As people go feral for either a lick of nostalgic fun with Blink-182 or something more chaotic with The Prodigy, tucked away in the BBC Radio 1 tent is the spell-binding Jorja Smith. With revamped, groovy jazz renditions of her acclaimed ballads, she creates a space of tranquillity at the end of the festival’s first day.
In the beginning, Smith is demure, singing along to her songs coyly and soaking up the adoring energy that’s thick in the air. She doesn’t say much but keeps a massive grin on her face while she thanks the crowd for having her. Instead, she focuses on delivering her slick and emotive tunes with mystique and pure precision.
The songs hit deep for many, holding a sentimental place in much of the audience’s hearts. “If she does ‘Blue Lights’, I’ll go feral!” one girl in the pit says excitedly before an ultramarine glow covers her. Once the chorus hits, she and the rest of the audience pour their hearts out to Smith’s debut single. The choral singing is stirring, heightening the sense of awe and unadulterated emotion. “OK,” she says, “I think you lot are ready to party.”
That’s when the band begins to play ‘Come Over’ – and the island-infused percussion puts a spell on Jorja’s hips, which sway from here on out. Even her backing singers – who have their standout moments throughout – break out from behind their mic stands and shake a leg with her.
@officialrandl The moment Jorja Smith brought out AJ Tracey at Reading 2024 🔥🔥🔥 @Jorja Smith @AJ Tracey #jorjasmith #ajtracey #radio1 #readingfestival #randl24 #lookoutforeachother @Rockstar Energy UK
The party doesn’t truly start, though, until ‘Ladbroke Grove’. As the chopped-up vocals and skippy drums play, people erupt and immediately get their skank on as when the West Midlands superstar brings out AJ Tracey and duets with him for a great transition into her own slew of bangers.
You could power a town with the electricity in the air in the tent by the end of Jorja’s set. She rolls through her party-friendly hits (with a pinch of angst with ‘Teenage Fantasy’), and the pure adulation the crowd shows her is next to none. The once-flailing arms stretch high, holding up heart-shaped hands, trying to find a way to thank her for pulling off a set that is a magical touch to a blockbuster Friday.
Jorja Smith played:
‘Try Me’
‘Blue Lights’
‘Addicted’
‘Where did I Go?’
‘Falling or Flying’
‘GO GO GO’
‘The One’
‘Come Over’
‘High’
‘Ladbroke Grove’ with AJ Tracey
‘Teenage Fantasy’
‘Be Honest’
‘On My Mind (Preditah remix)’
‘Little Things’