Even in the knowledge that the planet is burning up on a rocket ride to oblivion, surely Inside Out falls as late in the year as the weather allows us to gather in a field and get silly to goodtime upfront dance music. Or is that just the writer’s inner wuss talking? Heck, I daresay if it was Christmas morning, there was a rumble in a young Welsh clubber’s stomach, and the sort of nailed-on rave shutter-downers who’ve been picked here were playing in Bute Park for some reason, there’d be more tops off than Tenby beach.
Inside Out launched in 2016, making this its fifth edition with the obligatory year off, and is now part of a conglomerate of Welsh fests including Swansea’s Escape and the recently announced In It Together, set for Margam in June 2022. It only became a two-day concern in 2019, meaning this follow-up bash has a reasonable claim to be their biggest yet. Sat 2 Oct has grime second-waver Ghetts sharing top billing with MoStack, a London MC who’s ridden the swelling popularity of afroswing and its hybrid styles to some success in recent years. Both days also have a “special guest” and “afternoon headliner”, which I assume is something pushy agents demand on the poster; either way those are Jay1 and Nathan Dawe, respectively, on Sat 2.
Central Cee and Hannah Wants occupy those specific slots on Sun 3, with enduring chart dance sorts Rudimental headlining in their own right with a DJ set. They’ve just released an album, Toast To Our Differences, so some of that will likely be aired.
As well as the main stage, there are two further stages on both days. The Big Top is hosted by Abode on Sat 2, with Solardo, Alan Fitzpatrick and Ellie Cocks topping their bill; on Sun 3 the highly banger-centric CruCast are down for a session with no headliners as such but the likes of Skepsis, Darkzy and Kanine mucking in. And Arena 3 is handled by Cardiff drum’n’bass promoters Canopy on Sat 2, with Critical Impact, Logan D and Nicky Blackmarket among the clubbable names there.
Bute Park, Cardiff, Sat 2 + Sun 3 Oct
Tickets: £67.50 weekend/£47.50 per day (VIP £97.50 weekend/£65 per day). Info: www.insideoutcardiff.co.uk
words NOEL GARDNER