Central Cee added to Skepta’s Big Smoke Festival

UK rap heavyweight Central Cee will be performing on the Saturday line-up of Skepta’s Big Smoke Festival, set to take place on Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th August 2025 at the iconic Crystal Palace Park.

Big Smoke Festival promises two massive days of genre-defining music, with Saturday spotlighting all things live. Headlining the Big Smoke stage on Saturday is Skepta himself, delivering a rare, electrifying full solo live set. He’ll be joined by rising star Chy Cartier, grime veteran Chip—set to drop a new LP this April—and a never-before-seen B2B from JME and Frisco, two icons of the UK independent scene. Central Cee’s high-energy set is expected to be one of the weekend’s defining moments. With chart-topping hits like “Sprinter,” “Doja,” and “Let Go,” and a global fanbase, his presence highlights the festival’s commitment to showcasing the boldest voices in UK music.

Skepta says: “Cench is undeniably dominating the UK rap game at the moment. It’s both an honour and privilege to add him to Big Smoke’s line-up.”

Sunday sees Skepta return to the stage under his Más Tiempo label for a full day of dance, this time behind the decks. The full Más Tiempo lineup will be announced soon. With sold-out club nights at Fabric, The Cause, and Drumsheds, Más Tiempo continues to lead the charge in London’s dance music revival.

Big Smoke Festival is presented as part of South Facing Festival, a renowned open-air summer series held at Crystal Palace Bowl. Past South Facing headliners include Grace Jones, Damian Marley, Bombay Bicycle Club, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, with the festival also featuring standout performances from the English National Opera. Produced by Live Nation Entertainment and Soundcrash, South Facing is a cornerstone of the UK festival scene, blending world-class music with street food, craft drinks, and cultural experiences.

Final tier tickets are now on sale at www.bigsmokefest.london. Weekend tickets are still available, but numbers are limited — don’t miss your chance to be part of this landmark moment in UK music.

Skepta, award winning MC, producer, designer, director, and founding member of seminal British grime collective Boy Better Know, unveiled his new label Más Tiempo in 2022. Firmly rooted in the values of the UK’s thriving dance music community, Skepta and Más Tiempo have elevated the house music scene to new heights. Now returning to rap, Skepta launched his new project 48 Hours and released Why Lie? featuring Flo Milli. 

Central Cee, is a leading figure in UK rap, known for his distinctive sound, introspective lyricism, and global appeal. Hailing from West London, his breakout came in 2020 with the release of “Day in the Life,”. This early success was followed by the critically acclaimed mixtapes Wild West (2021) and 23 (2022), the latter debuting at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. These projects established Central Cee as a defining voice of his generation.

South Facing Festival is a summer open-air festival at the iconic Crystal Palace Bowl, featuring world-class music, top-tier street food, and craft drinks. Past headliners have included Grace Jones, Damian Marley, Bombay Bicycle Club, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, plus special performances from the English National Opera. Easily accessible via Crystal Palace, Penge West, and Gipsy Hill stations, South Facing combines music, food, and culture in a legendary venue. The festival is brought to life by the world’s leading live entertainment company, Live Nation Entertainment and Soundcrash, renowned for producing some of the UK’s most celebrated live music events, including Margate Summer Series at Dreamland, Colchester Castle Summer Series, Hitchin Priory Summer Series and a whole host of incredible touring shows. https://southfacingfestival.com/