The 30th edition of Meltdown Festival opened with a bang, headlined by established legends The Streets. But while their set held nostalgic weight, the night truly belonged to a newer, electrifying voice: Lola Young — one of the standout picks by this year’s curator, Little Simz.
Difficult to categorise, Young fuses rock, pop, R&B, and grime into something wholly her own. She’s not just a genre-defying artist; she’s a sharp, honest spokesperson for Gen Z. Even before she appeared on stage, the crowd was engaged — greeted by an atmospheric playback of Gershon Kingsley’s “Rebirth,” its lyrics (“I try to fit in to the plan…”) quietly setting the tone for a performance that embraced self-doubt and defiance in equal measure.

Opening with “Good Books,” Young delivered a haunting track that recalled shades of Kate Bush and Florence Welch, yet retained a raw individuality. The song wrestled with setting emotional boundaries while still craving validation — a modern paradox rendered with elegance and grit. She followed with the northern soul-tinged rocker “Wish You Were Dead,” pausing to humbly introduce herself: “I’m literally just a girl from Croydon.”

Processed beats and sultry R&B defined “Walk On By,” which gave way to the emotionally charged “Don’t Hate Me,” its distorted basslines echoing the tension of noncommittal relationships and emotional vulnerability. By this point, the seated Southbank crowd had risen — but Young asked them to sit again, not out of fatigue, but to shift the atmosphere. The reward was “You Noticed,” a delicate acoustic number that evoked bittersweet reflection on being seen for who you truly are.

Then, just as quickly, the mood turned. The crowd rose once more for the breezier, infectious “Big Brown Eyes.” Remarkably, the mid-set energy felt like a show finale — with soaring high notes, dynamic pacing, and Young’s effortless control proving her mettle.
She flexed her versatility again by rapping confidently on “One Thing” and “Fuck,” before shifting to a stadium-ready rock sound on “Conceited,” a track that blended grunge swagger with pop gloss, even nodding to the infectiousness of “…Baby One More Time.”

Of course, “Messy” — her biggest single — was saved for last, a cathartic closer that had the entire room singing word-for-word. But it wasn’t the set’s emotional peak. That honour went to a new, still-untitled acoustic song dedicated to her younger sister’s struggles — a gut-punch of a performance that visibly moved many in the crowd and cemented Young as a songwriter of depth and compassion.
Lola Young delivered a career-defining set — not years into her journey, but now. With honesty, command, and an evident care for both her audience and her message, she showed that the future of British music isn’t just in safe hands — it’s evolving. And if the unreleased material is any indication, her best is yet to come.
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