Celebrating all elements of contemporary UK club culture, We Out Here festival has quickly established itself as one of the most forward-thinking events on Britain’s musical calendar. Located in Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire, the four-day weekender not only hosts established selectors but an array of jazz, hip-hop and other-worldly sounds across 12 stages of musical goodness.
150 artists have been curated by Gilles Peterson and his team for 2022, and with the festival taking place in less than two weeks, we wanted to pick out a few names well worth checking out before you enter those walls of music discovery.
Ojerime
Layering RnB tones with cutting-edge UK sonics, such as jazz and drill, Ojerime’s proved herself as a defining voice in the country’s neo-soul-sphere. A captivating 'Colors Berlin' show separated herself from contemporaries last year, storming through a striking performance of ‘Often Enough’ and winning her accreditation globally. Recent single ‘Nothing’, which features the unmistakable guitar work of Mansur Brown, is one of our favourites from 2022, and with a mixtape in the pipeline, We Out Here will be one of the first times forthcoming music may be played by the South Londoner. The songstress tackles sensitive subjects in a bewitching manner, and as she takes to the 'main stage' on Friday afternoon, we know the performance will be something to behold.
LISTEN: Nothing & Give it to me
Fiyahdred
Remember ‘Bamz’? Well, the UK Funky aficionado returned last year under an exciting new moniker - ‘Fiyahdred’. Unwilling to be bound by conventional clubbing tropes, the producer signed to HyperDub and released a flaming five-track EP, which features sounds as sporadic as soca and grime. ‘Anyway (Do it)’, with its inherently scuzzy ama-piano sonics is a highlight but the project’s general disparity bodes well for an eclectic DJ selection at We Out Here this month. Gracing the 'Lemon Lounge', with its equally intimate settings and brain-mincing sound system, their set on Saturday night will bring maximum vibes and energy to Abbots Ripton.
LISTEN: Bottle Riddim & Flooty Lupez
Hagan
Blending the funkier tempos from Britain’s clubbing spectrum with the Ghanian sounds of his heritage, Hagan’s percussive productions have found themselves on labels as prestigious as Enchufada and Future Bounce. Brain-rattling basslines and polyrhythmic textures are the fixtures of his DJ sets, which naturally advocate a range of African-influenced club sounds: from ama piano to afrobeats and gqom to bacardi house. Radio support from the likes of Karen Nyame KG (Foundation FM), Benji B (Radio 1) and Scratcha DVA (NTS) shows just how well regarded he is in the country’s DJ-sphere and his set in 'the Forest' on Friday night will be one of the most unmissable from any selector on the lineup.
LISTEN: Sise Ntweni & Tropics
John Glacier
After a slew of features for similarly enigmatic rappers, such as BabyFather and Lyam, John Glacier announced themselves to the world with ‘SHILOH: Lost For Words’: an entrancing mixtape that sees the wordsmith stream her conscience over hypnotic, industrial productions. Vegyn’s close collaborator and compatriot submerges her confessional raps in equally dark and ethereal sonics, exploring themes such as identity and belonging in uniquely slurry flows. Although Glacier is new to live settings, expect an enchanting performance in the bushes of Lush Life on Thursday evening.
LISTEN: Boozy, Cryptomnesia
Muva of Earth
Muva of Earth’s soulful croons and afrofuturistic rhythms have been a mainstay on Gilles Peterson’s radio shows in 2022, and with such celestial beauty, it is easy to see why. The alt-jazz soulstress is as confident over the shuffling instrumentation of Jkarri as she is the multifaceted production of Nikhil Beats; two of the most esteemed musicians in London’s musical diaspora. Switching naturally between spoken word flows and tranquilizing harmonies, she is often a feature of our playlists and we cannot wait to witness the greatness of tracks like 'AFFIRMATION' live. Head to the 'main stage' on Thursday afternoon to catch Muva of Earth with us.
LISTEN: FEED MY MIND, DiVine Ascension
Haven’t brought your ticket yet? cop now on We Out Here’s website.
With wellness activities, second-hand-vinyl shops and a range of street food and drink stalls, We Out Here will quench your thirst for both a relaxed and lively affair over the bank holiday weekend. We shall see you there.
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