Two years on and a pandemic later, Giles Peterson’s jazz and electronica festival returned for its second round at Grange Farm in Cambridge. It’s fair to say expectations were extremely high, especially as it was one of the few festivals to go ahead this year, so did it manage to deliver? The answer is YES. Armed with bigger and better stages, a treasure trove of artists and DJs and a significantly larger crowd (10,000 more than 2019) We Out Here gave us with 4 days of blissful joy that will hold a special place in our hearts for years to come. Here are our highlights from each of the four days.
Thursday – You don’t need friends you just need Shanti and Batu…
Arrival on Thursday was antsy as everyone tried to remember how to festival again, but after an earthy warm up from Green Tea Peng we made our way into the fairytale like forest. In true first night fashion I lost everyone I knew, but soon enough that didn’t matter as Shanti brought her usual wicked and weighty selections, followed by a phenomenal set from Batu, who took us on a seamless journey through techno (both slammers and dreamy), tribal, dub and everything in between.
Friday – Surprise Thundercat followed by a Call Super masterclass
A belting chug-off from Anunaku b2b Tasker propelled us out of our weary state on Friday afternoon, before being treated to a serious bass slay from Thundercat on the mainstage, with ‘Dragonball Durag’ going seriously off at the end. We then saw out the night at the Rhythm Corner stage with a flex from Joy O to warm us up for what was certainly the most mind blowing set of the festival – which of course came from the omnipotent Call Super. With at least one spin from every genre from grime to gabber, mind melting blends, not to mention a dnb mix of no diggity, there were many moments of complete euphoria – Let me be your fantasy indeed Call Super.
Saturday – Jazz royalty Ezra Collective and the iconic Josey Rebelle
After such an explosive Friday it was hard to see how it could be topped on Saturday, but pioneers of new wave jazz – Ezra Collective – didn’t let us down and brought the thunder at the main stage. Pumped from that we caught the end of Sherelle spinning some downright filthy jungle, before heading back into the depths of the forest for genre bending don – Josey Rebelle. We simply had to be front row for this one, and boy did she mess with our heads with twists and turns through the techno, electro, breakbeat realms and beyond.
Sunday – Black Country, New Road and simply: The Dance Tent
It was cloudy with a chance of 90% rain on Sunday, but after a couple of token downpours the sun won out casting golden rays over the mainstage – perfectly timed for Moses Boyd followed by Kokoroko who had the whole crowd beaming as afternoon turned to evening. Energetic ensemble Black Country, New Road then proved the perfect way to celebrate the last night of the festival, playing hits from their debut album, much to the delight of the crowd. Afterwards it seemed only right that we spend our last few hours of dancing at The Dance Tent. With it’s talcum powdered floor and fluorescent glow, the energy levels went through the roof of the tiny tent as Dance Regular and Selectors Assemble shut the place down with their fiery mix of bruk, bassline, UKG, afro and more – it truly did go out with a bang.
