Summer is officially on full blast, the sun is out, the festivals are in swing, and the basslines are heavy enough to rattle sun loungers across the UK. But as we’ve learned this month, sometimes the weather brings too much heat — and not just from the DJs.
June kicked off with the mercury pushing 30°C, and while that might sound like paradise for outdoor raves, it came with a harsh lesson: hydration > hype. Dreamland Margate’s all-dayer had to shut down early due to extreme heat. Organisers said it was “just too hot” to continue safely and with that a reminder that sunscreen and water are just as essential as earplugs and reloads. Look after yourselves and especially each other out there.
Last month we talked about it. This month it’s landed. Skream & Benga have officially unleashed their long-awaited new single, “Good Tings Come To Those Who Wait.” And honestly? It was worth every minute. Heavyweight subs, classic wobble, and that unmistakable chemistry that made them dubstep royalty in the first place — this is the sound of two old friends picking up right where they left off.
The future of nightlife might feel uncertain, but the next gen is refusing to sit still. This month, NOT BAD FOR A GIRL and Colour Factory announced NEXT UP — a party series with purpose. Designed to platform emerging and marginalised DJs, it’s a direct response to the ongoing crisis in UK nightlife. Since 2013, we’ve lost more than half our nightclubs — and female, non-binary and gender-minority artists are still massively underrepresented, making up just 14% of festival lineups. NEXT UP is about shifting the balance, one banger at a time.
Amnesia just dropped its summer schedule, and honestly? It reads like a UKF dream lineup. Chase & Status, DJ EZ, Shy FX, Nia Archives, Sammy Virji, Conducta, Flowdan… jungle, garage, bassline and D&B all repping hard on one of the most iconic dancefloors in the world. If you needed a reason to brave the Ibiza heat — there it is.
In a collaboration we didn’t know we needed but now can’t stop rinsing, Irish rap agitators KNEECAP teamed up with London D&B don Mozey for new single THE RECAP. It first landed during their Wide Awake headline set and later shook Glastonbury to its muddy core. Political bars, weighty drops, and certified shellings from start to finish. More of this, please.
Lastly, we want to pay our respects to Olie Bassweight, the pioneering New Zealand DJ and dubstep producer who passed away this month. Olie was a crucial figure in the global dubstep scene, known for his low-end mastery and commitment to the culture. He leaves behind a legacy that echoes far beyond the Southern Hemisphere. Rest in power.
Releases
Badger- Sweet
Amanda Ross
Man like Badger has been on fire as of late, returning with a brand-new single, ‘Sweet’. Teaming up with singer-songwriter Chelcee Grimes, this playful UKG banger is brimming with uplifting, bassline-driven energy.
Grimes’ infectious vocal hooks give this funky, garage-influenced riddim immense, euphoric dancefloor energy. Badger’s clean production style and knack for crafting addictive bangers is expertly conveyed on this first-class single, released on In The Wild Recordings.
Sub Killaz & Friends III.
Amanda Ross
The highly anticipated collaborative multi-artist EP of the year has arrived, courtesy of San Diego’s own Sub Killaz and Organized Grime Recordings via Sub Killaz & Friends III.
The international link-up is real, as drum & bass heavyweights Sub Zero, Majistrate, Profile, Nu Elementz, Magenta, and Gum-B have teamed up with the mighty Sub Killaz for a weighty five-track EP that certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Sean Casey, aka Sub Killaz, shared his approach with UKF: “This was definitely one of the more curated EPs I’ve worked on, where both the label and I stayed true to our vision for what we wanted to create.
It’s not every day you get to collaborate with artists of this calibre, so it was really important for me to ensure the music reflected the quality of everyone involved. The whole process took nearly two years, and full credit goes to the label for turning many of those ‘what if’ ideas into reality.”
And top-tier collaborations are precisely what Sub Killaz & Friends III delivers, kicking off with the relentless bassline of “Let’s Go,” featuring Sub Killaz, Sub Zero, and Profile. “Jungle Demon”—a ferocious link-up between Sub Killaz and Majistrate—commands the dance floor with serious intent, while “Time To Play” sees Sub Killaz and Organized Grime label head Gum-B serve up a tech-infused banger with charging drums and unrelenting energy.
This entire EP is stacked with heavyweight jump-up weapons crafted for the dance. Give it a listen here:
READ
