Review: Cross The Tracks 2026
REVIEW – CROSS THE TRACKS 2026 Another year, another incredible edition of Cross the Tracks [2027 Ticket Link] By Caitlin Taylor 28 May 2026 It was over 30 degrees on the morning of Sunday 24th May as we prepared ourselves for a long day of standing in the sun in Brockwell Park. Cross the Tracks is one of the first festivals I went to after moving to London, and still one of the closest to me. I often recommend it as a good ‘starter’ festival as no matter who’s playing you’ll have a good time, and this year was no different. The first act of the day was Charlotte Dowsson on the Main Stage. Dressed like a kind of mermaid princess (a big compliment), she took to the stage with grace as she gazed over the gathering crowd. Her voice is soft and sultry, drawing an audience that she later shared with us was much larger than she’d expected due to how early her slot was but was clearly a testament to her talent. Ama Louise Next was Ama Louise, an RnB singer with a clear adoration for the genre. Despite performing in the incredibly hot D-Railed tent, she blessed her audience with beautiful vocals both when it came to her own songs as well as her cover of the much beloved Jazmine Sullivan track ‘Bust Your Windows’ which saw multiple people sprint into the tent from outside. Lady Wray Lady Wray boasts a decades long career and has definitely learned how to entertain an audience. Having previously played in 2024, she’s a Cross the Tracks veteran who provided a performance full of joy. Not at all an up and coming artist, War are the band who brought us long-lasting hits such as ‘Lowrider’ and ‘Why Can’t We Be Friends?’, songs that had the hundreds of people packed in to see them singing and dancing along. It was one of those sets that feels quintessentially ‘Cross the Tracks’ – full of warm nostalgia that triggers a strong sense of community. War I hadn’t heard of Australian Don West before arriving (my fault, as he has over 3 million monthly listeners), but I seemed very much in the minority on the day. People ran to the Terminal stage to get a good view as he strutted around in a tight vest top and sunglasses, followed closely by a cameraman. I first caught Obongjayar at We Out Here in 2024 where he made it clear that he’s an excellent performer. Shirtless and with muscles flexing, he paraded around the stage well aware he had the audience in the palm of his hand. He’s truly electric and in future years is a definite contender for headliner. Joy Crookes South London’s finest, Joy Crookes has been a TNAM team favourite for many years. Playing a string of unreleased tracks as well as some old favourites (the entire crowd seemed to sing along to ‘When You Were Mine’), her voice was warm and welcoming to the sun-stroked crowd. Playing a mix of her new album and major hits, Little Simz took to the stage for a blazing finale. There was a heavy pro-Arsenal energy in the air the entire day, and her set was no different as she revealed a football shirt under her jacket. At one point she brought back out Obongjayar and the two danced around each other, their styles blending beautifully. An excellent sendoff. There’s no doubt we’ll be in attendance next year. You Might Also Like Recent Posts You Might Also Like Recent Posts
Cross The Tracks 2026 Festival Picks
Festival Playlist : Cross the Tracks 2026 Neo Soul,R&B,Soul A playlist featuring our TNAM staff picks from Cross the Tracks Festival 2026. TNAM.UK Playlist {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }} {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }} {{ options.labels.newReviewButton }} {{ userData.canReview.message }} You Might Also Like Recent Posts
Ones to Watch: Cross the Tracks 2026
Ones to Watch: Cross the Tracks 2026 The end of May marks another edition of the Brockwell Park favourite. Here’s who we think you shouldn’t miss: By Caitlin Taylor 6 May 2026 BEL COBAIN We’ve been writing about Bel since the start of TNAM. She’s a consistent talent who continues to put out beautiful music year by year, as evidenced by her new EP ‘Kizzy‘. Listen to – ‘Am I Dumb’ & ‘Fucking City’ CHARLOTTE DOWSSON Her new single ‘Siren Song’ is fittingly titled, Charlotte Dowsson has the kind of voice that could lure lost souls out to sea. Her alluring style of R&B should be able to entice a crowd later this month. Listen to – ‘Siren Song’ & ‘Come to Me’ DEMAE Demae’s smooth voice is clearly influenced by classic R&B, but with an innovative edge demonstrated through creative instrumentation. Listen to – ‘Mystical Approach’ & ‘Don’t Play the Fool’ SHOLTO Sholto appears to do a bit of everything as a drummer/instrumentalist/composer/producer who’s influences stem from jazz and soul to Krautrock. His recent collaboration with Phoebe Coco is a must-listen. Listen to – ‘Everything is Stolen Away’ & ‘Electric Soup’ Find our review of the previous Cross the Tracks here – Buy tickets here –
Songs from South Africa
Songs from South Africa Staff picks of some of the best new music and artists living in or from South Africa. People’s Playlist by Caitlin Taylor {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }} {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }} {{ options.labels.newReviewButton }} {{ userData.canReview.message }} You Might Also Like Recent Posts
Women of Modern UK Jazz
Women of Modern UK Jazz Playlist highlighting a new wave of female jazz artists. People’s playlists by: Ivana Pintaric You Might Also Like Recent Posts
Cross The Tracks 2025 Review – A Standout Summer Festival
Photo Credit: @garryjonesphotography Cross The Tracks 2025 Review – A Standout Summer Festival Love was in the air, along with some great jazz, funk and soul By Caitlin Taylor The last time I was at Cross the Tracks, I remember running towards Khruangbin just as the summer rain started. It was a top ten magical experience and this year had a lot to live up to, at least in my eyes. Last year saw Erkyah Badu controversially pull out at the last minute, and the recent drama about whether all Brockwell park festivals would be allowed to continue meant that I entered this year cautiously. Lynda Dawn was one of the first artists we encountered. She actually played last time I was here back in 2022 and it was nice to see her get a main stage upgrade. Her stage presence was incredibly impressive and she attracted a large and unexpectedly engaged crowd for such an early slot. It’s always nice to watch people who genuinely seem to be having fun while performing, and her dancing along with her backup singers put a smile on my face. We began wandering around, and were promptly pulled in by Nala Sinephro’s siren song. She and her band were a wonder to watch, her talent was completely captivating and what was meant to be a quick stop-off ended up with us staying for her whole set which involved her seamlessly moving between a harp and synthesiser. Fun fact: she also recently composed the soundtrack for the new Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson film ‘The Smashing Machine’ – definitely someone to keep on your radar. © Khali Ackford After a short group discussion about who to see next, we decided it was time to dance. Last Nubian were playing at the Funk Junction, featuring vocals from Achanté, who kept the crowd moving the entire time. It was a smaller stage but absolutely swarmed by people and we quickly became enveloped in the crowd, no complaints though! They worked perfectly together the entire time, definitely a standout. Luke Dyson @lukedyson http://www.lukedyson.com It’s undeniably amazingly curated, wherever you end up you’ll be hearing something great which is something I haven’t truly experienced at any other festival. It should also receive praise for being open to all generations, with such a variety of artists that both parents and kids will all have heard of at least someone – JGrrey to Gilles Peterson, Cymande to Jordan Rakei. It’s a festival that feels right at home on a Sunday, with the only caveat being the unfortunate fact that the grass has been stomped grey by the Dr Martens mosh pits at Wide Awake the previous Friday. The evening closed out with some mind-blowing sets from Last Nubians and Ezra Collective, two of the best performances I and the people I was with had ever seen. As the sun set and I looked back across the past few festivals I’ve attended, I couldn’t help but feel this one felt the most ‘right’. Stood in the centre of a massive group of people, spanning a large range of ages, everyone was smiling, laughing, singing along. When times are hard, this is what it feels we should hold on to, magical moments like these. Photo Credit: @garryjonesphotography
Our CROSS THE TRACKS 2025 Top Picks:
Our CROSS THE TRACKS 2025 Top Picks: Can’t wait for Cross The Tracks on Sunday? These are our must-sees. By Caitlin Taylor I still count Cross the Tracks 2022 as maybe my favourite festival experience ever so here’s hoping this year is more of the same. I’m not sure where else you’ll find a lineup this talented – Ezra Collective, Jordan Rakei, Michael Kiwanuka and Free Nationals all in one place. We’ve picked out a few of our favourites you should give a listen to before the headliners, maybe you’ll find a few new favorites. ESSENCE MARTINS – 12:05 pm @ The Caboose Stage We were early fans of Essence Martins here at TNAM, and she’s only grown greater as time has progressed. Her new album Sleeping On It showcases her talent as a singer/songwriter with relatable lyrics that’ll leave you reminiscing about your last breakup. Delicate and peaceful, perfect for a Sunday afternoon. FABIANA PALLADINO – 2:20 pm @ Locomotion Stage We’re all for bringing disco back in 2025, and it’s something Fabiana Palladino has been doing over the past year. Her critically acclaimed self-titled album set her apart from your typical pop act with funky beats and smooth vocals. We caught her last year at RALLY, and again at All Points East where she performed with the legendary Jai Paul, a regular collaborator of hers. NIA SMITH – 2:15 pm @ D-Railed Stage Nia Smith is perfect for a festival like Cross The Tracks. A singer/songwriter with a reggae influence and strong soul sound, she seems moments away from blowing up to Jorja Smith levels. Last year she performed at SZA’s Hyde Park takeover despite only having released her first song on streaming services a month before. Catch her before she hits the main stage. JGRREY – 1:30 pm @ Mainline Stage JGrrey is one of my absolute personal favourites. Her first release For Keeps in 2019 is still a regular play and her newest album If Not Now? Is equally as good. She’s still a leading force in the London RnB scene despite putting nothing on streaming for the past 2 years. Hopefully, her appearance at Cross The Tracks will set the stage for some new releases..? LULU. – 12:30 pm @ Mainline Stage LULU. (the full stop is intentional!) is another artist who only started releasing music very recently but is already selling out headline shows. Her music draws inspiration from her childhood growing up in the church and her love for afrobeats, the perfect music to dance to in the sun with your friends. It’s rare to find music that feels so genuine and uplifting – we’re excited to see her on stage! You might also like ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ Recent Posts ⋆⭒˚.⋆
Our GALA 2025 Top Picks:
Our GALA 2025 Top Picks: Going to GALA festival this weekend? Here’s who we think you should see. By Caitlin Taylor If you’ve never been to the Peckham Rye DJ-focused festival GALA, you’re in for a treat. It’s pretty small, but their lineups always pack a crazy punch. Last year saw Joy Orbison, Girls Don’t Sync and Chaos in the CBD take to the park, and this year is somehow even better. We’ve put together a list of our top picks, if you’ve not yet got tickets hurry up! FRIDAY Savssounds is truly up and coming with a really eclectic mix of experience behind her. Her live set for Art Beyond the Shell made Nirvana’ Smells Like Teen Spirit a song that you could grind to. She recently started the club night Altverse focusing on black alternative music featuring the likes of The Internet, Doechii and Kaytranada, and also somehow manages to juggle both being a DJ and a financial consultant – a seriously talented woman. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SAVSSOUNDS (@savssounds) SATURDAY Amaliah is super popular at the moment, playing a crazy run of shows over the summer. Other than GALA, catch her at Shangri-La, Maiden Voyage and Boiler Room in Ibiza. She started DJing in 2018 after record collecting since her teens. Her sets are varied, she plays around with house, techno and UK funky and she started the collective Borne Fruits to showcase some of the best underground music, something we can definitely get behind. If you’re maybe in the mood for something a little more retro, Portuguese-born London-based Mafalda is known for her brilliant taste in soulful disco tunes. She doesn’t believe in guilty pleasures, as she told Dust & Grooves “Good music is good music”. She radiates joy, so if you’re in the mood to feel good make sure you get to her set. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mafalda (@mafaldafromthesun) SUNDAY If you’ve been DJing for over two decades you better be good, and Michelle Manetti certainly is. Self-described as a ‘genre non-conformist’, she loves to experiment with a variety of genres from house to disco to acid. She also promotes and helps to curate multiple female/non-binary-focused club nights in East London including Femmme Fraiche. If you tend to spend your nights at Dalston Superstore, this is the set for you. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michelle Manetti (@michelle_manetti) Millie McKee is a standout on this list. Her taste skews more into the psychedelic, with percussive dub and spiritual jazz beats. Another decade-long vinyl collector, she even manages the record store Hidden Sounds on Ridley Road. Truly a Sunday vibe, and maybe a good one to add to your itinerary if you’ve attended all 3 days of the festival and are looking for something to chill out to. You might also like ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ Recent Posts ⋆⭒˚.⋆
New Remix: Nubiyan Twist ft. Horseman ‘Battle Isn’t Over (D’n’B Version)’
New Remix: Nubiyan Twist ft. Horseman ‘Battle Isn’t Over (D’n’B Version)’ A DnB Spin on the invigorating tune, Battle Isn’t Over, comes just in time for summer, and serves as a bopping reminder of the UK dance music history and culture. By Scarlett Stokes Currently Listening to: “Battle Isn’t Over” croons Nubiya Brandon, main vocalist for Nubiyan Twist, over a smothered drumbeat that hints at the track direction of their new release with reggae stalwart Horseman. That is, assuming you didn’t read the track title – “Battle Isn’t Over – D’n’B version”, released earlier this month. The Sheffield-based 9-piece have never shied away from a collaboration, and “Battle Isn’t Over – D’n’B version” is looking to be the first in a sequence of more dancefloor-oriented tracks, with a bassline version of “Reach My Soul” released only a few days ago (and by dancefloor-oriented, I mean electronically-influenced tracks. Make no mistake, Nubiyan twist can electrify a dancefloor without electronics all by themselves). This pivot into a different sound isn’t a new move for Nubiyan Twist – “Battle Isn’t Over – D’n’B version” is the opener from their 2024 album, Find Your Flame, which included some juicy bonus house spins on the track Lights Out from the deluxe version. “Battle Isn’t Over – D’n’B Version” will sit in the “NT Soundsystem” album, set to be released on 13th June this year. It will boast a collection of remixes from the 2024 album Find Your Flame, Nubiyan Twist’s fourth album to date. As the track titles tease, these will pay tribute to the UK’s global dance music culture, with jungle, dancehall, dub, and UKG versions all represented. If that wasn’t enough, the name itself, ‘NT Soundsystem’, is a homage to the UK’s vibrant Soundsystem culture. Singles from albums are meant to tease the vibe of the album to come. It is a joy to see some old-skool DnB represented in the line-up. Whilst not an unsurprising genre to dabble with for Nubiyan Twist, given their embrace of multicultural British sound, this represents a new sonic direction for the band, with a refreshingly old-school feel. Thank Horseman, with his deep, honeyed MCing, fast-paced breaks, and three decades of musical experience in the reggae scene, for this summery tune, paying tribute to the historical roots of DnB in jubilant fashion. Horseman and Nubiya Brandon’s rich, commanding voices twirl into a fluid duet. There’s the steady softness to Nubiya Brandon, buttered with Horseman’s deliberate, toasted vocals. This overlays the rising and falling energy of the track, accompanied by, you guessed it, classic drum and bass sounds, poaching classic instrumentation like trumpet and keys from the original tune. It is exciting to listen to this new foray by Nubiyan Twist, bolstered by Horseman, and feels entirely appropriate with the band’s ethos. If this track is anything to go by, NT Soundsystem is set to be a riotous ode to UK dance music. Expect a vibrant, vivid summer season ahead. You might also like ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ Recent Posts ⋆⭒˚.⋆
New Single: Matilda Rowe “Never Do”
New Single: Matilda Rowe “Never Do” An exciting debut track from London’s rising independent artist Matilda Rowe, Never Do is a fresh take on bedroom jazz mixed with neo-soul sensibilities. By Sophie Prior Currently Listening to: Centering in on Matilda’s rich and soulful voice, the track sees the artist exploring themes of self-resignation and singing of the frustration that comes along with never having enough time to do what we really want to. With relatable and honest lyrics accompanied by jazz-infused instrumentation, the single is creative, authentic, and marks an exciting start for the singer. Never Do opens with a smooth electric guitar progression with synth keys tinkling in the background, before a steady drum groove comes in along with Matilda’s honeyed vocals. With a distinctive sound developed over her many years of musical experiences, Matilda’s voice is captivating and her vocal runs and melismatic moments are effortless. Moving to the chorus, the beat moves to a slower, more syncopated rhythm, with a soulful horn tune added while Matilda sings ‘it’s another day, another sweat, another fight’ // ‘another change I’ll realise and make tonight’ // ‘another thing I’ll let myself aspire to, and never do’ // ‘and hate myself all a new’. The track becomes more experimental as it goes on, the energy growing as the singer scats and riffs and shows her vocal range and flexibility to the lyrics ‘I need more time’ while the band seem to jam and improvise. And as she is already known for being a great live performer, the track’s infectious energy is sure to be a hit on stage. Speaking on the influences for the track, Matilda notes Laura Marling’s New Romantic and Lianne La Havas’ Age for their repetitive guitar patterns and curious and honest lyrics. When it came to the instrumentation and production, Amy Whinehouse’s Help Yourself was the main reference track; another female artist that influences Matilda greatly. Never Do was produced by Gareth Finnegan and recorded at cult DIY studio, Total Refreshment Centre, in London. Written in the summer of 2022, the track’s release comes after years of hard work in the independent music scene: gigging in venues across London and the UK and building up a loyal following on social media. Matilda is part of a new wave of London and Dublin based artists who promote authentic creativity and finding your own sound – which she has definitely achieved with Never Do. Never Do is the first single from the artist’s debut album which is set for release in October this year. Talking about what we can expect from the rest of the album, the singer notes that the record ‘is raw and vulnerable and breaks boundaries of expectation consistently, in a way to capture life and humanity in its messiness’. Recorded in long form, the album hopes to take listeners on a journey full of catharsis, with lots of infectious melodies and great storytelling along the way. You might also like ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ Recent Posts ⋆⭒˚.⋆