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Smith and Tems are the last hotly anticipated All Points East headliners to be announced.  First teased on Sunday with a pink, star-studded version of the All Points East logo posted to both X and Instagram, fans were sent speculating in the comments. After another teaser was shared on Monday, a few keen eyed fans guessed correctly. The official poster was shared on this morning, Tuesday 10 March.

The line up has being curated by Smith with help from her label, FAMM. Smith recently released her single, ‘Don’t Leave,’ originally recorded in 2015. This release came as celebration of ten years since her debut single, ‘Blue Lights.’ Her most recent album, ‘Falling or Flying’ released in 2023, with NME calling it “the album she was always destined to make,” in their four-star review. After August’s All Points East, Smith will support Harry Styles for six nights in Mexico City on his Together, Together tour.

Tems released her debut album, ‘Born in the Wild’ in June 2024, just after she became the first African singer awarded the Billboard Women in Music Award. She earned three nominations at the 67^th Grammy Awards for Best Global Music Album (‘Born in the Wild’), Best R&B Song (‘Burning’) and won Best African Music Performance for ‘Love Me Jeje.’ In November 2025, she surprised released an EP titled, ‘Love is a Kingdom.’

Elsewhere on the bill is British rapper, Kwn, who was featured in NME’s 2025 list of “essential emerging artists.”  Arya Starr also joins the lineup with nearly 3 billion streams globally. She was among the first Afrobeats musicians to play Glastonbury’s iconic Pyramid Stage in 2024. And BET Award Winning R&B singer, Odeal rounds out the already impressive list of supporting acts.

Smith and Tems’ Friday bill joins an already stacked run for All Points East 2026. For the last two weekends in August, London’s Victoria Park will see sets from several global superstars. Lorde will headline Saturday 22 August with support from the likes of PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson. Deftones will head up on the 23^rd with IDLES, Amyl, Sniffers and more. Tyler, the Creator will take both the 28^th and the 29^th, supported by Turnstile, Dijon, Jim Legxacy and Fakemink to name a few. And finally Twenty One Pilots will close out the festival, taking over Victoria Park on August 30^th with Wunderhorse, Pvris and others.

Tickets for Jorja Smith and Tems headlining day go on general sale at 10 AM GMT this Friday 13 March. Pre-sale exclusively for American Express cardholders is now live. Fans can also sign up for the All Points East pre-sale here. All ticket information can be found at the official All Points East website.

While Haven.’s team has admitted to using AI software (specifically the tool Suno) to transform the original male vocal into a feminine tone, they maintain the voice belonged originally to Walker, not Smith.

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In response to the controversy, several major streaming services pulled “I Run” from their platforms after receiving takedown notices alleging impersonation and copyright violation. FAMM is now seeking to claim royalties and compensation. The label says that if it proves AI was used to generate or influence the song, any earnings should be distributed among Smith and her co-writers, pro-rata according to their contributions across her catalogue.

In making this public stand, FAMM aims to initiate broader conversations about how AI is used in the music industry, calling for clear labelling of AI-generated content and safeguards to protect artists.

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The case highlights growing ethical and legal challenges as AI becomes more capable of mimicking real artists’ voices. If allowed to stand unchecked, AI-generated tracks could undermine intellectual property rights and devalue human artistry.

It also raises questions about transparency: artists and labels argue that listeners deserve to know when a track features AI-generated or AI-modified vocals.

The dispute may set a precedent for future legal action, possibly influencing how streaming platforms, labels, and creators approach AI-assisted music production. For listeners: this controversy serves as a reminder to approach “new-found” tracks with caution, especially if an unknown artist suddenly resembles a familiar voice.

She’s released a cinematic video for the new track too. The visual accompaniment, directed by KC Locke, sees Jorja dancing and performing in a dimly lit rave and riding in the passenger seat of a fast car, looking glamorous in a fur coat and jewellery.

She’s explored garage music in her previous work, with notable releases like ‘On My Mind’, a smooth, soulful collaboration with renowned UK grime producer Preditah.

Jorja has shared her excitement for the single in a press release: ‘The Way I Love You’ is just so much fun. It takes me back in time – there’s something nostalgic about it but now at the same time. I had the pleasure of working with Maverick Sabre, Ed Thomas and Shayk on this one. Every time I play it with my girls, I get so hyped – it’s a proper head-skanker.

Her last album, ‘Falling or Flying’, was released in 2023 to positive reviews, peaking at No. 3 on the UK album chart. The Walsall singer has been dropping several new singles recently, from downbeat, emotional numbers like ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ to the uplifting afro-house banger, ‘High’.

One notable collab that came recently was with AJ Tracey on the rapper’s sample-grime single ‘Crush’. The track saw Jorja trade singing for rapping, with fans commending her for the inclusion of her Midlands accent.

As well as her new musical activity, it was confirmed earlier this April that Jorja would be joining the bill of Open’er Festival. The event will take place in Gydnia, Poland, from July 2 – July 5. She joins a stacked lineup including J Balvin, Schoolboy Q, Doechii, and headliners Linkin Park, Massive Attack and Nine Inch Nails.

This isn’t the only festival she has booked for this year – she’ll also be appearing at Parklife 2025 in Manchester alongside headliner 50 Cent, and Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool where she’ll share the same stage as Lola Young, Tate McRae and Mumford & Sons.

Later in May she will embark on her ‘Falling Or Flying’ 2025 tour, with gigs scheduled in Manchester, Wolverhampton, Dublin and London. You can find our MXDWN coverage on that here.

The music video adds another layer of depth to the track, capturing an intimate atmosphere. Set in a warm, golden-lit apartment, the visuals focus on moments of connection, small glances, playful touches, the kind of subtle body language that says more than words ever could. This is juxtaposed with the cold lighting of the cafe, where space is created. Jorja and AJ move through the space naturally, their interactions feeling authentic and effortless, mirroring the easy-going nature of the song itself but the push-and-pull and infuriation in the lyrics. 

Jorja Smith has been carving out her space in the industry since her breakout single ‘Blue Lights’ in 2016. Her debut album ‘Lost & Found’ earned her a number three place on the Official Charts and a BRIT Award for Best Female Solo Artist. Since then, she’s become one of the UK’s most distinctive voices, known for blending soul, jazz, and contemporary R&B in a way that feels both timeless and fresh. She’s also been a voice for Black communities, with songs like ‘Peng Black Girls’ (Remix) alongside ENNY celebrating Black beauty, culture, and identity in the UK. Whether she’s addressing social issues or diving into personal emotions, Jorja’s music always carries depth and authenticity with a silky-smooth voice. 

AJ Tracey, one of the most versatile figures in UK rap, has made a name for himself by seamlessly moving between grime, garage, and melodic rap. His self-titled debut album in 2019 cemented his place at the top of the scene, while follow-ups like ‘Flu Game’ saw him experiment with different sounds and styles. Known for his confident, effortless delivery, he brings that same charisma to ‘Crush’, making the collaboration feel completely natural. 

Looking ahead, both artists have an exciting year in store. ‘Crush’ is the latest hint at what’s next for Jorja, who has been teasing new music since the release of her 2023 album ‘Falling or Flying’. She is also set to embark on tour in May and June of this year, whilst also being a part of Parklife’s line-up on June 14. AJ Tracey, meanwhile, has been hinting at a new project of his own, and he has also been confirmed for Reading & Leeds festival.

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With ‘Crush’, Jorja Smith and AJ Tracey have delivered a track that’s as effortless as it is addictive. Whether it’s the silky production, the natural chemistry, or the cinematic feel of the music video, this is a song that lingers long after the final note. If this is a taste of what’s to come, then both artists are set for a big year ahead. 

Ticket information for Jorja can be found here and ticket information for AJ can be found here.

Joining Charli as a headliner is hip-hop legend 50 Cent – the American rap star previously headlined Parklife in 2022, in a grand performance that saw him backed by a live band and DJ, revisiting hits such as “What Up, Gangsta?” and “Candy Shop”.

Also high up on the bill is Jorja Smith. The MOBO-nominated soul singer will be making her Parklife debut. Adding some more R&B flavours will be ‘Messy’ singer Lola Young and British girl-group FLO.

50 Cent, who will also be headlining Dublin festival Longitude this year, recently completed a residency in Vegas at PH Live in Planet Hollywood. The NY rappers shows received mixed reviews. The Daily Mail reports that one Vegas blogger, Jennifer Gay, labelled it one of the “worst” performances she’s ever seen.

After criticizing the sound quality, as well as lack of enthusiasm from 50, Jennifer wrote, “I understand that he’s successful and doesn’t need a residency, so why do it if he doesn’t want to put any effort into it?” Let’s hope 50’s Parklife performance can do more to please the crowd.

Meanwhile, Jorja Smith has tour dates scheduled this year in support of her 2023 album ‘Falling Or Flying’. She has gigs booked in the UK, US, Europe and South America. She’ll be performing in Manchester and Wolverhampton in May, and Dublin and London in June.

Fans of dance music will feel surely satisfied with some of the names on the line-up – South Korean house hitmaker Peggy Gou will grace the stage as she did in 2021. Multi-genre musician Joy Orbison will also bring his eclectic electronic sounds to the festival. Legendary dubstep duo Skream & Benga will perform a set, as will drum ‘n’ bass group Rudimental.

There will be stage takeovers from various outfits, curating a range of different sounds. XXL will be providing hard techno sounds, Worried About Henry will give some high-energy DnB, Ghosts of Garage will bring UKG, and Manchester venue YES will also cover a stage.

There will be some new changes brought to this year’s festival. A brand-new stage, Matinée, will open featuring a 360° DJ booth. There’ll also be a new location for VIP & Backstage areas, to be centred within the heart of the park itself.

There were some mix-ups last year with the lineup, with two massive headliners J Hus and Fisher both dropping out. Hopefully it’s a full house this year.

The prices for this year’s Parklife will start from £85 day tickets, before booking fees. Weekend tickets will begin from £135. Tickets will be available from Ticketmaster and Skiddle. You can see the full line-up below.

An extra London date has been added to Jorja’s UK & EU tour. Tickets are available now. https://t.co/yHL8rZxvNF pic.twitter.com/T1jW3YflZs

— Jorja Smith (@JorjaSmith) November 15, 2024

Jorja Smith is a British singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice, poignant lyrics, and genre-blending music. She rose to prominence with her 2016 debut single ‘Blue Lights’, a socially conscious track addressing racial profiling. The track peaked at No. 29 on June 21, 2018, and remained on the UK Singles Chart for six weeks. Her critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Lost & Found’ (2018), earned her numerous accolades, including a Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist in 2019.

Her sophomore album, ‘Falling or Flying’ (2023), showcases artistic growth, blending emotional depth with bold experimentation. She is celebrated for her collaborations with artists like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Burna Boy, solidifying her position as a versatile and influential artist. Jorja Smith has also recently received notable recognition for her work, particularly from the MOBO Awards, which honour achievements in music of Black origin. For the 2025 MOBO Awards, she has secured three nominations: Best Female Act, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. The ceremony is scheduled for February 18, 2025, at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle.

Jorja Smith and Cleo Sol are nominated for triple honors at the 2025 MOBO Awards, including: • Best Female Act, • Album of the Year, • Best R&B/Soul Act. pic.twitter.com/yL7YNSa6B0 — Culture Replica (@CultureReplica) December 4, 2024

In addition to her touring and award nominations, Jorja Smith has continued to release new music. In November 2024, she shared two new tracks, ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’, further expanding her discography and engaging her audience. ‘Loving You’ features a collaboration with Irish singer-songwriter Maverick Sabre, marking their first joint effort since ‘Slow Down’ in 2016. ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ delves into themes of vulnerability and emotional resilience, further highlighting the singer’s signature soulful sound.

Fans eagerly anticipate Jorja’s next musical chapter, with each project pushing boundaries and exploring new artistic territories.  Tickets for the tour can be found on Ticketmaster and DICE.

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The key nominees and categories for 2025 are:

Best Male Act: Central Cee, Ghetts, Bashy, Sampha

Best Female Act: Jorja Smith, Little Simz, Raye, Cleo Sol, Nia Archives

Best R&B/Soul Act: Jorja Smith, Cleo Sol

Album of the Year: Jorja Smith’s ‘Falling or Flying’, Ghetts’ ‘On Purpose, With Purpose’, Cleo Sol’s ‘Gold’

Song of the Year:
Central Cee Feat. Lil Baby – ‘Band4band’
Chase & Status, Stormzy – ‘Backbone’
Darkoo Feat. Dess Dior – ‘Favourite Girl’

Best International Act: Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Tems.

Jorja Smith, Cleo Sol, and Central Cee are all triple nominees in the 2025 MOBO awards.

Jorja Smith is a British singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice and blend of R&B, jazz, and pop. Her album ‘Falling or Flying‘ was released in September 2023 and showcases a more introspective, experimental sound compared to her earlier work. The record explores themes of love, self-reflection, and empowerment, often paired with eclectic production that mixes jazz, UK garage, and electronic influences. Standout tracks include ‘Try Me’ and ‘Little Things’ emphasizing her artistic growth and emotional depth. Critics praised the album for its innovation and lyrical honesty.

Cleo Sol is a British singer-songwriter known for her soothing voice and deeply introspective lyrics. She is a member of the music collective Sault, but her solo work stands out for its blend of soul, R&B, and neo-jazz influences. Her music often explores themes of love, family, self-discovery, and spirituality. Her albums, such as  ‘Rose in the Dark‘ (2020) and ‘Gold‘ (2023), have received critical acclaim for their emotional depth and minimalist production. Cleo’s work has solidified her as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary soul music.

Central Cee is a British rapper and songwriter, recognized for his dynamic style blending UK drill with melodic elements. Emerging from West London, he gained mainstream attention with tracks like ‘Loading’ and ‘Day in the Life’, which solidified his position as one of the leading voices in UK rap. Last year’s MOBO awards were hosted in Sheffield where Central Cee won Best Male Act and Song of the Year for ‘Sprinter’. RAYE then also won Best Female Act.

You can vote on MOBO’s website for your favourites and get tickets to the event here.

Smith recently took to social media to tease the release of both tracks, stating “it’s all yours now” to fans awaiting the release. ‘Loving You’ was written by Smith and Sabre nearly ten years ago, it features contributions from Ed Thomas as producer, who has worked with Smith on previous tracks ‘Let Me Down’, ‘Goodbyes’, ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘Home’. As Sabre revealed ‘Loving You’ to be the first track the pair wrote together, they had previously collaborated on ‘Slow Down’ together, which released back in 2019.

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‘Don’t Let Me Go’ also features vocal contributions from Sabre. The pair’s vocals blend effortlessly on both tracks conveying deep and sincere emotion through vocals which are tender and soft. The release of ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ exhibit Smith’s artistic growth. The tracks are sonically soulful and delve into lyrical perspectives which embody self-reflection, growth, introspection and maturity.

Both tracks have visuals created by Jazz Grant, an artist who works solely with collage techniques and stop-motion. The visuals and the sonic components to both ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ have made a lasting impact and further elaborate on Smith’s attempt to solidify her artistry.

The release of ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ arrive days after the soulful singer’s announcement of a 2025 UK and North American Tour. The tour titled ‘falling or flying’, is named after Smith’s second studio album of the same name, which over a year after its initial release, the singer released a deluxe version of in October of this year.

The ‘On My Mind’ and ‘Little Things’ singer known for amalgamating R&B and soul with grime and UK garage will captivate attendees on her upcoming ‘falling or flying’ tour with her most notable tracks, songs from her latest album and, no doubt, her newly released tracks ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’.

The upcoming ‘falling or flying’ tour will see Smith head to North America for 12 shows before encountering the UK to perform in Manchester, Wolverhampton and London’s prestigious Eventim Apollo for two dates, during May and June of next year. Presale for these tour dates will begin on November 13 at 10am, before general sale starts on November 15 at 10am. Tickets can be found here.

Jorja Smith has just announced her ‘falling or flying’ UK Tour! You can get access to Pre-Sale tickets here: https://t.co/2ky46kBSo9 pic.twitter.com/HAdqJYeoF8 — Jorja Smith (@JorjaSmith) November 7, 2024

Jorja Smith’s ‘Loving You’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ continue to prove the space for R&B and soul tracks in the British music industry in 2024; tracks with a lasting impact that create a legacy for Smith whilst building anticipation amongst her listeners to witness her music live on her upcoming tour.

The V&A East shared, “This landmark exhibition will reveal how Black British music has shaped British culture. Spanning four continents and 12 decades, this is a story of excellence and struggle, resilience and joy,” with it focusing on “125 years of Black music-making in Britain.”

We’re excited to announce our first exhibition, The Music Is Black: A British Story, opening at V&A East Museum, East Bank, in 2025.
You can read more about it here: https://t.co/mIhqroEiE9 #vameast #TMIB

— V&A East (@vam_east) November 1, 2023

The Music Is Black will celebrate pioneers of black music including icons such as Janet Kay, Winifred Atwell and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, as well as modern day stars including Stormzy, Little Simz and Jorja Smith. The exhibition will also explore how musical greats including The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac were influenced by black music, drawing on its rich history to produce their now iconic works.

Promising an immersive experience, V&A East will draw on BBC archives, playbills, films, paintings and prints, amongst much more to provide an expansive walk-through of eras and stories. The curators are putting together “immersive AV and large-scale installations” to create a multi-sensory exhibition that will celebrate black music in all its glory.

Jaqueline Springer, curator of The Music Is Black, shared, “Music is the soundtrack to our lives, and one of the most powerful tools of unification. It brings collective and individual joy as we recite song lyrics at festivals and gigs, recall dance moves perfected in childhood bedrooms, and mime to guitar breaks, bassline drops and instrumental flourishes with glee.”

Springer continued, “Set against a backdrop of British colonialism and evolving social, political, and cultural landscapes, we will celebrate the richness and versatility of Black and Black British music as instruments of protest, affirmation, and creativity, and reveal the untold stories behind some of the world’s most popular music of all time.”

Hear more from Springer and her thoughts on music here:  

Continuing the BPI’s #BlackHistoryMonth ‘Saluting our Sisters’ project is Jacqueline Springer, Curator of Africa & Diaspora: Performance at @V_and_A, speaking about her experience of and hopes for the future of our industry. pic.twitter.com/2X1VkiCqM8

— BPI (@bpi_music) November 1, 2023

The Music Is Black will also delve into the impact that migration has had on music, highlighting the importance of the Windrush movement bringing new sounds from the Caribbean to the UK. The exhibition will take us on a journey from the Windrush era all the way through to the current chart-topping tracks that hold Afr0-Caribbean influence.

The exhibition is set to open in Spring 2025.

Tickets will be available to purchase here.

The 29-year-old singer took to her Instagram to share her excitement. She said: “NOTE TO SELF: you used to dream about the life you live now. I HAVE MY VERY OWN UK ARENA TOUR!!! 2024 will be about coming to as many cities in the UK & partying with thousands of you! not coming out for a song or two on someone else’s show, not on a line up with other artists, my very own show! make sure you sign-up to presale so you can get your tickets in early. I don’t want you disappointed! I’m gonna make this show MASSIVE, I can’t wait to see you all.”  

Supporters of the hit-maker took to the comment section to share their excitement over the news. One person said: “I am SOBBING. This is just something you have dreamed of for so long. This 11-year journey had been SO worth it. I am honestly sobbing. I cannot even express how proud I am of you. No words at all.”

Meanwhile, another person also wrote: “Hard work. Dedication. Perseverance. Every show, festival, and performance you have done is living proof you are an artist who is worthy of this and MORE! Beyond stoked for you and this mega accomplishment. Cannot wait to support you in this in every way possible my Queen!!”  

Earlier this week, Hill appeared on BBC’s Live Lounge series and performed her 2023 anthem “Disconnect” and covered “Shades of Love” by Blessed Madonna. Other stars who performed on the series this month include Jorja Smith, Madison Beer and Holly Humberstone – and will also see 2024 Halftime Superbowl performer Usher make his debut on the show in a few days time.

Watch Hill perform her song “Disconnect”. 

Tour dates

14/06/2024 – Musgrave Park – Cork
15/06 – Belsonic – Belfast
12/10 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow
13/10 – Utilita Arena – Newcastle
15/10 – Motorpoint Arena – Nottingham
16/10 – First Direct Arena – Leeds
18/10 – Westpoint – Exeter
19/10 – Utilita Arena – Birmingham
20/10 – AO Arena – Mancheshter
22/10 – Utilita Arena – Cardiff
24/10 – OVO Arena Wembley – London