The Body Movements Festival has unveiled new additions to its 2025 line-up, promising an even more vibrant celebration of queer club culture at Southwark Park on 24 August. Among the latest confirmed artists are Romy, the acclaimed vocalist of The xx, who will perform a special DJ set, and Ceechynaa, a dynamic rapper known for her bold lyricism and unapologetic challenge to gender norms. These fresh announcements follow an already star-studded roster featuring trailblazers in queer electronic music, underscoring the festival’s continued growth and cultural significance.
Romy’s DJ set is anticipated to be a deeply emotional and euphoric expression of queer love and connection, drawing from her rich history within queer nightlife. Growing up in Soho’s queer club scene, Romy cultivated a sound and presence that resonate profoundly within LGBTQ+ spaces. In interviews, she has spoken about the importance of queer clubs in shaping her identity and music, highlighting a lesbian renaissance in pop that she embraces both personally and artistically. Her performances often encapsulate this intimate, powerful energy—a quality that made her recent ‘White Claw Refreshing Sounds’ event at Pikes Ibiza a standout celebration of queer club culture.
Adding to the festival’s diverse energy is Ceechynaa, an Essex-raised rapper whose music boldly pushes boundaries. Known for her viral hit Peggy, which garnered attention from celebrities such as Cardi B and Charli XCX, Ceechynaa’s work is unapologetically explicit, challenging gender norms and uplifting marginalised voices. Her music video for Peggy, set in Central London, makes a defiant cultural statement, reflecting her commitment to breaking societal taboos and expanding narratives within UK hip-hop. Beyond music, Ceechynaa’s influence extends to social media, where she advocates for empowerment, self-acceptance, and authenticity.
The festival also continues its tradition of spotlighting emerging talent through a curated competition, which this year has brought four standout artists into the fold. Among them is Zackito, a Taiwanese DJ making waves in the UK underground scene with a genre-blurring global sound, and OBJCT FNTSY, a DIY collective based in Folkestone known for vibrant sounds rooted in soundsystem culture. DJ Thotski—a selector weaving together core UK sounds with queer cultural motifs—and Light Gal, a rising North London DJ famed for melodic techno and progressive house, also join this fresh cohort. Their presence highlights Body Movements’ enduring commitment to fostering the next generation of queer voices in electronic music.
Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Body Movements has evolved from a grassroots multi-venue rave in Hackney Wick into the UK’s premier queer club culture festival. Founded by Saoirse Ryan, Clayton Wright, and Simon Denby, it champions LGBTQI+ expression, electronic music innovation, and community spirit. Past festivals have supported notable causes including London Trans Pride and Stonewall Housing, reinforcing the event’s role not only as a cultural touchstone but as a beacon for activism and inclusivity. The 2025 event builds on these foundations with a full line-up showcasing an impressive spectrum of queer artistry, from underground innovators to internationally recognised trailblazers such as Mura Masa, HAAi, and I.JORDAN.
In addition to the main festival, Body Movements has announced its official afterparty, Body Movements After Dark, set to take place at The Cause. Ticket sign-ups are now live, with priority given to those holding daytime passes, promising an intimate, electrifying extension of the day’s celebrations. This complementary event serves as a crucial space for deeper community connection, ensuring that the spirit of queer club culture thrives well into the night.
Source: Noah Wire Services
