Dubbed by some as a British Coachella, All Points East has many faces and multiple personalities. However, its collaboration with Outbreak was a shining star in the alternative music universe, and with Deftones, its 2026 edition’s headliner, it was the one place all fans of heavy music needed to be. 50,000 people had high expectations of being entertained, putting pressure on the organisers, but I think they passed this test with flying colours.
This won’t be your regular review. I was only a tiny drop in the sea of revellers, and doubling duties as not just a reviewer but also a photographer left me with very little time to enjoy all the trimmings. I had to satisfy myself with mere glimpses of absolutely everything. I was here, and then I was somewhere else 15 minutes later. I didn’t even try any of the delicious food from the plenty of stalls dotted around the site because you just forget to eat. I did, however, get the full dust experience, which left no one unscathed. I brought a trusty bandana and protected my lungs throughout the day so the boogers weren’t so bad. I hope those reading this who also attended have recovered from the dusty festival flu. It really was no joke. The organisation and layout were highly intuitive: all the stages were easy to find, and the flow between spots was seamless. You really couldn’t get lost.
What brought me the biggest joy was watching people have fun, it’s something that really shows throughout the day, and trust me, I’ve been part of events where everyone just wanted to go home, where everyone regretted leaving the house. This was not the case over at All Points East. My only complaint was the sound from the East Stage during Deftones’ closing set. If you stood at the back, Chino sounded like he wasn’t on cue with the rest of the band, echoing slightly. Still, this did not take away from their show.
Photographers at events like this tend to run a marathon. It is not just a question of whether you get to see the first song of the set; you have to make it before it starts, as you only really get a maximum of 10 minutes in the photo pit before immediately moving on to the next stage. If you miss those first three songs, you miss the opportunity. You cannot immerse yourself fully in the act; it’s a brief encounter, a short fling with the artists. It’s like watching a Reel instead of the movie. But even these short bursts of listening in various places left an everlasting impression.
Eternal Rin opened up the X Stage of the fest with a harmonious horror-gaze, blending satisfying gothic aesthetics with a sweet, soothing, angelic voice. Two worlds collided as the singer, adorned in all-black feathers reminiscent of a black swan, spread her wings taking us into the abyss. With the new single “Running Away,” we hope this is a good omen for an incoming debut album.
Mannequin Pussy was the complete opposite, juxtaposing that with punk energy over on the West Stage. Although their set had some small teething issues, we got a good dose of their crazy energy. Genuinely, there is nothing more punk than shitty amps and gritty sound, is there? If it’s too perfect, it’s not good enough, and the show must go on.
JPEGMAFIA was next on my list, and as we all anticipated him coming on stage, the crowd was buzzing. Many young faces looked almost hypnotized, gazing lovingly at their favourite artist. Adorned in a suit and a sun hat, when he announced the cover of “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen, I did stick around a bit longer than three songs, you can’t pass up an opportunity like that for a singalong.
Walking between the stages was like opening doors to many alternative worlds, offering something for everyone. Wisp, the true Californian, made you look down, as shoegaze movement has taken off lately landing in the mainstream. We’re witnessing many bedroom-made projects brought onto big stages. Her beautiful and moody performance was a much-needed, relaxing set before getting thrown back into the frenzy of the coming acts.
After that, it was time for Ecca Vandal, who at one point was everywhere on my Instagram, and rightfully so, as her music genuinely rocks. Although a rising talent, she worked the crowd like a truly seasoned musician, unafraid of breaking that fourth wall and screaming directly into your face, almost as if having a conversation. Watch this space as she climbs through the incoming festival seasons right into the prime time slots.
AFI is having a UK revival at the moment. After releasing their newest record, they took to the road, to the fans’ delight. Many consider them their gateway band, and it’s nice to hear that for a change it’s not Slipknot. Their metamorphosis from a hardcore band to exploring all sorts of styles means they never really got bored creating, proving their sound has no bounds. You’d think the setlist would be a mismatch, but somehow they created a unified experience, and their stage energy was genuinely unforgettable. People singing along to their favourite, “Girls Not Grey,” truly gave you goosebumps.
The dusty expedition from West to East stage made you feel like you were crossing the sand dunes of the Sahara, even though it really was only a five-minute walk, but we must stay dramatic for drama’s sake. On your All Points East packing list, you should always bring a bandana. The reward was waiting at the end of this journey, with Benny Benassi’s “Satisfaction” blasting through the speakers as the Aussies Amyl and The Sniffers walked on stage in the glow of the golden hour. To some, this was the act of the day, and as always, nobody was disappointed. Professional headliners made everyone jump up and down continuously for almost an hour, beers sloshing left and right, serving a party cannon energy.
EsDeeKid created a different kind of frenzy, and his masked appearance was even harder to decipher as he performed from a high platform resembling a blow-up castle. His hidden identity almost poetically felt like it could be any of us, any of the kids in the pit or outside the North Arena. People went a bit crazy as soon as he arrived; kids were pressing onto the barricades, almost trying to move them forward, and the pit was a melting pot of lava, testosterone, and running sweat. The greatest anthems of the TikTok generation were enough to claim this as one of their favourite sets of the night.
IDLES operate on a different planet to EsDeeKid, though that does not mean it’s any less wild. Only one song in, someone had to be carried over the barrier with a bleeding head, from the madness that fired up the crowd in front of the stage. True performers speaking to the British heart and soul, it’s like singing the national anthem before the game, only swapped to “God Save the IDLES.” Also, that little fuchsia tunic dress was all the rage.
When the time came for Deftones’ set, there were no distractions anymore, it was all about them. In all the years of their blooming career, working overtime as one of the most influential acts of our generation, it was truly a blessing to see the band flourish over the last year and garner a new wave of fans. It’s not just about churning out the same songs over and over again; their shows feel more like a religious gathering for the lost souls. Each track, and not many bands can claim this, even for those on their newest album, made those around me gasp. This often only happens for the closing hits, not an hour and half runtime.
People covered in dust, looking more like we had all just finished a shift in the mines, gathered to experience something sensual and spiritual at the same time. Deftones are on a path to becoming one of the most legendary bands of all time, climbing into the ranks of Iron Maiden, Metallica or System of a Down. Watching them bloom back to life last year over at Crystal Palace, following a long hiatus, and fast forward to now, closing the mighty All Points East x Outbreak collab in front of tens of thousands of people was the peak. There was no other headliner that could do it, or be as deserving this year, as Deftones.