15/11/2025
Love Motion 2025: A Celebration of Disco
Bank Holiday Sunday 24 August brought thousands of disco lovers, house heads and soul devotees to the iconic Crystal Palace Bowl for Love Motion 2025 — a full-day celebration of groove-driven music fronted by the one and only Nile Rodgers & CHIC. It was the kind of event that reminded everyone why London’s open-air summer shows feel so magical: music echoing across the water, dancers on the grass, shimmering outfits in the sun and a crowd who came ready to party from the moment gates opened.
Walking into the Crystal Palace Bowl, you could feel the anticipation buzzing. Sequins, flares, bucket hats, disco tees — everywhere you looked, someone was dressed for the occasion.
The Bowl was full, the weather behaved just enough, and there was this sense that everyone was gearing up for a proper Bank Holiday celebration.
Don’t F**k With Disco, one of London’s favourite party crews, kicked us off with a bang, leaning into house-disco crossover cuts, high-energy selections, and the kind of feel-good rhythms that had people spilling onto the grass to dance. Their following is loyal for a reason and today was a reminder of exactly why.
Rising selector Kirollus kept the momentum going with a slick, vinyl-heavy set packed with deep-cut disco, rare grooves and those smile-inducing edits that only true heads clock instantly. His ability to thread classics with obscure gems had the early crowd dancing like it was already peak time.
Following on from Kirollus was Dimitri From Paris, who delivered exactly what everyone hoped for: a stylish, polished, utterly joyful masterclass in disco-house elegance. His transitions were buttery smooth, his edits sharp and celebratory, and his ability to pace a crowd nothing short of expert. Hands in the air, couples dancing, groups belting out hooks — it was one of the most packed dancefloors of the day.
Next up we had French disco legend Cerrone, who delivered one of the most exciting performances of the day, bringing his full live show to the Bowl. Live percussion, sweeping strings, glittering synths — it felt big, bold, and brilliantly theatrical. The moment “Supernature” dropped, the crowd moved like a single organism. A real goosebumps moment. One of the standout moments of the entire event.
By the time Louie Vega stepped up, the Bowl had filled up even more and was truly alive. A true global icon of house music, Vega’s set blended soulful house, Latin rhythms, timeless disco flavours and vocal moments that felt like sunshine on skin. It was warm, groovy, infectious — the kind of set where strangers become friends and everyone forgets they’ve been dancing for hours. A perfect prelude to the night’s main event.
What a night of music so far, but nothing could top the moment the incomparable Nile Rodgers & CHIC hit the stage. The Bowl erupted and from the first guitar lick it was hit after hit after hit - Le Freak”, “Everybody Dance”, “I Want Your Love”, “We Are Family”, “I’m Coming Out”, “Good Times” – the list was endless!
It felt like a dream come true, seeing Nile Rodgers & CHIC performing some of my absolute favourite songs and songs that I grew up listening to with the family at my grandma’s. They even switched it up a bit and remixed their own ‘Soup for One’ into one of the most famous examples that sampled the song – Modjo’s ‘Lady’ – awesome!
The crowd belted out every word, serving as a reminder of just how deeply these songs live in our collective memory. The live band was flawless — vibrant horns, powerhouse vocals, basslines that thumped through the Bowl. People danced on the grass, on picnic blankets, on shoulders. It felt like a real celebration of the music that shaped dance culture as we know it.
And of course, Nile’s storytelling, humour and gratitude gave the performance that personal touch that only he can deliver. “Good Times” as the finale felt like a love letter to the crowd. A perfect ending.
What made Love Motion 2025 truly special wasn’t just the lineup, it was the atmosphere – warm, united, easy-going, joyful and diverse. Young ravers, lifelong disco fans, families with teens, day-trippers from across London — everyone found a place at the Bowl.
There was no rush, no stress, just pure celebration of music, identity and community.
Love Motion 2025 wasn’t just a concert — it was a feel-good, sunshine-soaked, dance-all-day celebration of disco and house culture. From iconic live acts to world-class DJs, from sing-along anthems to deep-disco sessions, the event flowed perfectly from day to night and our hearts were filled.