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As someone with an unhealthy obsession with everything Fred Again touches, All Points East was early etched onto my calendar.
Between my esteemed colleague John and I, the Daily Star made three short trips to east London's Victoria Park over the music festival's somewhat atypical fortnight schedule.
The opening night of Friday, August 19 set the tone for what was to come from this year's line up with everyone's favourite 2D rockers, Gorillaz the first of the big name headliners to take to the stage.
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Although many sets at APE were dogged by sound issues there were no such issues with Gorillaz headline set which played out in full to a swarming crowd of raucous fans.
An impossibly sweaty and musically dexterous Damon Albarn held court over his ridiculously talented ensemble – and treated the crowd to the length and breadth of his cartoon band's back catalogue.
Highlights were spacey track Saturnz Bars and the ridiculously catchy Clint Eastwood which closed out the show, sending John on his way among the swathes of revellers exiting the arid ground for the Central Line.
The terrain a week later however, was admittedly a concern of mine when it came to selecting footwear given the bucket loads of rain the south east was soaked in the previous night.
As it was I needn't have worried on Thursday, August 25, with just the two blokes in sight playing it safe in wellies while the risk of wearing trainers paid off for the rest of us.
All Points East is far more than one massive stage (the East Stage) backed by a massive Luno VIP section on one side and Guest Area on the other.
At the opposite end of what really is a massive park in the capital, was the Ray-Ban West Stage where Caribou brought summer evening vibes in abundance.
In between them both was the North Stage where Fred Again really did bring out Mike Skinner of The Streets fame — still not over it — the futuristic 6 Music Stage and the smaller attraction the Firestone Stage.
Montell Fish at the BMW Play Next stage was first to stop me in my tracks thanks to his chilled out hip-hop sound which juxtaposed his almost aggressive and energy on stage which he made his own half naked.
Hanging around the stage (handily positioned behind a bar) brought its own reward when Ruti stepped out next. The singer-song-writing guitarist has one hell of a voice, not to mention range.
Ruti's open awkwardness between songs endeared her even more so to the crowd who were only too keen to sing along when prompted.
Mid Nite Life who have been supported by BMW's Play Next podcast hosted by Edith Bowman, also performed at APE and told the Daily Star: “The atmosphere at the festival has been next level with fans coming out to support us – it’s been massive and a privilege!"
Then came Tame Impala on the aforementioned East Stage and even more impressive than Kevin Parker and Co's continuity to go from one hit seamlessly into another, was the lighting.
I've never seen anything like the rotating UFO ring which belongs in a Beavertown advert as it span up and down as though the band were resisting abduction.
Before I returned for Disclosure who ended Saturday the 27th on such an incredible note, I was gradually edging my way forward beneath the cover of the North Stage tent.
Fred Again drew in one hell of a crowd and the multi-talented singer / producer / DJ delivered tenfold with his emotion-ridden anthems from Actual Life 1 and 2 such as I Found You and Faisal respectively.
Ensuring no one took their foot off the gas were his recent bangers Jungle, Lights Out and potentially his biggest song yet with Swedish House Mafia; Turn On The Lights again.
This was already enough for everyone to leave that tent buzzing, yet the 29-year-old Brit pulled out the bag one of the best kept secrets of the summer.
Out came UK music royalty Mike Skinner and the place erupted as countless giant orange balls were cannoned into the air.
The Brexit At Tiffany's rapper thrived off the atmosphere created by Fred and gave it back handsomely, with a mini-set that embellished a set which had no room for improvement.
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