Stormzy headlines All Points East Victoria Park 2023

It was a natural cue for the diss-track Rainfall, and the poignant refrain 'let the rain fall on my enemies.'

Later, when the drizzle had become a deluge, the South London rapper would fling off his shirt and cavort shoeless in the bouncing droplets as he delivered a raucous ‘Big For Your Boots’ to a soaked but adoring crowd.

But for the first hour we were warm and dry inside and out, enjoying a soulful, contemplative, if low key opening to his headline show in Victoria Park.

The good-natured crowd had already enjoyed Kehlani, Sampha, Knucks and Lucky Daye by the time he took to the stage on his self-curated This is What We Mean Day.

Channelling Terry Scott in Carry on Camping or Alec Guinness in Bridge Over the River Kwai? Either way it's the effortlessly cool Stormzy (Image: Khali Photography)

Not everyone could pull off wide-legged camel-coloured shorts and shirt with mid-calf socks, but instead of looking like Terry Scott in Carry on Camping, Stormz was, of course, effortlessly cool.

Thanking the crowd for spending their hard earned money on tickets, and expressing amazement at how many had shown up, he said it was the greatest night of his life: "This is my hometown. You lot are my family. As long as I’m here, and as long as I have a career, I will not stop saying ‘thank you’. You lot have changed my life. You’ve changed my family’s life."

He launches into Firebabe, Fire+Water and the title track from last year's This is What I Mean which he said emerged from a period of "stillness".

"It was a beautiful thing: to look at myself in the mirror. It’s a world of distractions… it's a world built to distract you from your main goal: to know yourself."

Stormzy performs at All Points East on Friday night. (Image: Khalil Photography)

Punctuated by fireworks, we're all singing along to 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown' and enjoying Debbie's gorgous vocals on the soulful Give It To The Water, before a costume change, dramatic red lighting and the downpour loosens things up.

Far from sheltering on stage, the committed, passionate professional took it to the crowd, parading along the walkway and performing crowdpleasers Toxic Trait, 'Clash,' Shut Up, and 'Vossi Bop'.

Over the night, we were treated to the full gamut of his musical career from thoughtful spirituality and searing intensity to beat-driven bounce-a-longs with biting lyrics. He keeps tellings us how special the show - and London - is to him, and it's hard not to believe him.

In truth, it's one of those nights when those of us from all corners of the UK and the world feel in communion; lucky to live in the capital, and proud to be Londoners.

APE continues on Saturday with Field Day headlined by Aphex Twin and Bonobo. In The Neighbourhood returns for free community activities August 20-23 then The Strokes, Jungle, Dermot Kennedy, and HAIM each headline over the Bank Holiday weekend.