London’s big festivals are always pretty special — international headliners, massive crowds, all that jazz — but there’s plenty to be said for its smaller music events too.
One of the very best is Visions, a multi-venue one-dayer that brings together some of the most exciting artists occupying the outer edges of modern music.
Back for 2022, and spread across five different spots in east London, this year looks set to be a fascinating one, with a diverse, innovative line-up.
Here’s all you need to know.
How do tickets work for Visions festival?
Tickets for Saturday are currently priced at £33.60, with wristbands available to be collected from the box office in front of Hackney Church from 2pm onwards. Once you’ve got yours, you’ll have free rein over each of the five venues taking part in Visions, all within walking distance of each other.
Head here to secure your spot.
Who’s on the Visions line-up? And what are the set times?
Hackney Church
Lower Clapton Road, E5 0PD
Rock experimentalists Black Country, New Road are the headliners at this saintly spot, with Tuareg musician Mdou Moctar performing his boundary-pushing guitar music before them. Another highlight of the day is For Those I Love, aka Dublin artist David Balfe, whose impassioned spoken-word material earned him a five-star album review from the Evening Standard last year.
- 3.30-4pm - Dana Gavanski
- 4.30-5pm - Lea Sen
- 5.30-6pm - Oklou
- 6.30-7.15pm - For Those I Love
- 7.45-8.30pm - Mdou Moctar
- 9.15-10.15pm - Black Country, New Road
Round Chapel
1D Glenarm Road, E5 0LY
Robin Stewart and Harry Wright, known together as Giant Swan, top the bill here, with their hard-hitting, industrially edged electronic music set to shake the walls of the chapel. Another two-piece, James Holden & WacÅaw Zimpel, will deliver their hypnotic soundscapes beforehand. Be sure to get down in time for Keeley Forsyth’s hauntingly gorgeous music, too.
- 3-3.30pm - Hinako Omori
- 4-4.30pm - Jessica Winter
- 5-5.45pm - Keeley Forsyth
- 6.15-7pm - Aya
- 7.30-8.15pm - James Holden & WacÅaw Zimpel
- 9-10pm - Giant Swan
Oslo
1A Amhurst Road, E8 1LL
NYC rapper Wiki is the headliner over in Oslo, after The Golden Dregs, led by Benjamin Woods, takes to the stage. Rising post-rock Londoners, Deathcrash, are also ones to look out for.
- 3.30-4pm - Highschool
- 4.30-5pm - Nukuluk
- 5.30-6pm - Tiberius B
- 6.30-7pm - Deathcrash
- 7.30-8.15pm - The Golden Dregs
- 8.45-9.45pm - Wiki
Chats Palace
42-44 Brooksby’s Walk, E9 6DF
London-based up-and-comer Miso Extra covered plenty of styles on her Great Taste EP earlier this year — trip-hop, house, R&B, and more — and she’ll bring them all to Chats Palace. Our other top pick here is Sam Akpro, a regular at the launchpad venue Windmill Brixton.
- 2.45-3.15pm - Robbie & Mona
- 3.45-4.15pm - Mrley
- 4.45-5.15pm - Fat Dog
- 6-6.30pm - Sam Akpro
- 7-7.30pm - Sans Soucis
- 8-8.45pm - Louis Culture
- 9.30-10.15pm - Miso Extra
Paper Dress Vintage
352a Mare Street, E8 1HR
Over at this spot — a vintage boutique by day, live music venue by night — it’s the brotherly duo of Tonstartssbandht and their psychedelic sounds that will finish the night. Those after some dream pop should make a beeline for the set from Bored At My Grandmas House.
- 4.30-5pm - Joyeria
- 5.30-6pm - Tummyache
- 6.30-7pm - Automotion
- 7.30-8pm - Bored At My Grandmas
- 8.30-9.15pm - O.
- 10-11pm - Tonstartssbandht
Visions festival afterparties
With the main programme wrapping up by 11pm, two afterparties will keep the fun going into the small hours. At Paper Dress Vintage, the always excellent Daytimers collective will bring sounds from the South Asian underground, while over at The Hackney Social (Unit 11 Bohemia Pl, E8 1DU), there will be sets Anish Kumar, DJ_DAVE, Mon and more. Your main festival wristband will grant entry to both these nights.
