Traversing the well-trodden route from Brixton station to Brockwell Park takes on an entirely different shape when the vast majority of pop-loving South Londoners, and the wider queer community of the UK, are on their way to the same, yearly extravaganza of all things camp.
Instead of tired commuters trying to dodge station congestion, the surrounding area of Herne Hill transforms into a glimmering sea of rainbows, neon short-shorts, and gallons of glitter, all marching down the imaginary yellow brick road leading to the promised land of Hoopla.
Though the June weather remained cold (and wet) on Saturday (June 1) the high energy levels created a warmth akin to that of the ever-essential beer blanket. The buzz of queer joy and the overall sense of safety that Hoopla attendees feel from the moment they walk through the gates meant that the party atmosphere never faltered.
Performance-wise, Hoopla differs from the rest of the pack; it’s important to note that attendees aren’t necessarily coming to the festival to hear brilliant music. Think of it as one big Pride Parade filled with scrumptious food, delicious company, high octane drag shows and special appearances from artists inducted into the camp hall of fame.
Accordingly, Saturday’s line-up consisted of headliners Nelly Furtado and En Vogue, and artists including Cher Lloyd, surprise guest Alesha Dixon, Slayyyter, Bananarama, Rebecca Black, B*witched, and The Real Housewives of New York’s Luann de Lesseps. The all-star, largely throwback selection garnered high hopes which weren’t necessarily misplaced.
Former X Factor staple Cher Lloyd proved that she knows her loyal audience brilliantly well by making her entrance to the viral sound clip of two wee Scottish girls declaring they’ll be singing “Cher Lloyd by Cher Lloyd” before their raging mother so rudely interrupts them.
En Vogue powered through feel-good hits including Free Your Mind and My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) which left the crowd euphoric. Nelly Furtado closed-out the night with her signature smooth vocals and Noughties-defining, Timbaland-assisted pop sound. All Good Things (Come to an End), I’m Like A Bird, Promiscuous, and Maneater were all present and correct.
The only artist to let down the generally fantastic standard of performance was, predictably, Countess Luanne. Even though The Real Housewife has an innately horrific singing voice, the sheer hilarity of the entire shtick made something which should’ve been embarrassingly awful rather enjoyable. Such is the power of Hoopla.
Pleasure Palace’s Disney Channel sing along was another true highlight. There’s no greater joy than hearing an entire tent’s worth of festival goers belting out both Troy and Gabriella’s lines to Breaking Free, the iconic finale song from the first High School Musical film.
And if you weren’t a Disney Channel kid, you were likely an emo one – a demographic which was, naturally, also catered for. The Emo sing-along consisted of smash hits by Paramore, Avril Lavigne, The Veronicas and so much more.
Since launching in 2017, Mighty Hoopla has served as a brilliant kick-start to Pride Month and has become a beloved summertime staple. With 2024 down in the books as another mighty success, long may it reign.
