LIDO FESTIVAL 2025 PRESENTS... MASSIVE ATTACK // VICTORIA PARK, LONDON
Legends headline new festival for exciting maiden voyage
★★★★☆ (4/5)
MASSIVE ATTACK HEADLIINING FIRST EVER LIDO FESTIVAL SHOW AT LONDON’S VICTORIA PARK.
PHOTOCREDIT: SOPHIAJCAREY
The influential Massive Attack had the honour of headlining the inaugural day of Lido festival, which brings together globally loved artists to curate days that celebrate musical excellence and community.
Lido festival delivered a glittering showcase of hand-picked support acts for a varied collection of soulful electronic delights. Acts such as the shamstep performing 47soul embodied the musical innovation and political activism that Massive Attack has continued to champion. While French duo Air ensured that the headliner played to a thoroughly delighted crowd as they delivered a set which consisted heavily of their debut album “Moon Safari”, including the international hit “Sexy Boy”. An interim set by DJ Milo allowed for the main stage to be made ready for the headline act, and as the lights dimmed a chorus of cheers erupted as Massive Attack emerged onto the stage.
Immediately it was clear that the show was to be an effortlessly cool display of the act’s mastery of trip-hop. Cementing their status as pioneers within the genre and electronic music.
From the first notes of the venomous “Risingson”, Massive Attack captured the audience under a psychedelic spell. The set contents were a celebration of the act's career as tracks such as “Black Milk” and “Unfinished Sympathy” delivered fan favourites which blended their trademark moody atmospherics, bass-laden percussion and haunting vocals. While the iconic “Angel” and “Teardrop” showed their pedigree by rousing the crowd to their loudest cheers of the night. There was no denying the legacy these tracks hold as generations of fans were united in their euphoria.
Transforming the lush greenery of Victoria Park into an atmospheric, almost intimate, venue were stunning visuals which helped to deliver a narrative to each track. Many of the visuals related to the ongoing conflict in Palestine and served to stress the bands continued dedication to political activism.
As the last notes of the performance ebbed away, a delighted crowd stood in awe of a set which had thoroughly delivered. Not simply a nostalgic look back at the past, the night served to show how influential these tracks continue to be and allowed the audience to revel in their much imitated atmosphere.
MASSIVE ATTACK HEADLIINING FIRST EVER LIDO FESTIVAL SHOW AT LONDON’S VICTORIA PARK.
PHOTOCREDIT: SOPHIAJCAREY