Meduza and James Hype launched Magazine Open-Air with euphoric house music, serious production and a sunset party that proved London can deliver Ibiza energy without the flight.
London has had no shortage of places to rave this summer, but a new venue only gets one chance to make its first impression.
Magazine Open-Air did not waste it.
Broadwick Live launched its new riverside series on Greenwich Peninsula with Our House, bringing Meduza and James Hype to a purpose-built outdoor stage beside Magazine London.
The opening line-up also featured Cristoph, Dombresky, Layla Benitez B2B Brina Knauss and special guest Nora En Pure, promising euphoric house music, sunset energy and a proper taste of Ibiza in London.
Having already previewed what to expect from Our House, it was time to see whether the real thing could live up to the promise. It did.
The perfect festival size
One of the best things about Magazine Open-Air is the amount of space.
It is large enough to create a proper festival atmosphere, but compact enough that almost everywhere feels like a good place to stand. You can book VIP and backstage access or watch from the elevated viewing area along the left-hand side, above the bars and food stands.
On the main dancefloor, there is plenty of room to rave, while the bars, food and toilets are all within easy reach.
Personally, I prefer these large-but-small festivals. Not Glastonbury-sized events where you spend half the day walking or running between stages, but gatherings where everything is focused in one place.
Everyone has come for the same music, the same artists and the same experience. That creates a shared energy which can sometimes disappear at much larger festivals.
Meduza gets the dancefloor moving
By the time I arrived, Magazine Open-Air was already in full swing.
The heat was up, the crowd was moving and Meduza were playing a strong selection of classics and remixes. We grabbed a few drinks, headed straight onto the dancefloor and barely moved from there for the rest of the night.
It was exactly the warm-up we needed.
World-class production without losing the intimacy
Magazine Open-Air delivered everything I wanted from this kind of event. The production was sick—from the lighting and staging to the overall sound.
Could the music have been slightly louder? For me, yes—but that is not really a complaint. I just like my music loud.
More importantly, the stage felt close. You could see the DJs performing without needing binoculars or spending the entire set watching them through a screen.
Behind the stage sat the River Thames, with the sunset and London skyline creating a natural backdrop as the event moved from daylight into darkness.
England came within one match of reaching the 2026 World Cup final, and the weather has behaved as though we won anyway. Heatwave after heatwave has drenched London’s festivals in the kind of sunshine we would normally fly to Ibiza or Barcelona to find.
This summer, it has all been right here on our doorstep.
Finally seeing James Hype in London
For me, the real headline was James Hype.
I have followed him on Instagram and watched his performances for a long time, so finally seeing him here in England—right in London—was a moment.
No flights, hotels or travelling across the globe required. He was performing close to home, on a riverside stage in North Greenwich.
As soon as he touched the decks, the signature James Hype mixing began: rapid cueing, fast transitions and that familiar “James Hype, James Hype, James Hype” vocal building the anticipation.
Then the music dropped.
James took the microphone, called out his name and the crowd went nuts. From that point onwards, it was non-stop vibes.
That is what made the event work. It was not only the music—it was the atmosphere, the people, the lighting, the location and the feeling of experiencing it all in London.
Ibiza energy without the Ibiza costs
You did not need to spend thousands of pounds on flights, accommodation and a full overseas trip.
Magazine Open-Air is around five minutes from North Greenwich station, and because this event took place on a Friday, the Jubilee Night Tube made getting home relatively straightforward.
If you live farther away, you can make a night of it. Either way, the logistics are considerably easier than flying abroad for the same style of experience.
From the opening party to the closing party
Considering Our House was only the opening event, Magazine Open-Air has made a strong entrance into London’s outdoor music scene.
I will also be returning for RNB & Slow Jams on Sunday 23 August, which closes the inaugural series with a completely different soundtrack.
House music opened the programme; R&B, soul and slow jams will bring it to an end. Different genres, same riverside setting—and I will have experienced both ends of Magazine Open-Air’s first season.
If the series returns next summer, I will definitely be leaving space in my 2027 diary.
James Hype, you did well. Very good. I cannot wait to see you again.
Non-stop vibes. Let’s go!
Images by Sienna Lorraine Gray
