Welcome to May’s edition of the UKF Monthly Round-Up! Festival season is officially peeking over the horizon, and while the sun might still be playing hard to get, the bass is showing up right on schedule. Let’s get into what’s been popping off in the world of drum & bass, dubstep and garage this month.
First up, South London’s beloved Brockwell Park was at the centre of a legal back-and-forth that had festival lovers holding their breath. Following a High Court ruling that Lambeth Council acted “irrationally” by approving too many event days in the park, the future of festivals. The case had festival goers on tenter hooks, worried about future presidents it could set.
Big festival line-up news this month too. With sub focus accidentally self confirming himself at glastonbury! whoops!
Wilkinson has announced his biggest headline show to date, taking over the mighty Alexandra Palace later this year. Meanwhile, Chase & Status are bringing the heat to All Points East with a fully loaded RTRN II DANCE stage takeover. It’s looking absolutely stacked, with a serious mix of new-gen energy and scene royalty.
Speaking of royalty—Skream and Benga have been teasing new music again, and let’s be honest, few phrases make our inner dubstep kids light up more than “Skream & Benga reunion.” The legendary duo have been dropping hints and previews on socials, so fingers crossed a full-blown project is just around the corner.
In another nod to modern day nostalgia London Elektricity dropped two new tracks on Goldie’s iconic Metalheadz label this May. “Life Is But A Dream” and “All On Top” (ft. Conrad Subs & Genesis Elijah) mark a bold move away from Hospital Records and a sweet nod to D&B’s foundational roots. Given the weight of a London Elektricity release on Metalheadz, this is a meaningful moment in drum & bass, bridging eras and reminding us why the gold standard still matters.
Releases
XLR8 by Origin8a & Propa and Cheff The Boy
Ant Mulholland
Two of the hottest names in jungle have joined forces in bringing us a sound like no other. Courtesy of the cutting-edge Hardcore Energy label, this number is guaranteed to raise pulses on the dancefloor. If you love acid hooks and rigid 4 x 4 basses, interwoven with a hint of breakbeat drum patterns, then look no further. We can’t wait to witness the damage this number is going to cause in the rave.
Viper Future Fire Vol. 7
Amanda Ross
When it comes to emerging artists, you can always count on Viper to deliver and curate the edgiest, dance floor-ready D&B.
Futurebound has done just that once again with the latest instalment of Future Fire Vol. 7. This five-track release features the return of Doloren to the label, alongside DIVICIOUX & Howlan, Maution, Jrace & Albert White, DIAL & MODA, and Shanice Forster. While the entire sampler brings the energy, standout tracks like Doloren’s “Weekend” and Maution’s “Guiding Light” perfectly showcase Viper’s talent for unearthing the freshest names in Drum & Bass
Cops and Robbers by Sammy Virji and Skepta
Ant Mulholland
A combination that will get everyone talking. Uk garage superstar Sammy Virji and grime legend Skepta have come together to produce, what I’m sure will be, one of the tracks of the summer. This bouncy, yet gritty, number has already created a frenzy around the globe – with Skepta’s unmatched relentless flow over Sammy’s, one-of-a-kind, bumpy drum melodies. Boy, are we in for a treat.
Mixes
Kanine Summer Essentials Vol.7
Amanda Ross
Summer has officially arrived with the release of Kanine’s much-anticipated annual Summer Essentials Mix Vol. 7. Your favourite DJ’s favourite DJ takes you on a one-hour journey through the full spectrum of Drum & Bass. Kicking off with the uplifting Kanine dub ‘Bloodstream,’ the mix sets the tone for a vibe-blending ride filled with melodic dancefloor energy and soulful vocal anthems.
Dive into Kanine’s dynamic soundscape of expertly mixed bangers, perfectly paired with stunning, jaw-dropping beach visuals.
Neffa-T & Sir Spyro w/ Manga Saint Hilare, Duppy + Micofcourse courtesy of Keep Hush, Neffa-T Presents at Village Underground
Ant Mulhollad
Brought to you by Keep Hush, one of the leading platforms in underground dance music over the last decade, this performance was a real tutorial in grime selecting from Neffa-T & Sir Spyro. Spliced together with a host of other 140 sounds that morphed a dynamic set for the ages. MCs Manga Saint Hilare, Duppy and Micofcourse brought in a hard-hitting, fluid, flow that created an old school cypher feel to the occasion – boasting an insane amount of talent on stage.
