Tracks and onto the 3 bus straight back to Victoria. (Floating Meg Ivy still had to wait 5 minutes for her bus to come though, because even divinities have to contend with TFL).
Ezra Collective did exactly as their name says and brought the crowd of Cross The Tracks together as a collective, sharing the same experience which was a whole lot of twirling and jumping (which I tried to get my Mum to be a part of via FaceTime but she didn’t pick up). Ezra Collective have been our favourite band for some years now and they no doubt delivered a sincere performance which brought us together and reminded me that sometimes all you need to do is dance in dance circles with strangers and feel like you are a little kid again.
Smiling widely became a theme throughout the day for me, and Jordan Rakei’s set is one of the reasons as to why. A soulful set filled with flowery and sweet feelings, before the chaotic release of Ezra Collective, Jordan Rakei’s performance felt like it came directly from the soul, sticking to your heart and sending you on your way feeling lighter, more willing to maybe listen for a second more.
Beyond the main stages and big names, there’s always that little spark of magic when you stumble upon a set that somehow gets you. For me, at Cross The Tracks, that magic came in the form of daste. Daste literally brought the Australian summer sun to Cross The Tracks this year with their laid-back indie, soulful tunes that filtered into your ears and made themselves at home, probably kicked off their shoes and made a cup of tea while they were at it too.
While Thee Sinseers & The Altons felt like stepping back in time to a smoky, intimate club in the 60s, soul pouring out from every instrument and note sung. Soulful energy dried through the crowd, vocals that melted you and held you long after they left the stage. These two acts reminded us that sometimes the most unforgettable moments at a festival are found within small tents, hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Cross The Tracks wasn’t just about the music though. It was about acquiring a pretty bad sunburn — seriously my face is a shade of lobster that would make a fisherman proud. It actually isn’t that bad, nor is it just about that, but it’s certainly up there (big oops. Please remind me next time!).
Beyond my sunburn, it was about the art market filled with different clothes stalls, jewellery, and all sorts of unexpected delights – yes, you can do everything here!. The different stages, each with its own unique vibe, the endless food stalls teasing your taste buds and making your tummy growl and the thought-provoking talks that were happening throughout the day.
Cross The Tracks truly is for everyone, no matter what your interests are. It’s more than just a festival; it’s a feeling, a memory and a renewed sense of what makes my soul sing. A reminder that no matter where life takes me, a little piece of my heart and maybe a little piece of that South London sunshine, will always be waiting back at Brockwell Park for me.
See you in the park, same time next year?
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Written by Meg Ivy Brunning
