Features / Festivals
Preview: Shindig Festival 2019
One of the South-West’s first festivals of the summer, Shindig returns to Gilcombe Farm in Bruton, Somerset on 23rd – 26th May.
Organised by the people behind Ghetto Funk, and leaning hard towards hip-hop and breakbeats, it’s definitely one for the party crowd. The festival boasts top-drawer live acts from the funkier end of the spectrum; the biggest names this year being UK hip-hop queen Estelle and Californian Latin-funk-rap-rock juggernaut Ozomatli. Also playing are Chali 2na (Jurassic 5), The Herbaliser and Crazy P, while Kingdem – a Brit-rap supergroup consisting of Ty, Rodney P and Blak Twang – may well prove to be the highlight.
Soundsystem reggae fans are also in for a treat as Mad Professor – the UK’s most prolific dub producer – brings Ariwa Sound vibes to the farm with help from high priestess Sister Aisha and veteran dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah. Elsewhere there’s comedy, cinema, circus, cabaret, and a kids’ area featuring Aardman model-making workshops. Older children can try their hand at DJing, MCing and breakdancing too.
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DJs form the bulk of the lineup though, and this year’s big hitters include NYC house don Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez (Masters at Work / Bucketheads), turntablist DJ Nu-Mark (Jurassic 5) and drum & bass pioneer LTJ Bukem. Celeb selectors Don Letts and Huey Morgan will be well known to 6Music listeners, and you can rely on Stanton Warriors and A Skillz to unearth the festival’s Ghetto Funk roots.
There are some real gems further down the bill too. More than a quarter century from hardcore’s heyday rave stalwarts Altern-8 and Shut Up & Dance are sure to disturb the peace with a succession of repetitive beats. Drum & bass fans will know what to expect from Doc Scott and Randall – wide-ranging, uncompromising sets that take no prisoners.
With the site less than an hour’s drive from Bristol, a good number of locals are playing, including crate-digger extraordinaire Andy Smith (Portishead) and festival vets Laid Blak. Junglists will surely hail their queen as Dazee (Ruffneck Ting) ascends to the decks, and there’s a delegation from cross-genre bass stable Born On Road with sets from Aries, Gardna and label chief Kelvin 373. Minirigs – the Bristol-based company behind the most essential camping accessory since the tent – are taking a soundsystem too.
The fancy dress theme is “get fruity”, so make of that what you will. It’s a date for your diaries, kumquat may. Prepare to go bananas.
Shindig is at Gilcombe Farm, Bruton on 23rd – 26th May. More info and tickets at shindigfestival.co.uk
Top image copyright Sarah Koury
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