We went to Balter last year. Chepstow’s little festival with a rep for going seriously hard, went over and above its reputation, blew our tiny minds to kingdom come and was so good that we’re going again this year! Running from the 25th to 28th May. Tickets are still available HERE.
If you haven’t been before, Balter is basically a mini mecca for every strain of bass conceivable. Think like big ravey Boomtown vibes on a smaller site that you can stomp across fairly quickly. With a clientele that’s like Balter skimmed all the best wrong uns from a bigger festival off the top and plonked the assembled gang of non-aggy, messy, party people down on Chepstow racecourse, the vibe is raucous as fuck minus the twats. Inexplicably, the long drop toilets also stayed surprisingly clean the whole time as well.
With a heavy dose of DnB and Tekno and various genre melting stages that span all niches of bass music, Balter also plays host to live bands and consistently also reps the hip hop scene. Following in the steps of previous years they’re going big with it again for 2023.
Here’s our selection for heads who like some hip hop flavours mashed into the carnage:
Ocean Wisdom:
Pretty much undeniably the biggest meteor ever to hurl itself out from the mighty High Focus asteroid belt. Master of the rapid flow, and purveyor of bangers that have consistently straddled the grime and hip hop spheres in a way that’s uniquely him. As the festivals main headliner, expect this to go OFF.
Dr Syntax LIVE
One of the UK Hip Hop Scene’s longest standing, most consistently dope figures, Dr Syntax hasn’t missed a step since the days he came up alongside Foreign Beggars in the early noughties. Carving his own lane from day, he’s earned a deserved rep as an MC that juggles punches to make you laugh with a distinctive flow that makes multi’s and freestyles look easy. Returning to the live band format as a veteran after years of shows with The Mouse Outfit (who’ve also graced Balter’s main stage) Synners is now rocking with Durbrain and Binbags of Binbag Wisdom on collaborative mic duties and live instrumentalism guaranteed to hype a crowd.
Goldie Lookin Chain:
Bit of fun innit. The ridiculous gang are still gigging off the back of being the silliest hip hop to ever emerge from UK shores.
Pete and Bas:
Old as fuck. Ard as fuck. Also some of the silliest hip hop to ever emerge from UK shores.
Mylo Stone
Mylo’s been about for more than a minute. The South West rhymer and SP extended family dropped his first LP way back in 2013 and has been smashing ill bars ever since.
Gardna:
The multi-genre Bristolian needs no introduction. Above all a veteran of bars over any beat, varying from party hip hop infused breaks to dubby crowd movers to jungle/dnb bangers. Expect genre defying soundman business from this don.
Smellington Piff
Proud traveller of the UK and the gritty ends of UK Boom Bap. Piff has been a permanently credible fixture of the scene for time. With multiple well received LPs on Leaf Dog and BVAs’ RLD imprint and a long history of shelling down shows, if you haven’t already caught him live it would be silly not to. Catch him with the SIKA gang.
Mad Apple Circus
Horn-fuelled styles, built on Ska, Jazz, Latin grooves and a healthy dose of hip hop in the form of funky drum breaks and lively rap vocals. One to shake a leg to in the sun.
Joe Burn
Skitz co-sign and general reputed soundman. Joe’s got an impressive catalogue of hip hop bangers to his name combined with a versatility that makes him a threat on any tempo.
Mistafire
Another Bristol voice with deep links to the local scene and the likes of Split Prophets and Res One’s Green Brick Records… Mistafire has stayed true to his name and been dropping real world fire emojis that have left many a man singed for over a decade. Appearing with the SIKA mob.
Karl Phillips & The Rejects
Karl Phillips & the Rejects blend punk and ska with hip hop into a loud afront on the ears, with rap lyricism, fast paced beats and chunky riffs. One that the skank out/moshpit gang and the hip hop head nod click can meet in the middle on.
Balter takes place on Chepstow Race Course on the 25th to 28th May. Tickets are still available HERE.
Come join us for the ridiculousness unfolding on site.