Live Report: Doja Cat wows in a genre-bending set as final act of Longitude Day 2

Strutting on stage wearing a transparent latex dress, Doja Cat proved to be the crown jewel of the incredible roster of Longitude talent over the 2 day festival.

The stage featured haystacks of hair extensions (with band members donning matching shaggy hair apparel), and set the scene perfectly for the weird, and wonderful world of the American rap star.

Opening with angelic harmonies and ethereal vocals, you could be forgiven for thinking the artist was a mild mannered musician who purred her way through performances.

It's when the unholy 'Demons' kicks off that we get a taste for Doja's darker side. Featuring pyrotechnics and a rock-ier backing than the studio recording, it blazed a brazen beacon for the Marlay Park crowd- who in spite of a day of cavorting and dancing, couldn't get enough.

Doja Cat at Longitude, 30 June 2024. Copyright Bailey Shropshire/hotpress.com

Keeping this deliciously sinister delivery, the artist glistened as she performed singles 'Gun' and 'Loser', both packed with intoxicating attitude.

As she rounded out 'Loser' with an 'L' on her forehead, the artist surprisingly segwayed into 'Get Into It (Yuh)' which was received with an uproarious reaction.

The softer pop edge of 'Get Into It (Yuh)' with its funky guitar line demonstrated the artist's enormous breadth of genre, and it was clear what Doja laid down, the crowd lapped up.

'Attention' was another highlight, bringing back the celestial harmonies along with righteously angry bars from Doja Cat.

'Need to Know' live's counterpart was a richer affair than it's studio version, featuring laser beams and a booming backing from the band, with her guitarist shredding a solo in his hair extension pants.

'Streets' was a sorbet in the set, a refreshing palate cleanser, providing sherbert-y relief from some of the artist's heavier numbers.

Doja Cat at Longitude, 30 June 2024. Copyright Bailey Shropshire/hotpress.com

The pop palate cleanser of 'Street' was short lived as Doja Cat launched straight back in to her powerful bars.

It's at this point that the artist performs from a suspended bridge above the stage, with a harness around her, allowing everyone in the considerable crowd a view of her spectacular delivery.

Almost every live iteration of the American rapper's opus takes the material and brings it to the most dramatic possible delivery, and the crowd loves it.

'Agora Hill' was a candied moment in the set and rounded off the performance beautifully, as darkness enveloped the park and brought the festival and Doja's performance to a close.

Of course, the cat wasn't done playing with her food, and 'Paint The Town Red' served as the piéce-de-resistance in a spectacular gig.

The stage lit up a dark crimson, bathing the frenzied fans in the colour, indeed Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini did paint Marlay Park red.