LIDO Festival: Charli XCX (Saturday 14th June) Review

Charli XCX brought full brat mode to LIDO Festival and London has not recovered since. Strutting out in a sheer dress and combat boots, she stormed the stage to “360” and immediately set the tone for a neon drenched, pop saturated fever dream. From the glitchy brilliance of “Girl” to the punchy swagger of “Apple” and fan favorites like “So Confusing,” “Guess,” and “365,” Charli had the crowd screaming every lyric like it was gospel.

This wasn’t just a gig, it was brat summer 2.0 in full swing. Fans showed up in full Brat core looks, rocking handmade merch and matching the high octane energy on stage. The day featured a strong supporting lineup too, with The Dare, Kelly Lee Owens, and A G Cook all amping up the experimental electronic vibes.

Festivalgoers like Sarah Cade soaked up every second, even if some parts of the day tested their patience. Sarah grabbed some Korean BBQ chicken and chips that slapped (her words), but sadly couldn’t find any gluten free options for her roomie. Drinks hit at £8.75 for a Smirnoff can, which stung slightly more than expected. Toilet queues were wild—30 minutes long—and it took over an hour just to leave the venue. Packed doesn’t begin to describe it.

Charli’s show felt like a perfect chaotic cocktail of Y2K pop, rave energy, and zero you know whats. But as London festivals get bigger and more crowded, it raises the question: are we losing the intimate chaos that made them feel special? Or are we just stepping into a new age of mega events designed for a new gen of super fans? Whatever the answer, one thing’s for sure, Charli XCX knows how to throw a brat party like no one else.