By Norman van den Wildenberg 
South African singer-songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou is set to captivate audiences at prestigious London’s LIDO Festival on 14 June 2026, sharing the stage with British indie giants Bombay Bicycle Club, Metronomy, Billie Marten and Lucy Rose at Victoria Park. The festival appearance marks another milestone for the homegrown artist who has built an extraordinary international career from humble beginnings on a mountainside back home.
Alice Phoebe Lou’s journey from South Africa to global stages reads like a modern fairy tale. Growing up on a mountainside, she attended a local Waldorf school that nurtured her innate love of music and the arts. At just sixteen, she made her first life-changing trip to Europe, a decision that would transform her path entirely. Armed with nothing more than a guitar, a small amplifier and a collection of distinctive original songs, the young South African began performing on street corners and quickly developed a devoted following around the world through the sheer power of her utterly intoxicating voice and natural charm.
From self-releasing her debut EP “Momentum” in 2014, Lou has been on an unstoppable trajectory. Her raw talent and unique approach caught the attention of filmmakers and music industry heavyweights alike, culminating in a 90th Oscar nomination for Original Song for her track She. The nomination placed her alongside some of music’s biggest names, including Sufjan Stevens, Mary J Blige, Common and Diane Warren, a remarkable achievement that put South African artistry firmly on the global stage.
Her latest album, “Paper Castles”, showcases the full evolution of her artistry. The record is an intimate culmination of romance and struggle, solitude and adventure, told through a free-spirited blend of electronic soul and psychedelic folk. Her honeyed vocals remain at the heart of the work, but the album reveals a limitless approach to musicality and craft that demonstrates how far she has travelled creatively since those early busking days. The songs explore the complexities of modern life with the same vulnerability and honesty that first won her fans on European streets.
A truly global artist who refuses to stay put either physically or creatively, Lou has made restlessness a defining characteristic of her work. She has toured relentlessly, building connections with audiences across continents whilst maintaining the intimate quality that made her street performances so compelling. Each album represents a snapshot of wherever she finds herself, both geographically and emotionally, creating a body of work that maps a life lived in constant motion.
The LIDO Festival appearance offers South African fans living abroad and international audiences alike the chance to experience Lou’s magnetic stage presence at one of London’s most forward-thinking music events. Her inclusion on a bill headlined by Bombay Bicycle Club, one of Britain’s most beloved indie bands, speaks to her standing in the international music community. The festival setting will provide the perfect backdrop for the “Paper Castles” material, allowing her to introduce longtime followers and new listeners to this latest chapter in her remarkable story.
Bombay Bicycle Club will headline the day with a special double performance celebrating twenty years since the band formed. They’ll play their debut album, “I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose”, in full during an evening set, preceded by an afternoon performance of follow-up record “Flaws”. The North London quartet have spent two decades pushing boundaries in British indie music, earning number one records and Mercury Prize nominations whilst collaborating with artists from Damon Albarn to Chaka Khan.
English electro band Metronomy join the lineup for their first UK show in three years and their only live appearance of 2026. Having emerged in the late noughties as new wave artists who connected with club culture, they earned a Mercury Prize nomination for their third album, “The English Riviera”, and have built a reputation for eclectic cross-genre styles blending indie rock with springy electronica. Their recently released first-ever greatest hits compilation spans seven studio albums plus unreleased BBC recordings from 2009 to 2019.
Yorkshire-raised Billie Marten brings her intimate, textured acoustic sound shaped by influences from Nick Drake to Joni Mitchell. After releasing her critically acclaimed debut “Writing of Blues and Yellows” at just 17 and earning a BBC Sound of 2016 nomination, she has evolved through four albums, exploring social commentary, nature, mental health, and relationships. Her latest record, “Drop Cherries”, showcases the mature songwriting and delicate arrangements that have made her a distinctive voice in British folk-influenced pop.
Lucy Rose completes the bill in what represents a full-circle moment. The Warwickshire singer-songwriter first gained recognition for her backing vocals on Bombay Bicycle Club’s album “Flaws” and touring with the band, making her festival debut supporting them particularly meaningful. Her sound has evolved from gentle folk-rock to electronic-tinged adult pop, and now to the intimate acoustic arrangements of recent work, all showcasing the fragile, emotive songwriting that first drew comparisons to Laura Marling.
Launched last summer, LIDO Festival takes a unique approach by allowing headliners to programme each day entirely themselves, bringing favourite artists, collaborators and newly tipped talent to create deeply personal lineups. Named after Victoria Park’s Lido Field in East London, the event combines hand-picked music with a strong sustainability focus and community programmes during the week.
For Alice Phoebe Lou, the LIDO Festival slot represents another chapter in a career defined by constant evolution and fearless creativity. From those early days performing on a South African mountainside to earning Oscar nominations and headlining international venues, she has carved out a unique space in contemporary music. The Victoria Park performance will showcase an artist at the height of her powers, bringing “Paper Castles” to life for an audience hungry for the authentic, boundary-pushing artistry that has made her one of South Africa’s most successful musical exports. As she continues to refuse categorisation or limitation, fans can expect a performance that captures both the intimacy of her street-performing roots and the sophisticated musicianship of her studio work.
Photo (c) Caroline Mackintosh
Jan Vranken