Tucked into the leafy embrace of Peckham Rye Park, GALA is South London’s best-kept secret turned essential summer pilgrimage. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the independent festival has quietly but confidently carved out a space for those who seek more than just a big stage and a booming bassline. With an ethos rooted in the soul of early house music and an ever-evolving focus on inclusivity, sustainability, and community, GALA has become a beacon for dancers and dreamers alike. From its humble beginnings to now becoming a staple in the London festival calendar, the event continues to stay fiercely independent, and all the better for it.

As the milestone edition approaches, the excitement is palpable. With a lovingly curated lineup, secret sets, and surprise moments in store, GALA 2025 promises to be unforgettable. Final release tickets are available now via Resident Advisor, so there’s still a chance to be part of this decade-defining celebration. Ahead of the festival, I caught up with co-founder Giles Napier to reflect on GALA’s journey and what lies ahead.

Gala has really captured people’s attention. What was the initial inspiration behind creating this festival, and how has that vision evolved since the first year?

Giles: Jonny [Edwards, co-founder of Gala] and I have always been fascinated by the origins of club culture and share a love for early house sounds – both of which continue to define GALA’s core programming as well as our values as a festival. We’ve broadened our musical horizons over the years, but the warmth, soul and timelessness we are drawn to will always be a constant.

From a production point of view, experiencing festivals on the continent like Dekmantel and Nachtdigital in the 2010s really excited us. The extra consideration they put into their dancefloors resonated and we wanted to try and achieve those levels in London. It took a couple of years, but once we’d got going and began collaborating with Fables Creative in 2018, we refined our organic aesthetic and haven’t looked back since.

London has a rich history of iconic music festivals. What do you think sets Gala apart and makes it unique compared to others?

Giles: Heart and soul. Consistency in our programming. Intimate and inviting dancefloors. 500 or so hay bales for recharging on. And we’re still independent – there aren’t many of us left.

The line-up is always a big talking point. How do you go about selecting artists, and what’s your secret formula for balancing mainstream acts with emerging talent?

Giles: It’s purely a question of taste and spending as much time in clubs and listening to radio shows and mixes as we possibly can. There’s no strict formula, just James (GALA’s booker) and I discussing the programme in near microscopic detail until we feel the chemistry is right. We don’t try to compete with the other London festivals for the buzziest acts of the moment. It’s not our style, which is lucky in many ways because we don’t have a bottomless talent budget and being so headliner reliant isn’t a very sustainable model anyway.

South London, particularly Peckham, where Gala takes place, has produced so much incredible music talent. How do you see the festival supporting and highlighting local artists, and what role does the community play in Gala’s identity?

Giles: We have a stage at the festival called Cornerstone which is almost exclusively soundtracked by up and coming artists. It’s been hosted by beloved crews such as Born ‘N’ Bread, Foundation FM, Fèmmme Fraîche, Rye Wax, Jumbi, and Big Dyke Energy and the likes of NIKS, Heléna Star, Amaliah and Jordss have all played in there before going on to play one the main stages in later editions. Of course, clubs are the most important spaces for nurturing talent, but knowing that Cornerstone has even been a small step in their growth as artists still fills us with pride.

Community is an overused word these days, but it’s the difference between a gathering for the sake of it and a group of people committed to a shared purpose. Whether that’s about platforming emerging local talent or carving out a safe space for marginalised groups, we’ve been blessed to see chance link-ups blossom into meaningful partnerships with a positive impact beyond the edge of the dancefloor. Our work with Ruby Savage and Maude Churchill’s anti-harassment initiative Don’t Be A Creep is one of many examples of this.

Music festivals have become major cultural events. How does Gala stay true to its roots while still evolving with the times?

Giles: We’re always looking to fine tune and push forward GALA’s production, but the core vision and purpose will always remain: deliver the most enriching and joyful experience we possibly can for everyone who passes through GALA’s gates.

What’s your favourite moment or memory from past Gala festivals that you feel truly encapsulates the spirit of the event?

Giles: Horse Meat Disco’s first ever Pleasuredome closing in 2017. They dropped ‘You Can Call Me Al’ towards the end sparking a thousand person singalong and mass hugging of strangers. It was pure joy and embodied GALA’s playful and inclusive vibe.

For first-timers attending Gala, what would be your personal must-see moments?

Giles: We have a UK debut for Dita, who is one of the residents at Potato Head in Bali. She’s playing b2b with unofficial GALA resident Yu Su on the 1908 stage on Sunday evening just before another Antal and Hunee sonic adventure unfolds. There’s a good chance I’ll barely leave the 1908 dance floor all weekend.

And Floating Points is bringing four stacks of his stunning Sunflower Soundsystem to a new stage, inviting some of his nearest and dearest to play secret sets across the weekend. I’m not allowed to say who though unfortunately.

Sustainability is a hot topic in the festival world. How does Gala integrate eco-conscious practices, and why is it important to you as founders?

Giles: We realised during the pandemic that sustainability can’t be a side project – it has to be how we operate every day. That extended period of reflection forced us to consider how we could party differently, with more purpose and self‑awareness.

Since 2021, we’ve measured and reported on our environmental footprint and on reduction initiatives such as our net zero strategy and waste management. We also set objectives that reach into social impact such as charity fundraising, welfare, and accessibility. Luckily, we’re part of a community that already embeds this mindset into their values – it makes integrating sustainability feel natural, not forced.

If you could pick one artist to headline Gala, who would it be and why?

Giles: Larry Heard, house music visionary and producer of some of the most enduring anthems ever made. He’s sadly not touring a lot these days, but I won’t let go of the dream.

What’s your favourite new track that the crowd should be listening out for?

Giles: Alex Kassian is playing live and has a fresh record out called Body Singer on the incredible Pinchy & friends label. He’s one of our favourite DJs and producers. Everything he touches turns to gold.

Words by Ama Samra

Photography Jake Philip Davis and Angelina Nikolayeva