Looking over the line up for this years Outlook festival is somewhat akin to reading a who’s-who list of artists in the bass music industry. Label heads and scene pioneers sit alongside bass music’s up and comers in a carefully curated line-up that has evidently had a lot of time and thought put into it. With its combination of established icons and flourishing newcomers, the festival leads the way forward for bass music and sound system culture: paying homage to its roots whilst shining a light on the industry’s future.
Set in the nineteenth century Fort Punta Christo, located by the sea with a stretch of beach just ten miles from Pula in Croatia, over the past seven years Outlook has made a name for itself as Europe’s leading bass music festival. Offering thirty degree beaches, boat parties and a top quality dub-heavy sound systems, the festival has somewhat set the trend when it comes to combining a beach holiday with a festival. With legends such as Lauryn Hill, Busta Rhymes, Barrington Levy and Dj Premier topping the bill, and beyond that a vast showcase of dub-influenced dance music from producers and selectors sitting at the top in their field, Outlook offers its revellers not only beautiful surroundings but top quality vibrations too.
With sound culture at the heart of the festival, custom-built sound systems and selectors play a key part in Outlook’s line up. This year the legendary Jah Shaka, Mungo’s Hi-Fi, Iration Steppas and Red-Eye HiFi will be busting up Croatia with their exclusive dubplate collections and rigs. Furthermore, roots-reggae specialists and selectors David Rodigan and Trojan Record’s Earl Gateshead, two men with an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things dub and decades of experience to boot, hold down two must-see sets for anyone who cares about their sound history, alongside performances from roots legends such as Michael Prophet, Horace Andy and General Levy.
Dubstep has always played a key role in the festival’s vibe, and continues to go well supported this year with genre pioneers Hatcha, Seven, Digital Mystikz, Youngsta, Pinch, Loefah and VIVEK all in attendance for 2014. The dubstep here bears very little resemblance to Skrillex (just so we’re clear: Coachella this is not). For true school dubstep enthusiasts Outlook is a paradise: representing the meditative, the expansive, the challenging and the downright dark elements of the genre with their impeccable line up selections. On top of sets from some long-established dubstep stalwarts, look forward to appearances from New Zealand outfit Truth, Acre, Geode, and Brotherhood Sound system founders Silas and Snare Surgeon.
A feast of bass-orientated dance and electronic music, the festivals DJ slots swing from Drum and Bass artists Andy C, Marcus Intalex and DRS, Dub Phizix and Strategy to a range of grime acts from Newham Generals, Butterz founders Elijah and Skilliam, Royal T, Swindle, Big Narstie, LV and Josh Idehen, and Bristolian sound boys Kahn and Neek (who also play dub under the moniker Gorgon Sound). Bass heavy house gets a significant look in, with highlights including Boddika, Hannah Wants and Paleman, with Zed Bias and Mj Cole bringing the certified grade A garage to the party.
Last year’s festival saw a shift with more attention being given to hip hop artists, and this continues into 2014 with headline sets from American rapper Busta Rhymes and esteemed hip hop producer DJ Premier, as well as a performance from Stones Throw artist JonWayne, known both for his productions and his rhymes. However, the majority of hip hop acts on the festival’s line up this year are British. UK hip hop renegades High Focus will be attending in full force, with artists The Four Owls, Fliptrix, Leaf Dog, Verb T, Dirty Dike, Jam Baxter and Edward Scissortongue all on the bill for 2014. Performing alongside them are Manchester’s Pete Cannon and Dr Syntax, Fox, Sparkz, Strategy, T-Man and The Mouse Outfit, as well as nine-piece Bristol crew Split Prophets.
Outlook has made its name as a sound culture festival; embracing both modern day bass music and the roots culture on which its many genres are founded. Taking place this year between Wednesday 3rd and Sunday 7th September, with music finishing at 6am Monday morning, 2014 features a glittering collection of the very best in reggae, roots, dub, bass, garage, grime, drum and bass, hip hop and bass-heavy house. Although the festival season is already in full swing, Outlook looks set to be one of its highlights. With tickets still available to pick up here, don’t miss your chance to experience the very best that bass music has to offer this September in Croatia.
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