Cross The Tracks '23

Date Taken: 28th May

I've been looking forward to this set since hitting Cross The Tracks for the 1st time last year. (Which you can spin here!)

I thoroughly enjoyed last year and this year, I wanted to get better shots and more shots. I think I succeeded in both with this one.

824 photos in total, narrowed down to a measly 193.

You read that right, my biggest set yet. So strap in as I tell you the story of my Cross The Tracks '23 experience.

Mainline Stage

I got into Brockwell Park just before half 12 which was right on time for the first act I wanted to catch: Saxophonist Chelsea Carmichael in the D-Railed Stage.

It was a great start to the festival. Ms Carmichael is such a talent in what is a burgeoning UK Jazz scene. I was kind of surprised she was on so early. But I’ll certainly take it!

So, where to next?

Looking For Directions.

Funny enough, it was off to that big ass stage you see in the background: The Mainline Stage.

A quick big ups to festival friend Mark. I took a picture for him at the entrance minutes into walking in but in a stroke of luck, I bumped into him an hour later! Here he is with friend Dee. (I’m guessing the spelling)

We stuck together for my 2nd artist: Yazmin Lacey – one of the best songwriters in the UK – looking incredibly majestic.

Adore those last two photos. The lights shining down on her was a clutch moment.

But oh no! She went over! I’m late for my next artist! I proceed to bomb it to Locomotion for the next one… But not before getting shots of a few people doing the Electric Slide:

Okay, now(!) I bomb it to the Locomotion Stage for someone I’ve been wanting to see live for a minute, a talent in front of the mic and behind the boards: Emmavie.

She had a ton of technical difficulties but pushed through it. Big respect.

Now as with any festival – be it a day long or over a weekend – you're going to have to make some business decisions as to who to see and who to not see.

After Emmavie, I had my first fork in the road: Hit up the D-Railed Stage to see The Silhouettes Project… Or get some food.

That was a GOOD ass Duck Spring Roll! Was it worth £12? Maybe not, but when I say there was zero space within that wrap, I mean that shit. That ting was PACKED with quality duck, spring onions & hoisin sauce.

Don't worry, I have The Silhouette's Project post right here for you if you want to see that. I just couldn't find room to see the show properly.

But, I ate, it was fire, now it's back to the pictures! Next up: The Blues Project w/ Natanya, Karl Benjamin & Lizzie Berchie.

Shout out to The Blues Project. They're a great group of people, I went to one of their showcases in 2022 (see the set here) and they are doing amazing highlighting upcoming R&B/Soul talent in the UK.

I knew of Lizzie Berchie before this and love her music. Natanya is apparently coming off supporting FLO which is great. But Karl Benjamin really impressed me. Consider me a new fan of him. He's got something.

Also big up the house band as well. Super saucy.

Apologies to James Vickery who was also slated to perform but I had to dip out to The Caboose for BINA. Rocking some, lets say, summer wear.

I saw BINA. (Full stop is on purpose) once before, supporting my Queen Emeli Sande.

I must say, BINA. was really in her element here. Her stage presence has really upgraded since. (Although the aforementioned show @ The Roundhouse was purposely a more stripped back affair/)

But it was time for my 2nd business decision. Alfa Mist was playing. He just dropped an new album, Emmavie was about, maybe they'd come together to perform some of their project "Epoch"!

But again, I've seen Alfa Mist twice before (three if you include the Sekito Records Showcase I shot) and to be honest, the least often I can hit the Mainline, the better because as you'll see later, it's a bitch to find a good spot at Mainline.

No worries! The alternative was great: Going back to Locomotion for Liv.e. (Pronounced "live")

Trust me when I say: Her music is as eclectic as her fit. The “Ice Cream” sweater goes hard; great energy throughout!

But we stay in Locomotion and get a little closer for Bassist Adi Oasis. Now I don’t know what it is about female Bass players but *bites knuckles*.

Watching her and Khruangbin’s Laura Lee play is just… You know what, let me just drop the set and keep it moving.

Oh yea. I probably should’ve mentioned, she was five months pregnant! (As of the festival)

Semi-serious thirst aside, she’s genuinely one of my favourite discoveries this year. I heard her album “Lotus Glow” earlier in the year and I have been hooked ever since. I definitely had her circled on the festival line-up. It was merely a coincidence that she’s photogenic as hell.

It was now time for the penultimate artist and for me to grit my teeth and go to the Mainline. But the tight fit was worth it for Masego.