As the summer rolls on, you might have noticed a fair few festivals taking place at a fast pace. From Glastonbury and Sónar to Coachella and Love International, the vibes have been immaculate and festival season is truly in our midst. With so much of it left to go and more events to take place, we want to shine a light on some of the festivals set to make the world go round for the rest of the summer.
So, whether you’re a fan of Jazz, House or Rock, check out these eight mixes that will give you a feel of what to expect from festival season.
NTS Radio – Floating Points, Four Tet & Caribou – 23rd March 2015
For fans of Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)
All eyes will be on Amsterdam when ADE takes to the streets of the Dutch capital in October. A festival steeped in dance music, all colors and shades of the dancefloor will be on show. This includes the likes of I. Jordan, Uncle Waffles, Nils Frahm, Jeff Mills and more. Two notable names on the bill are Four Tet and Floating Points. Which brought us back to the time they broke the internet alongside Caribou on NTS Radio. Here, they exposed some incredible Jazz, Soul, Disco and Rare Groove, so hit play if you’re ready for a boogie.
JUST JAM – INTERPLANETARY CRIMINAL B2B SKREAM w/ TRIM | JUST JAM 189
For fans of Outlook Origins
Since 2008, Outlook Festival has shown the world the power of soundsystem culture from the sunny plains of Croatia. Everything from Drum & Bass, Jungle, Grime, Reggae and Dubstep is played. Now rebranded as Outlook Origins, the festival will feature some major names in club music. Think of Mala, Mantra, SHERELLE, Tim Reaper, Interplanetary Criminal and Oblig. The latter two have combined before, on the 189th edition of Just Jam alongside Grime legend Trim. This set was curated by Oblig himself and is packing serious heat.
Kutkorners – VHS June 7th, 2024 – Kaytra Special
For fans of All Points East
All Points East returns to London in August and features the very best of Rap, Pop, R&B and Experimental. From Loyle Carner and Nas to Mitski and Ethel Cain. The three-dayer is headlined on its first night by dance maestro Kaytranada. He is paid homage by Canadian DJ Kutkorners in a recent episode of his VHS series. Here, the very best of Kaytra is revealed. From older remixes and edits from the producer’s early career to cuts from his 2024 album Timeless.
Mi-Soul Radio – Jumpin Jack Frost – 19-07-2024
For fans of Boomtown
In the UK, Boomtown is arguably one of the country’s most beloved festivals. Set to take place in August, you know you’re in for an adventure when you enter the gates of the Matterley Estate in Hampshire and all musical flavors are on the menu. From Post-Punk to Hardcore. Jumpin Jack Frost gets us prepared with a healthy dose of Drum & Bass, Liquid and Jungle on his new show for Mi-Soul Radio. One for the late night ravers and free spirits who will be at Boomtown in abundance.
OptimiXPrimme – Vibrations 9
For fans of Lollapalooza
Over in the USA, Lollapalooza has been wowing audiences since 1991. Originally shining a light on Rock music of all kinds, it has since incorporated Hip-Hop, Soul and Electronic into its programming with amazing results. This year, Chicago plays host to the festival and Blink-182, SZA, The Killers, Future x Metro Boomin and Skrillex are just a few of the names that will be shutting it down. The R&B focus this year drew us to a collection of contemporary sounds provided by OptimiXPrimme, who showcases headliners SZA, Victoria Monet and more.
Paul Collins / Global Soul Radio – Rare Grooves & Modern Soul Flavours
For fans of Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival is a staple of world music, going the distance since its first edition way back in 1954. Name every Jazz, Soul and Blues legend you can think of and they have performed: Louis Armstrong, Charles Mingus, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett and Isaac Hayes just to name a few. 70 years later, it celebrates its milestone with Nile Rodgers, Chic, Kamasi Washington, Elvis Costello and Brittany Howard. The musical experimentation that is on show brings to mind that which was recently displayed on Global Soul Radio, on Paul Collins’ show, Rare Grooves & Modern Soul Flavours.
Crack Magazine – Hyperdub Takeover – Kode9
For fans of Dekmantel
For 10 years, Dekmantel has been a fixture when we talk about club music festivals, showcasing the weird and wonderful in equal measure. One legendary figure who has plied his trade at the festival is Kode9, founder of the iconic Hyperdub label who played in 2022. His set for Crack Magazine from 2019 will get you right in the mood for the madness at Dekmantel this year.
Soho Radio – Wunderhorse
For fans of Reading & Leeds Festival
Two festivals that always generate excitement in the UK are the Reading & Leeds festivals, which have hosted everyone from Nirvana to Drake in over 30 years of existence. With Fred again, Lana Del Rey and The Prodigy among many taking to the stage, another historic few days in August are on the cards. There is also a healthy Rock presence too, which harkened us back to a recent Soho Radio set by Wunderhorse, full of rowdy rhythms to soundtrack the days before Reading & Leeds.