South Facing Festival – Saturday 23 August 2025, Crystal Palace Park
South Facing returned to the Crystal Palace Bowl with a day that felt more like a relaxed summer gathering than a sprawling festival. With just one main stage at the bottom of a sloped amphitheatre, the crowd spent the afternoon stretched out on the grass or eating from the wide selection of food stalls that ringed the park’s edge, waiting for the night’s headline act.
Miso Extra brought a unique style that stood out among the warm-up acts, while DJ Paulette and Rooty Soundsystem kept the energy steady. Enjoyable sets, but the crowd’s attention was firmly fixed on what was to come.
Basement Jaxx took to the stage at 9pm and immediately turned the park into a party. Rising from beneath the stage, they delivered dancers, acrobats and wild costumes, running through favourites like “Where’s Your Head At,” “Romeo” and “Good Luck.” The set was colourful and built entirely around keeping people dancing.
The staging was simple, but the atmosphere came alive through the crowd, which was playful and welcoming throughout. At one point a woman pulled tiny plastic babies from a sequinned purse, declaring, “we’ve had a rave baby!” It was a moment that summed up the light-hearted and communal spirit of the night.
South Facing may not have the scale of London’s larger festivals, but its charm lies in its simplicity. It felt safe, smooth-running and easy to enjoy, with Basement Jaxx delivering a spectacular reminder of why they remain one of the UK’s great live acts. For a fun summer day out, it was hard to fault.