The Mall in Wood Green was taken over by our free festival The RecFest 2023, organised by The RecordShop. On Saturday 12th of August, the corridors (and even some stores) got filled with laughter, dance and the most phenomenal national and international acts. A free festival for the Wood Green community and everyone in London.
The event opened the doors to everyone, adults and kids alike, allowing them to drop in throughout the day and enjoy live music, workshops, and creative activities. The festival had lots of little surprises around every corner.
Spread over five areas (the MainStage, the RecStage, the Rooftop, TFL stage and Wilko Space), over 300 visitors grooved to the music of over 60 acts on the line up.
The MainStage
At the MainStage, the festival opened with welcoming words of The RecordShop’s founder Mary Otumahana. Then we blasted the best tunes in the first DJ set of the day by DJ Dymond. Right after, the Tottenham-based world champion youth dance company Steppazs wowed the public, not only due to their amazing dance moves, but also because they were the youngest performers of the festival (only ten years old!).
Well-known and up-and-coming artists such as Ronan, Mr Jones Loud Music Group, and the Spanish group ADS Kru were part of the showcase.
The line-up on the main stage was headed by Spanish artist Icy Amane with her fusion of dancehall and soca and bilingual flow. South London artist Fullavibes also represented the tropical islands of Jamaica and Guyana, giving a show full of raw vibes and excitement.
And of course, let’s not forget how the emerging group of innate rockstars Everything in Mono conquered everyone’s hearts on the MainStage, and even some stores (really!), making their guitar solos roar through the mannequins and stalls. And what a treat that was!
Even more fun
Right above the MainStage, the audience was enjoying the summery vibes at The Rooftop, with views over London’s Wood Green. The Mall’s rooftop transformed into an exciting beach bar, with fantastic DJ sets throughout the day and refreshing drinks from RedBull & BrewDog. Cheers to that.
And the fun didn’t stop there! Downstairs, at The RecordShop, people enjoyed a massive variety of crafts and handmade treats in the Local Business Market. The shoppers and exhibitor alike enjoyed the melodies of renowned talent of promising local musicians such as AlexandreTheGreat, Cyka Psyko, and Slam Jam. Nigerian artist and producer 705, also put a smile on everyone’s faces with his fusion of African afrobeats, R&B and hip-hop.
And as if that wasn’t enough, YesYesKat and Teelo Vasiliou discussed everything about being a creative in the Haringey Borough and gave dazzling tips to upcoming artists to succeed in an insightful creative panel talk.
The little ones had their share during the festival too. They participated in a circus drop-in session with group Splats Entertainment, a ukulele class with Amy Clare Tasker, and an interactive illustration and visual art workspace. And of course, there was some face painting, as well. Because, who doesn’t get happy from face painting?
A total success
The RecFest 2023 was an entire success, hosting more than 300 visitors and the best UK-based acts and global acts to promote inclusivity and a cross-cultural exchange. The initiative created a chance for greater exposure, empowering artists to connect with new audiences and industry partners.
The tunes and dances made for sure everyone smile. Sure you can’t wait for next year’s RecFest to happen, right?