Outlook

Sun, sea and bass on the Croatian coast – does it get any better? Europe’s leading bass and sound system culture festival, Outlook, returns for its sixth year. Hosted by forward-thinking promoters Vagabondz, New Bohemia and Subdub / Exodus, since the festival’s birth in 2008 it has been going from strength to strength. Thrown at a time when summer is winding down, Pula’s shores promise an extension of the sunny months - nearly a week of a celebration of Jamaican heritage. Armed with a lineup to make any electronic or hip-hop fan’s mouth drool, the five days are looking to be as dutty as ever.

 

During the daylight hours, the sunny beaches heave with parties and, naturally, a hot splurge of music and feel-good vibes. With around 40 scheduled boat parties hosted by labels and promoters getting the party started in the middle of the crystal blue ocean, there’s plenty going on during the day.

 

But it’s during the night that the festival properly comes alive. Lights blaze from within the abandoned 19th century Austro-Hungarian fort, which offers locations such as the moat – a 200m long passage of immaculate sound, the ballroom, and dungeon – which act as perfect murky enclosures for a heavy dose of bass. The harbour will once again house its gigantic, lazer-heavy stages showcasing the various headline acts that the star-studded lineup has to offer.

 

This year, there’ll be a serious invasion from the hip-hop and rap game, both old and new. Bolstering the lineup for old school fans will be the legends that are The Pharcyde, Pharoahe Monch and Talib Kweli. And for connoisseurs of New York’s Beastcoast collective there’ll be an appearance from none other than Brooklyn’s Joey Bada$$.

 

As a festival heavily rooted in sound system culture, Mungos HiFi will be hauling their sound over to the sunny shores, along with Dub Smugglers, Trojan and Channel One. And it wouldn’t be complete without some legendary toasters such as General Levy, MC GQ, Stamina MC, Solo Banton and many more. With a weighty emphasis on the dubstep movement, we’ll see Deep Medi stalwarts Digital Mystikz, Loefah, Kode9 meditating on bass weight, as well as Mala in Cuba live, Ikonika, Phaeleh and Bristol’s hugely-acclaimed Kahn. For those essential reggae vibes the masterful Alborosie and his Shang Yen Clan band will be performing alongside the long-standing David Rodigan and his customised dub plates and classic recordings.   

 

Certified drum n bass legends are bringing their sub ruminations to the Adriatic coast, including innovator of the genre since ‘92 Goldie, Ram Records founder Andy C, LTJ Bukem, Shy FX, Dub Phizix, Calyx & Teebee, Wilkinson and highly promising newcomers Northern Lights. 

 

Grime generals will be in attendance, including the Newham lot, Elijah & Skilliam, Terror Danjah, Rinse’s Logan Sama and Faze Miyake. And finally, to get your five a day, garage will be served from long-timer Todd ‘the Godd’ Edwards, DJ EZ and Zed Bias.

 

For those who like their ears enveloped in a low frequency, Outlook really is the only place to be at the time when summer is winding down…

 

Line Up: Goldie / Andy C / The Pharcyde / Pharoahe Monch / Talib Kweli / Loefah / Digital Mystikz / Elijah & Skilliam / Todd Edwards / LTJ Bukem