INSIDE OUT FESTIVAL

Bute Park, Cardiff. Fri 31 May + Sat 1 June

Visitors to Cardiff’s most central park are usually rewarded with visions of feeding birds and picnicking in the sunshine. For the fourth year in a row, though, they will need to leave behind the frisbees and blankets for one weekend, as it’s the Inside Out Festival. This year, it’s kicking off at the dawn of summer – rather than at its end, as in previous years – and with what looks like a more stacked lineup to boot.

Friday headliners feature grime lord of the 0161, Bugzy Malone [pictured], alongside dual-headliner Not3s bringing his own burgeoning Afro-swing/bashment to the forefront – with the originator of the Dutty Rock, Sean Paul, appearing as a special guest. Saturday offers more dance and electronica than Friday, with My Nu Leng and one of the longest proprietors of UK garage in the scene, DJ EZ.

There seems to be something of a divide in sound, albeit slightly blurred, between electronic vibes with house and garage and then grime, rap and Afrobeats artists. Although there doesn’t seem to be too much diversity of genre in the lineup, this could easily be disproved by the artists themselves over the weekend – or made up for by the street food vendors, funfair and gin bar.

Tickets: £66/£46.75 per day/£96.25 VIP/£159.50 VVIP. Info: www.insideoutcardiff.co.uk

words Campbell Prosser