Leading the charge, globally acclaimed dance music icons Jungle will deliver a headline DJ set, bringing their signature blend of funk, soul, and electronic grooves to the Stowaway stage. Reggae legends The Wailers, known for their timeless hits and connection to Bob Marley’s legacy, will bring an authentic roots reggae experience. Another pioneer of reggae and punk, Don Letts, will be behind the decks, spinning an eclectic selection that embodies his genre-crossing legacy. Groove Armada’s Tom Findlay makes a welcome return following the duo’s unforgettable 2024 set, promising another journey through house, funk, and electronic classics.

“I had a ball playing twice at the brilliant Stowaway last summer and so happy to be invited back this year to play disco on the Listen Here stage either side of some of my favourite DJs…. see you on the dance floor!” – Tom Findlay (Groove Armada)

The second wave of artists also features jungle trailblazer DJ Storm, a key figure in the Drum & Bass scene, and NTS selector Shy One, known for her genre-fluid approach to DJing. Festival favourite Luke Una will go B2B with the ever-eclectic Prosumer, delivering a set brimming with deep cuts and dancefloor energy. They join an already stacked line-up featuring previously announced headliners Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra, Shy FX, Derrick Carter, Horse Meat Disco, Seun Kuti, Anna Erhard, James Alexander Bright, Cousin Kula, and Webmoms. Our very own Hobbs & Ron Mexico will also be there for their debut at Stowaway and will bring their usual energy, vibes and fun! With this stellar selection, Stowaway continues to raise the bar as one of the UK’s most exciting rising festivals, blending electronic, jazz, reggae, and leftfield sounds into an unmissable weekend.

“The Stowaway lineup is designed to offer something for every musical taste, showcasing a diverse range of sounds across the festival each night. From late-night discos to family-friendly singalongs, each day brings something new, with our stages offering fresh experiences every evening. We want to take you on a musical adventure, whether it’s exploring the woods, relaxing by the jetty, or hunting down our secret late-night ‘covers’ bar…” – Festival founder Duncan Wheeler

Launched in 2022, Stowaway Festival was created as the perfect escape from modern-day distractions, offering an immersive weekend of music, nature, and connection. Set against a breathtaking backdrop, the festival brings together world-class DJs and live acts for an uplifting, genre-spanning experience. Its popularity continues to soar—this summer, attendance grew by over 20%, defying the odds in a challenging festival climate. The festival prides itself on its intimate atmosphere, where like-minded music lovers can dance beneath the stars, explore hidden woodland stages, and discover new sounds in a truly unique setting.

Beyond the music, Stowaway offers a thoughtfully curated selection of artisan food and drink, with everything from locally sourced street food to craft cocktails and independent breweries. Adventurous festival-goers can take part in wild swimming, canoeing, and paddleboarding, while those looking to unwind can experience wellness sessions, yoga, and the lakeside woodland spa. Families are well catered for too, with a full programme of kid’s activities, all included in the ticket price.

Made by friends, for friends, Stowaway Festival is more than just a weekend of music—it’s a hidden world of discovery, connection, and pure escapism.

Tickets for Stowaway Festival 2025 are on sale now and start at £209 and payment plans are available. Don’t hang about, secure yours today from their website!

The post Stowaway Festival 2025 Drops 2nd Wave Of Artists appeared first on Data Transmission.

Stowaway Festival 2025 has just dropped their first wave of artists. The festival will take place between 15th and 17th August in the beautiful ancient woodlands and lakes near Stowe, Buckinghamshire.

Topping the bill are Fabio & Grooverider with The Outlook Orchestra, the first headliners to be announced. They’ll be joined by a killer lineup that includes Shy FX, Derrick Carter, Horse Meat Disco, Sean Kuti, Anna Erhard, James Alexander Bright, Cousin Kula, and Webmoms. And don’t worry, there’s loads more to come—more headliners and acts will be revealed early next year.

Stowaway is only in its 3rd year but is already establishing a reputation for balancing the sometimes incompatible concepts of ‘electronic music’
and ‘kid friendly’. – The Guardian, Festival Guide 2024

Since kicking off in 2022, Stowaway Festival has been all about giving people a break from the everyday grind. It’s the kind of weekend where you can vibe to top-notch music in a jaw-dropping setting, surrounded by amazing people. The festival’s been on the up too—2024 saw a 20% boost in attendance, a big win in what’s been a tough time for festivals.

But it’s not just about the tunes. There’s loads to dive into: mouth-watering artisan food and drink, wild swimming, canoeing, paddleboarding, and wellness activities to help you chill out. Got kids? No problem—there’s plenty for them to do too, all included in the ticket. And if you’re after something a bit more indulgent, the lakeside woodland spa’s got you covered.

To mature revellers who still love the thud of bass but want a festival which is clean, safe, beautiful, friendly and fun, Stowaway is a gift. – Oxford Mail

The festival’s also big on doing things the right way. They work with local suppliers, focus on eco-friendly practices, and keep the vibe community-centred. There are recycling points all over, and they’re all about cutting down on single-use plastic—so don’t forget your reusable bottle. Plus, they’re teaming up with local charities to give back.

For the explorers out there, there’s plenty of adventure to be had. Think hidden trails, secret stages, and surprise pop-up performances that keep things fresh. Workshops like yoga, mindfulness, and crafting make sure there’s a little something for everyone.

For a small festival, Stowaway packs a lot in, especially given everything – including the fairground rides – is free, something we’ve never seen before. With an ethos that seems to prioritise love over money, its future feels assured. – Record Of The Day

So, whether you’re raving under the stars, soaking up the natural beauty, or uncovering the festival’s hidden gems, Stowaway is the perfect place to make memories with your crew. Keep an eye out for more updates—2025’s shaping up to be something special!

Tickets for Stowaway Festival 2025 are on sale now and start at £209. Don’t hang about, secure yours today from their website!

The post Stowaway Festival 2025 Announces 1st Wave of Artists appeared first on Data Transmission.

Celebrating the history of Jungle and Drum & Bass, the legends of the scene, along with The Outlook Orchestra, are set to perform at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall on Friday, 14th March. It’s the first time Jungle and Drum & Bass will be played with an orchestra at this historic venue, so you know it’s going to be something special!

Get ready for classic anthems like you’ve never heard before, with stunning orchestral versions of the most iconic tracks in the genre. Plus, there’ll be guest vocalists on the night.

Fabio & Grooverider are absolute legends in the game and still leading the charge in the scene they helped create. As the pioneers of Jungle and Drum & Bass, they’ve been making waves since 1988 and continue to be huge names in the underground.

From their legendary RAGE residency at London’s Heaven nightclub to iconic nights at Metalheadz, Speed, and Swerve, they’ve been around the globe influencing the scene. They’ve just wrapped up a packed summer of shows, including a 5-week sold-out residency at London’s XOYO in May, alongside some big names in the industry.

Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra’s live orchestral take on sound system culture has become legendary since their first show at Royal Festival Hall in 2022. Since then, they’ve headlined major festivals like Boomtown, Secret Garden Party, Lloyds Amphitheatre in Bristol, and We Out Here, just to name a few.

Now, they’re buzzing to bring the show back to London at the Royal Albert Hall for a night that promises to be an epic tribute to the roots and legacy of Jungle and Drum & Bass.

Tickets go on sale Friday, 4th October at 10 am – make sure you grab yours now from www.gigsandtours.com / www.ticketmaster.co.uk!

The post Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra announce their biggest London show appeared first on Data Transmission.

In a remarkable expansion, the trailblazers of the music scene are set to debut in Manchester and Nottingham, in addition to a superb London showcase. The esteemed pioneers, alongside The Outlook Orchestra, will orchestrate a distinctive and commemorative score that pays homage to the history of Jungle and Drum & Bass. By reimagining timeless anthems in remarkable ways, the performance will captivate the imaginations of music enthusiasts spanning generations. The event promises breathtaking orchestral interpretations of the genres’ most revered and cherished tracks, complemented by the participation of reputable guest vocalists on each night.

Here’s a little taste of what went down earlier this year…

Undoubtedly one of the most iconic collaborations in the music world, Fabio & Grooverider continue to lead the forefront of a movement they helped shape, championing the now global influences of Jungle, Drum & Bass, and beyond. With roots dating back to 1988, they have left an indelible mark, shining as guiding lights within the underground realm. From their seminal residency, RAGE, at London’s renowned Heaven nightclub, to their involvement with Metalheadz, Speed, and Swerve club nights, their DJ careers have spanned the globe and exerted a profound influence across various genres.

Formed in 2017, The Outlook Orchestra has rapidly risen as a powerful entity in its own right. Collaborating with stalwarts of the sound system culture from around the world, the orchestra constantly pushes boundaries to propel the scene into fresh and thrilling territories. These upcoming events are poised to be unforgettable evenings, delivering an exclusive musical encounter that serves as a genuine celebration of the past, present, and future of UK rave culture.

Tickets go on sale Friday 1st September at 9:30am and will be available from www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

UK HEADLINE DATES 2024

Sat 13 January – Manchester Academy
Fri 19 January – London Eventim Apollo
Sat 20 January – Nottingham Rock City

The post Fabio & Grooverider announce more A History Of Jungle and Drum & Bass dates with The Outlook Orchestra appeared first on Data Transmission.

Thursday 27th July will see the pioneering partnership perform outstanding orchestral renditions of classic drum & bass anthems at Lloyds Amphitheatre against the stunning backdrop of Bristol’s harbour – providing the ultimate setting for the duo’s eclectic sets. With an incredible selection of giant names in dance music to be announced, Siren is set to gather Bristol crowds for the ultimate summer party in the open air.

After four years in the making, the godfathers of the scene, Fabio & Grooverider, are collaborating with The Outlook Orchestra to present an exceptional score featuring some of the scene’s most well-loved tracks. Riding high from two sold-out nights at London’s Royal Festival Hall, the show celebrates the history of jungle and drum & bass with a genre-bending tribute. Coming to the UK’s second drum & bass home, the headliners explore classic anthems in ways never-before-experienced – sparking the imagination of generations of music lovers.

“Bristol can expect a 40-piece orchestra. You are going to see something different. We’re going to be showing you how you can translate drum and bass music, jungle music into an orchestra format. It’s exciting to see, it’s different. 

It’s something really special. Me and Groove have been DJing for a long time and this just hits different. It’s an experience. Instead of carrying music like mp3s, we are carrying an orchestra. When you hear the music live, you’ll feel it. You’ll understand.”

Fabio

One of the most legendary partnerships in music, Fabio & Grooverider remain at the forefront of a scene they helped build, championing the now global sounds of the underground and beyond. From pirate radio to the seminal jungle night Rage at Heaven, and now onto the biggest stages across the globe, the pair have helped forge a vast range of styles, including liquid, jump-up, technical, minimal and half-time. Widely recognised as the pioneers of jungle and drum & bass, they have been making their mark on dance music since 1988. The faces of D&B music on BBC Radio 1 for 14 years, they’ve helped break some of the biggest acts today. 

Formed in 2017, The Outlook Orchestra has grown to be a force in its own right, collaborating with trailblazers within sound system culture from across the globe and striving to drive the scene forward in new ways. Working closely with contributors including Dizzee Rascal, David Rodigan and Mala, the Orchestra has presented unforgettable performances of timeless classics, in a way crowds have never heard before. 

Paying homage to globally-renowned tracks from the underground, this is a not-to-be-missed moment of Bristol’s summer. 

“It’s great to bring Siren back to Bristol Harbourside this year with our biggest line-up yet. Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra will be kicking off the weekend, which is the perfect way to get the party started. A legendary duo in drum & bass and jungle, they’re a living machine of creativity and not to be missed.”  

Tom Hoyle, Co-Founder of Siren

Tickets go on sale at here: https://www.sirenbristol.com/fabiogrooverideroutlookorchestra. With the full line-up soon to be announced, festival fans can keep up to date with all news and updates from Siren on the website and Instagram

The post Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra set to headline Siren Bristol appeared first on Data Transmission.

The main change this year was the festival’s reset to Chapter One – a change saying goodbye to the eleven-year-long storyline Boomtown had previously built. It wasn’t just a reset of the storyline (an interactive element of the festival we’ve come to love over the years), it was a reset of the festival layout we knew. This year, Boomtown condensed its operations into the area previously known as the downtown bowl. This meant no Lion’s Den, no Psy Forest and a lot less walking.

People were sceptical about what this meant for the festival experience. Would it be too small? Would it be the same Boomtown experience we loved? This was the first thought many had when arriving on the Wednesday. Looking down on the festival city from the downtown campsite was strange. It looked tiny and you could hear murmurs of people worrying about it being too busy at peak times. But this wasn’t the case.

Boomtown 2022 promised the new-look city, despite being smaller, would be more imaginative and immersive than ever before. They weren’t lying. Somehow, you still managed to get lost wandering the maze of streets joining the districts, there were actors everywhere bringing flair to the city, and the set design was magnificent. Even the close proximity stages, which looked like they would have sound bleeding into one another, all sounded incredible. While I heard many people complaining before the city opened, I heard barely any complaints once the city closed.

If anything, people were more concerned with the heat and dust than the changes to the festival. Usually, at Boomtown, we’re used to torrential rain (who remembers SHY FX followed by Jungle Cakes at Lion’s Den 2018?) but this year, everyone swapped ponchos for sun cream because there was rarely a cloud in the sky. While this did bring its struggles, it created a wonderful backdrop for Boomtown’s colours to thrive.

This came to the fore on Thursday when street parties popped up across the outskirts of the city. Huge rigs, good music and blue skies – what more could you want? With Born On Road and Rumble in The Jungle running a pop-up Elektrical Soundsytem stage, and Dubtendo throwing a separate one in conjunction with Swing & Bass, there was a party atmosphere in the air to kick-start the first full day of the festival.

The Dubtendo street party set the tone for the festival with its good energy. From people donning Mario costumes and mushroom hats to others waving Dubtendo signs – and not to forget the fat rig that shook your body to the core – the party was well underway here. JFB’s vinyl scratching and Foor’s mash-up bassline were highlights of the afternoon, with the latter artist bringing about a beautiful moment when he played Rozalla’s ‘Everybody’s Free’. With the sun beating down and arms waving in the air, it was a feel-good moment reminding everyone of the freedom Boomtown represents, especially this year. We were finally back at the Matterley Bowl dancing together again. Bliss.

It’s a feeling of togetherness that became a theme of the festival experience. Titled ‘The Gathering’, this year’s Boomtown was all about the community coming back together to connect and dance. Because of that, there was positive energy oozing out of the attendees, artists and workers. From food stalls battling it out with each other blaring tunes while punters decided which stall to dance in front of, to attendees lugging water spray cans and guns around the site just so they could cool off fellow attendees mid-dance.

This infectious energy carried on into Friday, which was the day when the city really came alive. All roads led to the official opening ceremony in the afternoon, which took place on both main stages – Origin (a towering industrial structure for all things drum and bass), and Grand Central (a retro-looking stage bringing Lion’s Den flavour). Boomtown’s opening shows always pack an important message, and this year’s was around unity in the world. There were #FreePalestine flags waving and lyrics around being “all together, all races, all sexualities”. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Boomtown opening ceremony without vibrant theatrics (especially the performers dangling from a crane above the stage).

While the opening show was incredible, what followed was just as memorable – Dick & Dom playing a cameo set to warm up for Arrested Development. There had been rumours flying around earlier in the day of Dick & Dom showing up, and it prompted excitement in the campsites with people screaming “BOGIES”. This was made better when Dick & Dom came on stage and shouted the famous phrase.

For many of us, watching Dick & Dom be silly on TV was part of our upbringing, so to see them on stage blasting bassline and Drum & Bass was a surreal experience – particularly when they worked the crowd with Kleu’s ‘Rudy, A Message To You’. It set us up nicely for what was going to be a festival weekend filled with good feels and plenty of hearty tunes.

Heavy music was the main course on Boomtown’s menu this year. For the first time, the organisers kept the line-up secret until days before, which was a move met with criticism. If you were more into your house or techno or hoping for huge headliners, then you will have been disappointed. But if you love heavy bass music, then you would have been ecstatic at the likes of Born On Road, 24 Hour Garage Girls, Ed Rush b2b Optical, Dutty Moonshine, Sherelle and DJ Marky.

Boomtown always reiterated this year’s line-up wouldn’t be filled with huge acts due to the financial loss that occurred during Covid, and if anything, this encouraged the team to dig deeper with their music programming for what was arguably the most diverse line-up they’ve had. From more females than ever before to acts of all colours, races and identities, it was a joy to see so much thought go into this year’s programming.

Drum & Bass heads were especially happy with the line-up as there was a phenomenal billing of artists and collectives flying the flag for the genre. Friday felt like a love letter to the underground bass music scene with The Grid, Hidden Woods and Origin stages all proudly pushing Drum & Bass and Jungle flavours to thousands of ravers. It was the latter of those stages that stood out with a Critical Music takeover featuring Kasra, Enei, Halogenix, Bryan Gee b2b DJ Die and more. As a towering behemoth of a stage looking weathered and distressed, Origin was the perfect setting for a genre of music that has been through the mill over the years, but always comes out on top.

As the weekend hit, the feeling of celebration that had been building reached a climax with Boomtown’s official celebration fancy dress day. While many didn’t bother because of the heat, those who did ran with the theme in spectacular Boomtown fashion – the actors especially.

As important as music is to Boomtown, the theatrics are just as vital. This year, there was something happening everywhere you looked. Pop-up moving mechanical stages with a DJ inside, a band of people dressed in junk parts doing the YMCA with attendees, the little room in the Metropolis district where you could sit on the sofa ‘playing’ Xbox while listening to an intense loop of gabba – the city was a full-on sensory experience. I especially loved the actors at Area 404. By day, they were spraying people from above with water guns, and by night, they were shooting fire (not at us, thankfully).

It’s these random moments that define the Boomtown experience (and why the festival didn’t need to release a line-up beforehand). You always know you’re going to be immersed in a weird and wonderful world when you step into Boomtown’s city. Those following the storyline will have known all about this as they walked into random rooms, got asked to do questionable things by actors, and often were sent on wild goose chases to find clues.

If you weren’t following the storyline on Saturday then you were probably catching some of the incredible acts on the bill. The pick of the bunch was Fabio & Grooverider & The Outlook Orchestra at Grand Central. We first saw Fabio & Grooverider perform with The Outlook Orchestra at London’s Southbank Centre earlier this year, but this festival performance was one that was three years in the making, and a moment Grooverider admitted he felt “nervous” about.

As early pioneers of jungle and D&B, it was brilliant to see them reeling through the history of the genre in a format where the duo narrated the timeline and its developments along the way. The live orchestra was the star of the show, performing swine-tingling renditions of classics including Makoto’s ‘Golden Girl’ (with sublime live vocals from Cleveland Watkiss), and Chase & Status’ ‘In Love’, which Jenna G performed live alongside epic sax solos.

One thing I noticed during this set was the crowd energy. People were dancing like crazed beings expressing themselves however they felt fit. This is Boomtown. People oozing free-flowing energy in the dance like it was their last festival. Maybe it was the influences they were under, or maybe it was the fact we were witnessing special moments all festival that called for raw emotion. Saturday night was full of them, as across sight on Origin, Noisia were performing an emotional final UK set before parting ways. It was a performance we’d been building anticipation for all weekend and the production was fitting for the occasion with lasers and flames popping off from all angles.

I was disappointed only to see Thys behind the decks when you’d think all three members would have been there for their UK send-off. Because of that, the set was more of an experimental journey than a full-on Noisia showdown, but it was still a special occasion. Thys jumping on the mic at the end to say “And now it’s over… Thank you so much for all of these years” was a tear-jerking moment that will live long in people’s memories.

The final day of Boomtown was filled with just as many big moments to enjoy. Whether it was DJ Marky & GQ shutting down Origin when Marky scratched to DJ Hazard’s ‘Bricks Don’t Roll’ – one of the festival’s best moments that had the crowd going nuts as he spans with the vinyl deck in his hands, or DLR going b2b with Break for a hefty Sunday send-off, there were some outstanding musical moments to experience.

But if you weren’t into D&B, then you were probably watching Kool & The Gang at Grand Central. It was a beautiful show you don’t get the opportunity to see often in a lifetime as they reeled through classics sparking nostalgia amongst the crowd. When ‘Celebration’ played, there was a sea of people on shoulders and everyone was singing along. It was the perfect way to close a festival return we were all celebrating.

As always, Boomtown ended with a closing ceremony on the two main stages. Origin’s saw A Little Sound and take centre stage for what was an epic finale with hearty basslines, while also relaying an important message about the planet and being connected as one. Some people clearly didn’t get the message though – leaving masses of tents and rubbish behind after the festival closed. Sustainability is at the heart of Boomtown’s mission, so to see so much disregard for it was a big shame, especially considering the messages of togetherness throughout the event.

Here’s to hoping Chapter Two: The Twin Trail brings the same positive energy and big moments we experienced this year, but with more care for Boomtown’s values.

Keep up to date with news about Boomtown Chapter Two: The Twin Trail here

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