Reggae Land is the biggest reggae festival in the UK and one of the largest in Europe, with up to 100,000 people expected in 2025. Known for its unbeatable line-ups, it brings together reggae legends, rising stars, and everything in between. The vibe is always warm and welcoming, with a family-friendly atmosphere that celebrates authentic Caribbean music, food, and culture.

Since moving to The National Bowl in 2023, the festival has made itself right at home. This iconic venue, famous for hosting world-class events, has a natural amphitheatre design that guarantees amazing sound. Plus, Milton Keynes is super easy to get to, with great transport links from all over the UK.

“Reggae Land has grown into something truly special over the past five years and we couldn’t be prouder of what it’s become. Starting as a dream to celebrate reggae music and Caribbean culture, it has now become the UK’s biggest reggae festival, attracting tens of thousands of people from all over the world. The incredible growth we’ve seen reflects the passion and love for reggae, as well as the unique atmosphere we’ve created – one that brings together iconic artists, amazing food, vibrant cultural experiences, and a sense of community you won’t find anywhere else. Year five is set to be our best yet!” – JBM Music (Promoters)

For the weekend, the venue will transform into a Caribbean paradise. Think of a buzzing Caribbean food village with over 50 food vendors, a reggae flea market, a reggae museum, a VIP zone, a Rum Shack, cocktail bars, and plenty of festival merch. It’s a proper celebration of Caribbean culture with one of the most diverse and lively crowds you’ll see at any festival.

The Main Stage is getting a serious upgrade this year, with bigger screens, more sound, and a stacked line-up featuring legends like Chronnix, YG Marley, Protoje, Capleton, Steel Pulse, General Levy and Kabaka Pyramid. Fan favourite Gyptian, known for his hit ‘Hold You,’ is back by popular demand, and there’s still a very special guest to be announced.

The One Love Stage will feature icons like Morgan Heritage, Etana, Spragga Benz, Christopher Martin, Israel Vibration, Marcia Griffiths, and Tanya Stephens. Meanwhile, the Carnival Stage is the place to rave, with jungle heavyweights like Serial Killaz, Mampi Swift, Ed Solo, Benny Page, and Ragga Twins. Rompa’s Reggae Shack will host takeovers from Iration Steppas and Channel One and feature DT faves Dub Pistols, Daddy Nature and Uncle Dugs, while dub fans can hit the Dub Stage for sets from Mungo’s Hi-Fi, Mad Professor, Trojan Sound System, and more.

Tickets are expected to sell out fast when they drop at 9 AM on Friday, 31st January. Day tickets start at £59.50, and weekend passes are from £110. Make sure you sign up to grab yours early! Go to the Reggae Land website here

LINE UP

SATURDAY

MAIN STAGE

Capleton – Special Guest TBA – Protoje – Gyptian – Lila Ike – General Levy – Becca D – Styxlo – Hosted by Solo Banton

ONE LOVE STAGE

Alpha Blondy – Etana – Morgan Heritage – Christopher Martin – Queens Of Lovers Rock Ft Carroll Thompson, Janet Kay, Dawn Penn & Adele Harley – Black Roots – Ras Kwame

CARNIVAL STAGE

Jungle Cakes Takeover w/ Ed Solo B2B Deekline b2b Benny Page Ft Navigator – Mampi Swift Ft Navigator – Ragga Twins Crew – Shabba Presents Carnival Sound (Lyvonne The Don, Janelle Wynter, MC Serocee) – Earl Gateshead – DJ AG 

ROMPA’S REGGAE SHACK

Iration Steppas – Ardimann MC – Daddy Nature – DJ Dansey – JP (World Dance) – MC Raptor – Mister Bounce – T-Cuts

THE DUB STAGE

Mad Professor Presents 45 Years of Ariwa w/ Tony Benjamin, Sister Aisha, I-Jah – Trojan Sound System – King Tubby’s Sound System – Greensleeves Sound System Vs Iration Steppas (Dubs From The Foundation) – Sinai Sound – YNG CPTN Sound

SUNDAY

MAIN STAGE

Chronixx – Special Guest TBA – YG Marley – Steel Pulse – Kabaka Pyramid – Sevana – Styxlo – Hosted by Solo Banton

ONE LOVE STAGE

Marcia Griffiths & Tanya Stephens – Spragga Benz – Israel Vibration – Everton Blender – Jah Lil – Mortimer – Ras Kwame 

CARNIVAL STAGE

20 years of Serial Killaz Ft Top Cat & Mad Sam – Seani B – Ray Keith B2B Nicky Blackmarket Ft Moose – Don Letts – Kash & Pharoah G (1Xtra) – Dennyhus – Reggae Roast Ft Mr Williamz & Adj – Marc Ryder

ROMPA’S REGGAE SHACK

Channel One – Ardimann MC – Ayito – Boxer Banton – Daddy Nature – Dub Pistols (DJ Set) – Skilzee – Uncle Dugs (94 Jungle Set)

DUB STAGE

Mungo’s Hi Fi – Aba Shanti I – Saxon Sound – Dub Smugglers – Rampage Sound – Dub Pistols Sound System – Side By Side Sound System

The post Reggae Land 2025 drops full lineup for Milton Keynes Bowl appeared first on Data Transmission.

Granted, the presence of lyricists within Drum & Bass is by no means a novelty. Traditionally, the culture has always relied on the skills of MCs, especially in live environments, but what we’ve seen in recent years is different. With grime artists joining the scene for the first time, the majority are releasing fully produced songs, with written lyrics throughout. By contrast, MCs have typically improvised live in the rave, giving a different feel to their collaborations with producers.

The single best, and most exciting example of this is Chase & Status’ newest release ‘Backbone’, with Stormzy, arguably the UK’s most famous rapper. Having been teased and rumoured for months, the single was eventually released in early August 2024, and performed, by the rapper himself, in front of 45,000 ravers for the producers’ biggest ever headline show, at the Milton Keynes Bowl the following weekend. The song serves as a showpiece, the pinnacle of the fortunate, developing marriage between Drum & Bass and Grime. Because Stormzy is not the first Grime artist to dabble in Drum & Bass.

The relationship between the two has developed in the space of the last few years, driven by pioneers like P Money, who is now one of the most established rappers in the Drum & Bass world. Gaining notoriety in the early 2010s as a grime MC, P Money first jumped on a Drum & Bass tune in 2019, collaborating with Kanine on ‘Point ‘Em Up’. He went on to team up with British producer Whiney, with whom he has now released a whole host of songs, including October 2023’s collaborative album ‘Streets, Love & Other Stuff’. Consisting of 14 songs, the album represents the coming together of the two influences beautifully – the lead track ‘175 x 140’ is indicative of this clash of cultures, beginning in the tempo typical of Grime and building seamlessly into the faster tempo of Drum & Bass. Throughout the song P brags of his multi-genre ability, and the success of the new sound developing out of the two influences. “175 or 140 I’m a Grime MC on DnB”, he raps. “They ain’t got this sound boy, this is one of a kind. They ain’t ready for this, this is D&B and Grime”, he repeats throughout. The pair have taken their album around the world, touring with Hospitality in Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia. 

And P Money seems to have paved the way for other grime artists to follow. Within the same album, high-speed rapper Ocean Wisdom features on ‘Junkyard’, while P appeared on stage with JME, Dizzee Rascal and D Double E during Turno’s Drumsheds set back in November 2023. Clips circulated from the set showing grime legend JME spitting lyrics from one of his biggest songs That’s Not Me (2014).

Within the scene as a whole, there are already a healthy number of well-established lyricists, including some who deviate from the traditional role of an MC. Rappers like Duskee, Bru-C and Degs have strong foundations in the Drum & Bass world, and new artists like Songer (with his recent collaborations with K Motionz, Issey Cross and Bru-C) are joining the fold. But the introduction of those coming from the world of grime is contributing to the development of something special. An aggressive yet skilful twist on the up-tempo beats of Drum & Bass is being produced by adding the Grime flavour to the Drum & Bass recipe: the hard-hitting lyrics of grime laid over the heavy-hitting sounds of DnB is evidently a match made in heaven. It remains to be seen how far this crossover will be taken. While it’s unlikely that a world-famous rapper like Stormzy will double down on his successful DnB debut any time soon, there is certainly the opportunity for this developing sub-genre to grow. P Money will certainly continue to carry the torch as Grime’s ambassador to Drum & Bass, and it’s not out of the question that more artists of his ilk might be tempted to join the movement. Whatever happens, the future of Drum & Bass is exciting and inevitably diverse.

The post The State of the Scene: A Match Made in Heaven – Drum & Bass Meets Grime appeared first on Data Transmission.

Following another incredible event this summer where 50,000 people rocked up to the MK Bowl for this years Electric Daisy Carnival UK (EDC), they have announced it is to return to Milton Keynes on Saturday 8th July 2017 for its fifth edition.  Hoorah, it’s stumbling distance from us at Data Transmission!

EDC UK has firmly positioned itself as one of the most innovative and unique dance festivals in the country. Insomniac’s trademark mind-blowing stage designs, innovative art installations, exhilarating carnival rides and costumed performers, all sound-tracked by dance music’s global innovators, make EDC UK an absolutely unmissable event for 2017.  This year saw killer sets from Andy C, Roni Size, Avicii, Sigma, Alice in Wonderland, DJ S.K.T…

Early Owl and VIP Tickets are on sale at 10am GMT Friday 30th September, starting from £55 plus booking fee. 2016 ticket holders can register for access to an exclusive pre-sale, with these tickets going on sale for just £50 plus booking fee at 10am GMT Wednesday 28th September.

Tickets will be available here.

The post EDC UK Returns to Milton Keynes Bowl July 2017 appeared first on Data Transmission.

Festivals are BIG business nowadays. It’s not even a season anymore. It’s all-year round! Every major town has one. Some cities have several. London has at least a dozen! But despite all the new kids on the block, despite competitors having come-and-gone, including the likes of Global Gathering, Creamfields has remained the one constant. It is still the UK’s undisputed premier electronic music festival. The measuring yard for all the others. In terms of the public consciousness, it’s probably only just edged into second place by Glastonbury. This year is the biggest Creamfields to date, stretching to a mammoth fourth night for the first time. We went to see what makes Creamfields the market leader.

Ah, ‘The North’. Industrial towns, chevrons and funny accents. Home to Madchester – the spiritual home of acid house. Liverpool, arguably our city with the most musical heritage. And home to Creamfields, of course, the jewel of the August Bank Holiday.

… Exasperated, I sigh. We had under-estimated the bank holiday traffic. The predicted journey time offered by the satnav gave us false hope. The journey from the south-east was arduous. Navigating the M25 was a success in its own right. Beyond that, the M1 wasn’t any better. And after sitting bumper-to-bumper in stuffy conditions for the majority of the way, when we finally catch a clear run on the M6 we’re left with empty pockets as the toll wipes out our loose change. Would we ever reach Daresbury?

It seems fate is out to get us, as we take a wrong turn on the M56. Ultimately we miss the deadline for last admission. This is not how it’s supposed to be!! The thought of camping was daunting enough; the reality of having the spend the first night sleeping in the car park more so. To rub salt in the wound we use the last of our battery to watch clips of Chase & Status conquer The Steelyard. The only solace is that their set has been recorded for the Essential Mix. 11.5 hours in the car, and a whole day of raving missed…

10am finally arrives, and we put the disappointment of the day before behind us! There’s some serious catching-up to do! But first, we have a tent to erect. The good pitches are now few and far between. It’s a fair walk to the other end of the campsite. Getting back later could prove interesting…

Eager to put our dancing feet through their paces, we’re left waiting until 2pm until the music is scheduled to start. Good things come to those who wait… and it’s right off the go, as Cristoph opens proceedings in the All Gone Pete Tong arena, treating us to cuts from his new album. Eats Everything soon follows, and he serves up a right audio feast; the tent practically bursting at the seams! He drops ‘Dancing (Again!)’ and the roof is blown off. Everybody is dancing – and singing. XOYO’s new resident in waiting Heidi is up next. Eats is a tough act to follow, and we wonder whether we peaked a little too early. But Heidi has full control of the hot seat, spinning her trademark Jackathon sound. We wander to the ANTS arena where duo Eli & Fur are laying it on thick with some seriously bassy tech house. The energy is palpable, and the crowd lap it up. Back to AGPT in time for Steve Lawler, before our Master & Chief, Pete Tong MBE shows up in time to introduce Hot Since 82. If yesterday was a wasted day, then we’re more than making up for it now.

Music aside, what is it which elevates Creamfields above the rest? There are several factors to consider. Cream’s longevity at the forefront of the scene is a key factor to the continued success of their festival. Their experience gives them an edge. Let us not forgot that they clawed the festival back from the brink in 2012, when adverse weather conditions and severe flooding were almost the writing on the wall. The second day was rained-off, and the third day was cancelled completely. It left a financial black hole, and brought their reputation into question. Lesser festivals wouldn’t have survived. But the setback was used as a catalyst to bounce back stronger. Whilst the sheer size scale of Creamfields is worthy of admiration itself, it’s the diversity of its offerings which provide the real bragging rights. No stone is left unturned. There is something for everyone. The whole spectrum of dance music, from commercial EDM to the underground to happy hardcore (well, we are in ‘the North’!)

Backstage it’s treacherously muddy, but the ingenious use of wood chippings in public areas makes the going relatively dry underfoot. The bars take cash, not tokens, and they are even equipped to accept contactless card payment! Few things in life are certain: death, taxes, and queuing for the toilets at festivals. But the queues here are bearable and move relatively quickly. Portaloos are plentiful. And well maintained. On several occasions, we spot tankers emptying the cesspits, instead of allowing human waste to overflow out, as is sadly too often the case at other festivals. But the most impressive part of all is just how well organised the festival is. There are lots of stewards, and they all appear fully briefed on the operation. More than that, though, there is a real sense of togetherness. Of family. This is not merely teamwork, but perfect synergy. Each cog with a mutual appreciation of all the other components in a well oiled machine.

We take a detour to see what’s happening on the other stages. Weaving through the crowds, we stumble upon Avicii’s final UK appearance on the Horizon stage. Far from being the mournful affair you most associate with goodbyes, there are only grinning faces to be seen here, transfixed by their idol. Fighting our way through we veer off in the direction of the site’s other outdoor stage. There the last remaining remnants of Swedish House Mafia are doing what they do best. Axwell & Ingrosso blast out of all of their hit singles and wow the crowd with some hefty production. We are taken back to that midsummer’s night of 2012 where the pair (along with their brother, Steve Angello) said goodbye to Milton Keynes Bowl. A flare is ignited in the middle of dancefloor as ‘Reload’ plays and the crowd goes nuts. Nostalgia aside, we get the feeling other arenas are beckoning us.

There is a brief visit to Jam Packed where TV’s spoof radio crew Kurupt FM are dishing out performance somewhere between a comedy skit and DJing. We’re not quite sure which, or where the parody ends and reality starts, but either way, it’s brilliant! This sets up nicely for a man whose ability need not be questioned: DJ EZ, and his own unique take on UKG. There are few sights as joyful to behold than EZ pounding away on his controller. Yet despite this spectacle, we are again drawn back to where we had invested our earlier time. Closing duty falls to none other than Sven Väth. Come the 4am finish we’re dying for more, but there’s still a whole full day to come tomorrow. Reluctantly we make the (seemingly endless) pilgrimage back to our tent and get our head down for a few hours.

Early morning dew forms on the inside canvas of our tent. It can only be 6:00 or 7:00am, but already it is blindingly bright. The climate inside switches from chilly to muggy. Quickly. We treat ourselves to a wash. Or a “festival bath” for the more informed. The air is fresh, other than the occasional hint of stale mud. We poke our heads outside and a quick surveillance of the campsite reveals a few casualties: discarded food trays, the last stragglers from the night before limping in the direction of home. A few nearby tents have been indecipherably branded with neon paint. The general mood is upbeat, though. Girls wander through campsite in pyjamas & onesies. Friends exchange anecdotes from the day before. Already people are chomping down on burgers, or returning with fresh slabs of beer.

As we wait for the arena to open we’re coerced by an eccentric gentleman into witnessing a wedding service! (no, really) The ceremony takes place inside an inflatable chapel! The minister has definitely been on the sauce. The newlyweds are both wearing white. Awkward! He pulls it off slightly better than Her. It’s without doubt, the surrealist moment of the entire weekend, and we find ourselves watching the betrothed exchange vows before the whole congregation poses for a group photo. We are made aware that the gates must be opening, as the crowd outside flocks towards the entrance. There’s no questioning where we’re heading first.

We enter the imposing, indomitable Steelyard – a vast, cavernous industrial structure custom-built for techno. The sound levels are less restricted here. The light barely penetrates. And it is a playground for ravers. Techno stalwart Alan Fitzpatrick on early doors. The Whistleblower boss has surely reached a status where he should be closing these stages, instead of opening them, but the early start hasn’t put many off. There is already a raucous atmosphere as Fitzpatrick belts out Nicole Moudaber’s remix of ‘Give Me Luv’. The veteran DJ builds like the seasoned pro he is, before ending on his latest offering from new label We Are The Brave, ‘We Do What We Want’. It’s the first of several times we hear the track over the course of the next 10-hours, and the most rewarding. Truly one of the take home moments of the weekend.

We take a breather, escaping into the sunlight and exploring deeper corners of the arena. Galantis are holding court over on the Horizon stage, and breeze through their collection radio-friendly productions, setting the stage perfectly for Oliver Heldens. The clientele is predictably younger here, but no less up for a party. We head back to more familiar surroundings, but not before catching a glimpse of Annie Mac’s instantly recognisable hairdo bouncing rhythmically on the giant screens of the Arc stage. The familiar vocals of Gyptian ‘Hold You’ play out as Radio 1’s First Lady of dance music crafts an accessible set to a bustling dancefloor.

We return to the Steelyard for the Dane, Kölsch. His signature melancholy sound is a little less uncompromising than his predecessor’s, but his melodic selections lifts the arena to celestial heights. The baton is passed to Beyer, and the throbbing crowd indicates this being one of the most anticipated sets of the weekend. The Drumcode boss wastes no time in thumping out banger after banger, continuing the momentum picked up from his last few English dates. We’re still being warmed-up for the finale, though. A brief changeover only adds to the tension before a glowing blue beacon, otherworldly in nature, illuminates the stage. Alas, it is now the only light as darkness has fallen, marking the arrival of our Pryda host, Eric Prydz. His intro alone is worth the price of admission. The laser & light show breathtaking as it presides over a sea of mobile phones held aloft to capture the moment. Then the beat drops, and everybody around us loses it. Even amid all the chaos we’re pretty certain we just had our Creamfields moment!

There’s still so much to see, and dragging ourselves away is a true test of willpower. It’s only a short hop to the neighbouring tent, and its headliner is about to take the stage. ‘Bird of Prey’ rings from the sound system and the appearance of Fatboy Slim’s silhouette behind the decks gets a huge reaction. Soon the entire tent is in motion and chanting along to ‘Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat’. A tidal wave of acid smiley balloons drop from the roof. Norman, having lost none of his charisma over his lengthy career, is still the most animated man in the room, and his enthusiasm is infectious. We’re tempted to stay to see how this ends. But Creamfields 2016 is close to an end, and there’s still the small matter of Calvin Harris.

Fighting our way through the crowds, we’re only in time to catch the tail end of his headline set. A helicopter hovers overhead and pointing bystanders speculate that this might be the Scot’s private taxi home. Creamfields 2016 is brought to a thrilling conclusion by a spectacular fireworks display engulfing the night sky, perhaps more befitting to a Hollywood blockbuster than a music festival. But it’s fair to say, that if Hollywood is the showbiz capital of the world, then Creamfields just might be electronic music’s equivalent.

It’s a(nother) long drive from Chesire back to Kent. We daren’t speculate about the likelihood of queues as we walk towards the exit. Concrete and tiredness await us. That is inevitable. But the one other certainty is that we’ll be back in Daresbury for Creamfields 2017!

The post Reviewed: Creamfields Festival appeared first on Data Transmission.

Next Saturday (9th July) sees the return of EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival) to the UK, taking place once again at Milton Keynes Bowl.  Expect massive production, loads of pyrotechnics, huge sound and lots of fun!

Each area within EDC represents a distinct fusion of technology and nature, where elements mix to fascinate the senses and provide a unique inspiration. Follow a path that leads from a green garden into an expansive, majestic field. Find peace in a meadow filled with other kindred spirits, all grooving to the same universal beat. Wander, explore, and unlock the energy of this magical place, and you will be rewarded with a truly cosmic experience.

We’ve curated a brand new Spotify Playlist on our new Data Transmission Spotify Channel to give you a flavour of the artists playing at this years’ event and for those already going to the event, it’s for your journey to the site. Featuring tracks from Avicii, Eric Prydz, Tiesto, Andy C, Goldie, Pendulum, Roni Size, Sigma + many more, totalling almost 3 hours of play time!

Don’t forget to follow our channel to keep updated with all our new playlists:

Ticket sales by Skiddle Promotion Centre

The post Spotify Playlist: EDC UK 2016 appeared first on Data Transmission.

As we previously mentioned EDC UK returns to Milton Keynes Bowl on 9 July 2016 and they have today announced their first acts!

Avicii will make his highly anticipated return to the UK for his first show since the release of ‘Stories’, which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance and Electronic Albums chart in October 2015. He lands on the  kineticFIELD stage at EDC UK next year. Joining him is the massive Swedish duo, Axwell ^ Ingrosso. The duo’s performance will mark their first at EDC UK and a return to the MK Bowl after headlining it as Swedish House Mafia 4 years ago.

After an amazing version three this summer which featured the likes of Tiesto, Marco Carola, Sigma, Pendulum, Sub Focus, Art Department, Jamie Jones and more, we are super excited for the upcoming fourth year. EDC UK has firmly positioned itself as one of the biggest dance music festivals to take place in 2016. Insomniac’s innovative art installations, signature mind-blowing stage designs, exhilarating carnival rides, costumed performers, and dozens of massive artists will all head back to Milton Keynes bowl, making EDC UK 2016 an unmissable event.

Stay tuned in the coming months for the full list of artists set to perform next year.

You can grab tickets here

The post EDC UK announces first 2 acts! appeared first on Data Transmission.