Written by Sophie Wyatt
Since launching We Out Here Festival back in 2019, Founder Gilles Peterson has continued to grow this show-stopping festival into a summer must. This year the festival is setting up roots in our their new home in Wimborne St Giles, Dorset. Having previously taken place in Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire for the last three editions, the festival is excited to embark on a new chapter in an idyllic new site; unfurling within 400 acres of lush parkland in the South-West of England. Other than the date and location changes of the musical extravaganza, We Out Here ensures “our festival formula remains the same: a line-up overflowing with genre pioneers and the most exciting emerging talent, and an array of family, wellness & cultural activities.”
The award winning weekender presents a cross-generational and diverse programme of artists across a number of genres. This year the festival will see the likes of Ezra Collective, Roisin Murphy, Knucks, Black Star and Nia Archives taking centre stage as headliners. With a wide range of artists from around the world, both musical and physical, the festival prides itself on championing the emerging artists alongside established musicians. This is very in character for founder Gilles Peterson who has been platforming artists in many different ways throughout his 40-year career. Including his annual Future Bubblers initiative which searches for the countries best emerging artists to help mentor to future success.
Photo by Ellie Koepke
Being part of the Jazz world himself, Gilles Peterson lays on an amazing Jazz spread every year for We Out Here. The ever-energetic Ezra Collective make a return appearance to We Out Here, alongside dubstep pioneer Mala who calls up jazz luminary Joe Armon-Jones for their high-lauded hybrid jazz/dub live show and DOMi & JD Beck the virtuostic duo who have rapidly built up a fierce reputation, all joining previously-announced jazz staples Nubya Garcia, Makaya McCraven and Yazmin Lacey.
But the musical options do not stop there. Hip-Hop super duo Black Star, comprising of Yasiin Bey fka Mos Def and Talib Kweli make an appearance over 25 years after their critically acclaimed debut album and legendary acid-jazz band Galliano make a return, both joining the ranks of fellow seminal artists: British funk band Cymande, celebrating 50 years, Sun Ra Arkestra led by 99-year old bandleader Marshall Allen and Grammy-nominated American vocalist Meshell Ndegeocello. New gen talent is also in ample attendance: new wave junglist Nia Archives presents her live show as does Nabihah Iqbal ahead of an upcoming album, alongside Live.e, Neo-soul favourites Children of Zeus and Romare with a special electronic live show, who join previously announced post punk outfit Black Midi, Wu-Lu and Space Afrika.
There is also a lengthy list of DJ’s from the world of club, dance and house music throughout the festival. Omar S and Eris Drew lead the charge here, bringing the heat of their hometowns Detroit and Chicago respectively – the birthplaces of House & Techno – alongside fellow exports Ash Lauryn and Marcellus Pittman for a true celebration of the US’s iconic dance party spirit. Other DJ debuts are set for disco purveyors Horse Meat Disco, beloved band Jungle and broken beat pioneer Dego.
Meanwhile celebrating all things hard and heavy: the programme honours 30 years of seminal drum & bass and jungle labels Metalheadz & V-Recordings, both booked in for huge takeovers with some of the scene’s biggest names: Goldie, DJ Storm, LTJ Bukem, and Roni Size.. And representing the family-feel community spirit the festival has established over the years, welcome returns are set for festival favourites Mr Scruff, Coco Maria, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, Josey Rebelle and Patrick Forge.
Founder & curator Gilles Peterson says of the festival’s most recent lineup announcement:
“I’m very excited for summer 2023 now. We’ve added over 100 musicians and DJs to this year’s lineup, featuring some of my favourite acts right now and exciting new talent in the scene today. There’s even more to come over the coming weeks as we continue the warmup to We Out Here Festival 2023!”
The festivals new location in the lush fields of Dorset will help to only further promote its running ethos of outstanding live music, some of the best record collections in the world, high-end sound and production, family, wellness & cultural activities and above all, uniting a worldwide family of conscious music-loving people. We cannot wait for this four-day utopia, and we know you can’t either. Find out more about the festival and the link to tickets through their website.
