“We want to thank you for getting The Maccabees back together.” That was the message from the band to an adoring crowd as they made their triumphant festival headline return at All Points East on Sunday (August 24).
As the 2025 Victoria Park series drew to a close, guitar bands dominated a lineup topped by the indie legends, who were joined on stage by special guest Jamie T.
Bombay Bicycle Club headlined The West Stage, welcoming CMAT for a cameo in a joyful performance.
The Maccabees burst into their big night with their hits of the 00s ‘Latchmere’, ‘Lego’ and ‘X-Ray’, launching a night of singalongs, no more so than for ‘First Love’ going into ‘Precious Time’ (“Let’s take our precious time about it”). For the tens of thousands of devoted fans of The Maccabees, the time waiting for this return has been too long.
‘Can You Give’ received a call-to-arms introduction from Felix White said: “When this song comes in, I’m gonna count you and the whole do place, and I mean the whole f***ing place is gonna jump. So if you in the back are not feeling it, all we want from you is solid vertical movement. Is everyone with us, yeah?”
If that song was raucous then things went to another level with the appearance of Jamie T, who demanded the whole crowd scream as they launched into ‘Marks To Prove It’ before a frantic cover of Jamie’s own ‘Sticks N’ Stones’.
Singer Orlando Weeks said: “It’s unbelievable that you took that risk, that you paid that money, you put the faith in the love that you had for our band and the love that you had for the occasion that this might be…It’s not lost on us and I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to you for being the gamblers that you are. Thank you for taking the chance. Thank you to All Points East for saying we should do this and thank you to our management and to all of our crew that made this happen.”
An old emotional ‘Something Like Happiness’ closed proceedings before a ‘Toothpaste Kisses’, ‘Grew Up At Midnight’ and ‘Pelican’ meant the fans who had waited so long got everything they could have wanted.
‘My Big Day’ proclaimed Bombay Bicycle Club’s stage set and streamer cannons got the party started during ‘Eat Sleep Wake’.
“All Points East – how are you doing out there? Let’s hear it for our lovely brass section. We’ve got Dan, Johnny and Tom,” said singer Jack Steadman before a joyous ‘Feel’.
“We’re very happy to be here. We haven’t played a show for such a long time, so thank you guys for coming out and watching us,” said Steadman, visibly overwhelmed by the moment, ahead of a hymnal ‘How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep’.
‘Shuffle’ and ‘Meditate’ bounced along before guest star CMAT exploded onto the stage to dance for an outrageous ‘Rural Radio’.
Just minutes earlier, CMAT had finished her own showstopping set on The East Stage. No one captivates a crowd like CMAT with unstoppable tracks like ‘The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station’ and ‘Stay For Something’.
A new album, EURO-COUNTRY, is on the way and will be huge if the title track and ‘When A Good Man Cries’ are anything to go by. When CMAT lassoed a chainlink belt into the crowd it was recovered by a grateful fan. “You can only keep it if you wear it!” they were told.
“We’ve had a really good festival season and we’re really grateful The Maccabees asked us to play,” CMAT said.
Performing songs off their new album, Forever Howlong, Black Country New Roadenthralled the North Stage with haunting vocals and a mastery of seamlessly switching between instruments including flute to saxophone. There was a particularly loud cheer when the opening notes of a harpsichord rang out, signalling a fan-favourite song ‘Besties’.
Over at the X Stage, Felix White’s own Yala! Records curated the lineup with highlights including Willie J Healey, The Futureheads and Warmduscher.
The Cribs bassist and singer Gary Jarman told their East Stage audience: “I feel like it’s been a little while since we’ve seen you all so thanks for coming out.” The much-loved band met with a rapturous welcome as they delivered bangers like ‘Men’s Needs’ and ‘Mirror Kisses’ as well as future hit ‘Summer Seizures’
The Murder Capital delivered a barrage from the East Stage, with James McGovern saying: “I want to say a big thank you, congratulations and welcome back to the fucking good life to The Maccabees. We love those boys. They’ve always f***ing been there for us, and you’re gonna have the fucking night of your lives.”
“Thanks for coming to the park!” said Sorry singer Asha as the band performed edgy lo-fi guitar tunes. Prima Queen enjoyed a packed tent, even in the mid-afternoon while Slow Fiction’s washes of guitars swept from the Ordinary Stage.
Katy J Pearson brought some early afternoon warmth to the east stage while Hamish Hawk’s set was packed full of drama. Elsewhere on a lively bill, Folk Bitch Trio brought a moment of calm with luscious vocal harmonies in the Amex Unsigned Stage.
This year’s All Points East featured headliners Cleo Sol (Friday 15 August), Chase and Status (Saturday 16 August), Pete Tong (Sunday 17 August, free show), Barry Can’t Swim (Friday 22 August), RAYE (Saturday 23 August), and The Maccabees (Sunday 24 August).
Pop Scoop founder and editor. Ex showbiz/tech editor at the Cyprus Mail. Former sub-editor at Archant. Former art director Sky TV. Co-founder of Kool Magazine and freelanced for the BBC, Channel 4, Warner Bros and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.
