We Out Here Festival 2025 Review

We Out Here Festival 2025 wrapped up in dazzling Dorset sunshine with a sold-out crowd enjoying over 400 live acts and DJs across 15 stages. Gilles Peterson’s sixth edition brought together jazz, soul, hip hop, afrobeat, house, electronica, and more, blending legendary icons, rising stars, and genre-bending DJs for four days of unforgettable music and experiences.

Thursday kicked off in style with Chicago rapper Noname taking the main stage, while revered selector Theo Parrish held court at Rhythm Corner with a marathon eight-hour set. Friday saw standout performances from Nala Sinephro, James Mason, Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou, Gambian rapper Pa Salieu, and garage royalty MJ Cole performing his breakthrough album Sincere. Celebrated DJs Carl Craig, Batu, Coco Maria, Ben UFO, and Josey Rebelle kept the crowd moving late into the evening. Saturday sparkled with performances from Everything Is Recorded, Joe Bataan, Bashy, Jalen Ngonda, and a celebration of 40 years of The Bristol Sound featuring Smith & Mighty, Daddy G, Queen Bee, DJ Die, Roni Size, Om Unit, Yushh, Peverelist, and more. A festival highlight was Rotary Connection 222, performing an orchestral tribute to Charles Stepney, joined by original member Shirley Wahls and The Stepney Sisters for a euphoric finale of I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun.

Sunday closed the weekend with Ganavya, Aba Shanti-i, Emma-Jean Thackery, Kokoroko, A Guy Called Gerald, Norman Jay, Jamz Supernova, and headliner Loyle Carner stepping in after Michael Kiwanuka’s cancellation, pulling in the largest crowd of the festival and declaring it the best festival he had ever been to.

Beyond music, the festival offered talks, workshops, wellness activities, yoga, hot tubs, food, and a radio station hosting 13 stations from across the UK and Berlin, celebrating underrepresented communities. Tickets for We Out Here 2026 are confirmed with early bird options and eco-friendly coach and shuttle tickets to keep the festival green.