South London’s beloved GALA Festival returned this year with the same charm that’s made it a cornerstone of the city’s dance music calendar. Celebrating a decade of community, style, and sound, Friday’s edition struck a perfect balance between laidback energy and high-calibre curation.

The vibe was on point from start to finish. The crowd brought their sartorial A-game; think vintage streetwear, subtle nods to rave culture and plenty of personality – stylish without trying too hard. Never feeling overcrowded, there was space to dance, to breathe, and to settle into each set without the usual bustle that plagues so many London events.

We started strong at the Patio stage with Benji B, whose set leaned into the polyrhythmic pulse of Amapiano. It was a welcome energy and his selections felt perfectly timed for the daytime sunshine – infectious and hypnotic in equal measure. The stage itself added to the magic, with plants in miniature, elevated greenhouses dotted around, creating a lush and immersive micro-landscape.

Later, the Pleasure Dome delivered one of the day’s standout moments. A live MC laced over rolling drum ‘n’ bass kept energy levels high, while the crowd responded with unfiltered joy and trigger fingers. Long, red hanging decorations swayed overhead, while an abstract mirrored backdrop behind the DJ refracted the lights and movement of the crowd.

That energy found a different but equally magnetic form with Moodymann, whose daytime set reminded us why he’s Detroit royalty. His sun-soaked, timeless selections were carried by his signature deep groove and unmistakable swagger.

As the sun dipped, we wandered over to th Sunflower Soundsystem, a beautifully adorned tent that became a portal for one last golden-hour moment. Calibre then returned us to the Pleasure Dome with a deep and weighty set that showcased the full emotional range of drum ‘n’ bass; exhilarating, euphoric, and everything in between.

The night closed at Joy, GALA’s main stage, where Floating Points delivered an expansive and exploratory final set. Towering and luminous, the stage resembled a futuristic jellyfish, with long white panels cascading down and lit up in shifting colours, a dreamlike visual that matched the transcendence of the music.

GALA’s 2025 edition was a testament to what happens when every element, from programming to production, is handled with intention. It wasn’t just a party, it was a reminder of why we gather in the first place.

More more info on GALA go to www.thisisgala.co.uk

Words by Ama Samra

Photography Jake Philip Davis, Khroma Collective