Big moments, long delay and a ‘full house’ at La Palm

The beach at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel came alive on November 15, 2025, as Tidal Rave Festival wrapped up its second and final day with a surge of music, colour and youthful energy.

Thousands of revellers from Ghana and beyond were present at the event grounds, turning the coastline into a playground of sound, art and culture.

Tidal Rave which is organised by Echo House has grown into what many now consider the biggest beach festival on the continent.

The 2025 edition themed “The Wild Card,” the festival promised surprises and for the most part, it delivered, portraying the actual wild card from the UNO game throughout its creative direction.

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At noon, the venue was filling up with revellers in beachwear, neon accents, and customised merch, ready for a long day of music and experiences.

One of the highlights of the event was Ghanaian artiste Black Sherif, who hit the main stage around 5 PM. He delivered a energetic set that had fans singing along to tracks from the “Iron Boy” album like Soma Obi, Sacrifice, Body, among others.

From conversation with attendees before the main acts went on stage, many attendees admitted they initially doubted Blacko would appear at the announced time, citing the usual delays associated with events in Ghana. But this time, organisers kept their word, and Black Sherif mounted the Wild Card stage few minutes after 5PM.

The artiste lineup kept things flowing with performances from Gyakie, Moliy, GonaBoy and Kweku Smoke. Ayra Starr brought the international touch, and her arrival in Ghana earlier in the week had already created a buzz.

From the general mood in the crowd, Gyakie was a favourite. Her set felt warm and intimate, taking the audience on a “lovely” musical ride.

Kweku Smoke, who introduced himself as “the Hip hop king,” delivered one of the standout performances of the night filled with crowd control and back-to-back hits.

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Not a single song went by without audience participation. Tracks like Agyekum, Adu the Borga, Kweku Jesus and Jah Guide were rapped word for word by the crowd.

Ayra Starr’s set, which kicked off midnight, also stood out. The Nigerian musician took command of the stage, performing songs like Hot Body, Who’s Dat Girl, among others.

Tidal Rave lived up to its identity as a cultural space. Art villages hosted local creators, food stalls served jollof, grilled tilapia and cocktails, and there were pockets of interactive zones that kept people entertained throughout the day.

The night was not without complaints. Because Black Sherif started promptly, it raised expectations for the rest of the program.

But after GonaBoy and Lalid performed, there was a long wait as organisers prepared a new set design for Ayra Starr.

Attendees were restless during the roughly 40-minute setup, made worse by Ayra Starr’s DJ also playing music for another half hour with no performer on stage.

One attendee summed it up online saying,

“Tidal Rave started very well but ending poorly. As at this time Lalid and Gonaboy have not even performed and not to talk of Ayra Star and the wildcard artiste, Shatta Wale show organizers you can do better than this come on,” the attendee wrote.

Performance-wise, the night was enjoyed by attendees. Ayra Starr delivered just like the international artiste she is, Gyakie’s choreography on stage was visually appealing, Kweku Smoke kept the crowd engaged, and DJ Vyrusky with Hypeman Kojo Manuel brought some good old-school vibes as well.

However, daytime attendance wasn’t impressive, likely because most people assumed the show wouldn’t start on time, the usual “Ghana Man Time” expectation. But by evening, the grounds were full and the energy was exactly what a beach festival should feel like.

The Tidal Rave experience was worth it. From the music to the security, creative direction, and the different experiential zones, the festival lived up to its name and the hype around it.

Watch some of the videos below:

AK/SSM

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