Anybody who was not present at the Piano People Scorpion Kings show this weekend missed a day for the books. Kicking off festival season and the summer vibes in London, the sun was shining, the heat was at a high, and the vibes were flowing perfectly throughout Barking Park. With the anticipation for the Scorpion Kings' London return already at an all-time high, the duo came and once again left no crumbs. Playing a three-hour set, they once again showed why there is actually nobody like the Scorpion Kings, and they really are the kings of the game.

Before we got to the main act of the day, the vibes were set from the beginning. Arriving at the park almost halfway through the day meant we missed the early sets, but entering just in time to catch Sam Deep meant the vibes were set strong for us. Playing the Second Location stage, his set came at the peak of the heat and sunshine, and yet that did not stop a single person from vibing along, which started off with smooth vibes before going into his crowd favourites. Playing his latest single ‘Izospana’, which features Thatohatsi and Zuma, the crowd was already vibing to it despite it only being out for three days prior. The Shelaholics were also active and ready as soon as his hit came over the speakers, having everybody losing their minds and singing along at the top of their lungs. The rest of his set continued with other tracks, such as the Thatohatsi-featured standout ‘Who I Am’ track ‘Thandaza ’. 

From Sam Deep, we paid a brief visit to the Groove Station and caught the Qqom vibes, which we indulged in. One thing that was evident throughout the day is there was really something for everybody. With a rich diversity of South African sounds in the lineup, there was a strong display of South African music and the love and popularity it has travelled beyond its borders. 

A standout of the day was none other than Dlala Thuzkin, who, having now seen him perform live three times, has never performed a bad set. As the lead-up to the main act, the energy he brought to the masses on the main stage got everybody excited for the kings. As someone who has been a pioneer in the 3-Step space, he delivered a set that felt like the perfect moment at golden hour. The ladies of the mainstage, Thatohatsi & Tracy, also proved that they really are the top-tier vocalists that they are, as their vocals rang from the front to the back of the stage, bringing songs like ‘Abantwana Bhako’ to life in a different way that was sensational to experience. 

The Scorpion took to the stage and once again delivered a killer set that made three hours feel more like 30 minutes. If there was ever a question about the hype of Scorpion Kings as a duo, they really bring something different to the table. With Kabza’s gospel-soulful vibes, he ushered in the set very smoothly as we watched the sun set. Only to be matched by Maphorisha’s high-energy hits, he delivered. Joined by Uncool MC, who hosted the main stage all day and did what was needed without doing too much from an MC, allowing the Kings to shine. Their set certainly delivered and was worth all the wait. Never ones to disappoint, the range they bring not only of their songs but of amapiano in general really shows their star power in how they continue to showcase the genre, no matter the stage they are on. 

Overall, the day was a stunning vibe of music, food, drinks, and a cultural celebration of Amapiano and Southern African music and its global impact, which it continues to hold.