Summer in the City is over for another year.
We’ve had a few weeks to recoup, allowing our voices to come back and our sleep schedules to return to normal, and giving us time to sift through the numerous selfies that have been overloading our phones (there are SO MANY). We miss it already…
We here at TenEighty have been reliving SitC 2016 over and over in our heads and have decided we had to share our top moments with you all. There were so many – it was hard to narrow down our picks! However, after much deliberation, we managed to do it.
So here they are: our top nine moments from Summer in the City 2016 (complete with Jedward)!
1. Fake Dan and Phil
If you spent any time walking around the ExCeL Centre, we’re sure you noticed the duo who have since been dubbed “Fake Dan and Phil”. Completely accidental, of course (or was it? ooh, conspiracy), the story of how Adam Flanagan and Kyle Smith became the unexpected celebrities of SitC is a hilarious one.
Speaking with TenEighty, Adam explains that he was wandering around SitC in his own clothes before spotting a guy in a blue plaid shirt who looked just like Phil Lester! Whilst taking a selfie and chatting together, a crowd started forming around them, filled with people who also wanted a selfie.
The crowd grew large enough for staff to ask Adam and Kyle to move inside the venue, as they were blocking the entrance. The pair ended up spending the rest of the day meeting the Phandom and becoming BFFs. Truly something that could only happen at SitC.
2. Jedward
Photo by Aria Mark
A totally unexpected (and marvellous) surprise from SitC 2016 has got to be Jedward. The duo attended the gathering for the entire weekend, and at one point spent over five hours meeting and taking photos with fans – including us!
At one point, we got them to our press room, where we discussed everything: Tyler Oakley’s hair, Dodie Clark’s eyebrows, Kendall Jenner’s lips, encounters with wild birds, and the hypothetical possibility of extracting the Harries twins from their home. They even serenaded us. We nearly died from all the fangirling. Read all about it here.
3. Ethnicity and Diversity Online panel
Photo by Jon D Barker
The Ethnicity and Diversity Online panel was one of the most interesting and informative panels of the entire weekend, with Nathan Zed, Jana Dam, Suli Breaks, Scola Dondo, Eman Kellam, and Taha Khan sharing their personal stories and honest thoughts about diversity on YouTube. They created an atmosphere of love and support, encouraging each other and future creators to be themselves!
4. Smaller YouTubers panel
Photo by Rachel Kiki
The Smaller YouTubers panel was one of our favourites. Featuring Sam Saffold-Geri, Ellie Wilkinson, Theo Ogden, Will Carne, Orla Ainsworth, and Aiesha Ijewere, it saw the panellists discussing numbers on YouTube, the concept of “success”, and community. It was an intriguing and thought-provoking discussion, and one we took a lot from.
Small YouTubers FTW!
5. We Met Nathan Zed!
When @nathanzed met @teneightyuk https://t.co/NfV4tXcZwe pic.twitter.com/DSybqiwChD
— Jon D Barker 📸 (@JonDBarker) August 14, 2016
When Nathan walked into our press room, it was like a cool breeze drifted in (and it wasn’t just the air-con blasting at us). His laughter captured us and his smile lit up the room, but then we fell into the deep, beautiful darkness of his eyes…
Hm, what? Oh yeah, uh… Nathan visited us. No big deal…
(We love you.)
6. #YouTubeHonestyHour
Photo by Aria Mark
Refreshingly honest, the creators on this year’s #YouTubeHonestyHour panel held back very little. We applaud Paul Neafcy who chaired much of the panel from out in the audience, fielding questions directly from fans.
Jon Cozart‘s cynicism was admirable. Daniel J. Layton described it as “cathartic”. Tough questions were asked, unfiltered answers were given. What more could you want from a panel?
7. LGBTQ+ panel
The LGBTQ+ Panel is going great, HUGE support for all the panelists. WOOP WOOP #SitC2016 pic.twitter.com/wJk3oqyc7w
— Seán of the Dead (@TheSonicScrew) August 13, 2016
This year’s LGBTQ+ panel featured the likes of Dodie Clark, Rose Dix, Rosie Spaughton, Jake Edwards, Roland West, Jazza John, and Jimmy Hill, and saw the discussion of coming out videos and the inclusivity of the term “LGBTQ+”. It was a panel that brought up important issues, and helped further the discussion about what it means to identify as LGBTQ+ on YouTube in 2016.
We look forward to seeing what next year’s panel will bring.
8. Dodie collecting her award for YouTube Song of the Year
Photo by Jon D Barker
Dodie won YouTube Song of the Year for Sick of Losing Soulmates. She was super cute, clutching her flowers and award, yet staying humble: “Oh my gosh! This is so funny, I feel like I’m pretending. I don’t know what to say. Thank you very much, thank you for listening and voting. This is really heavy. Also, congrats to everyone else who was nominated, holy wow, I have some talented, talented friends.”
She is totes adorbz. Read more about the Summer in the City Awards here.
9. Emma Blackery closing out SitC
Photo by Jon D Barker
It was amazing seeing Emma Blackery in her element, at home on the stage and killing it like the star we know she is. Speaking to the audience, she said: “I’d rather be here with you guys who love my music and know the words than play in arenas.” Aww, Emma, you’re making us feel all the feels.
We got goosebumps when the audience sang the chorus of The Promise perfectly, with no accompaniment from Emma. It’s safe to say that the UK YouTube community – including us – are totally Blackery fangirls.
Words by Christy Ku and Clare Fitzgerald.
Photos by Jon D Barker, Rachel Kiki, and Aria Mark.
We guess that’s it then.
SitC 2016 gave us so much: brilliant panels, amazing performances, and further evidence that the Phandom are truly everywhere. It was a rollercoaster of madness and talent that can only be found at a YouTube gathering. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s even happen, and we’ll see you in 2017!
What were your favourite moments from Summer in the City 2016? Send us a tweet and let us know, and be sure to check out our SitC 2016 coverage:
- Creator Day at Summer in the City 2016: Photo Recap
- Saturday at Summer in the City 2016: Photo Recap
- Sunday at Summer in the City 2016: Photo Recap
- Summer in the City Awards 2016 Round-Up
- TenEighty Meets: Jedward at Summer in the City 2016
- Five of the Best: Summer in the City 2016
Follow @TenEightyUK on Twitter for updates or like TenEighty UK on Facebook.
