Perched high above the city, on a glorious July summer day, with the most breathtaking panoramic views stretching across the city of London, Alexandra Palace once again played host to the Kaleidoscope Festival, a one-day celebration of music, art, food, comedy, and local community that’s as much about the atmosphere and vibe as it is about the on-stage acts. In its sixth edition, the 2025 festival delivered a packed programme and an unmistakable summer spirit.
It must be said that very few London venues rival “Ally Pally”, and very few can compete for the perfect festival setting, with the Palace itself presiding over the main stage, while the surrounding green and luscious parkland offered space to relax, stretch out, dance, and soak up the sun. With the city skyline sparkling in the distance, it felt like London was both the stage, the friend, and the audience, always there and lending a hand to make this a brilliant festival!
Headlining the Hilltop Stage this year, Faithless delivered a set that was both nostalgic and electrifying. “Insomnia” rang out like a collective anthem, with a packed crowd looking down on the stage, arms in the air, cheering on this epic tune. Newer tracks were also met with the same devotion that only this band could command, and even with a very short unrehearsed intermission whilst the engineers fixed a small sound issue, the group managed to hold the audience of all ages captivated right to the end of their set. Goldie, also performed, celebrating three decades since the release of “Timeless”, followed with a hypnotic, high-octane performance that pulsed with energy and kept everyone dancing. Earlier in the day, Sleeper brought a cool 90s edge to the afternoon, while the R Voices Choir lifted the mood with soaring harmonies.
Up on the terrace, the Cloud 10 DJ stage was a sun-drenched haven for anyone ready to dance, it had all the easy euphoria of an Ibiza beach party, and highlight of the entire day was Eats Everything who spun a euphoric blend of house and techno to a huge crowd, while earlier in the day, DJ Spoony and Brandon Block also brought the energy of classic UK club culture. Nowhere else do generations blend so effortlessly, from 90s club kids to Gen Z beat-seekers, all lost in the same rhythm and all united by rhythm in a way rarely seen outside of these festival grounds.
Over at the Fringe Stage, comedy and cabaret took centre stage. Shappi Khorsandi and Andrew Maxwell headlined, and later in the day Hip Hop Karaoke and Beatles Dub Club had the crowd roaring, proving that audience participation can be just as entertaining as the professionals!
One of Kaleidoscope’s most unique features, the chance to explore the Palace’s Victorian basements, returned with immersive theatre and live performance hidden in its cavernous depths underneath the vast range of street food trucks. It offered up a welcome moment of cool quiet amidst the sun, sound and smells above.
One of the most unique elements of Kaleidoscope, there was an unmistakable warmth in the air, not just from the sun, but from the way generations shared the space, with toddlers on shoulders and grandparents swaying to the beat. Few festivals manage it, but this one did, a rare space where young and old could come together, dance side by side, and feel equally at home. The Family Field was alive with circus skills, craft workshops, storytelling sessions, and mega milk shakes. It’s rare to see a festival pull off such a genuinely intergenerational feel, but Kaleidoscope managed it with ease.
The Verdict, Kaleidoscope 2025 didn’t try to be the biggest or the loudest festival in town, and that’s its strength. Instead, it focused on experience: the joy of live performance, the thrill of discovery, and the warmth of a crowd united by good vibes, dancing and the very best views.
The curation was thoughtful, cohesive and relaxed yet vibrant, and the one-day format made it feel refreshingly manageable. By sunset, as the sky turned from pink to deep purple over the skyline, it was hard not to feel like you’d just experienced something quietly magical. A perfect summer’s day out and worth the journey, can’t wait to go back again next year!
Reviewer: Alan Stuart Malin
Reviewed: 12th July 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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