Festival Preview: Boiler Room 2021

Three cities. No headliners. Streamed around the world to millions of fans. Is this the future of festivals? We don’t know but we’re very curious to find out. Boiler Room has become its own musical movement over the course of the last few years. Merging technology and good old-fashioned dancing, Boiler room is taking the world (literally the world - the party has happening in New York, Barcelona, and London) by storm.

Boiler Room started with a webcam taped to a wall back in 2010, opening a keyhole into London’s clandestine scene of artists and performers. Boiler Room really existed for those looking to connect with fans in a world dominated by top 100’s, Capital FM, and televised singing competitions (*ahem* X-Factor *ahem*). Since then, Boiler Room have built an unprecedented archive spanning over eight thousand performances by more than five thousand artists across two hundred cities. Their influence has developed over time, but it has always remained true to its defining principle – support emerging artists.

Credit: Boiler Room

Weirdly, the pandemic has served Boiler Room well. The last two years have shown how much we need to collectively support the entire music industry – and not just the established acts we all know and love. The pandemic has taught us to value the performers that sometimes go under the radar. These are the artists that need our help the most. These are the artists that the government are threatening to pull the rug from under. These are the artists that Boiler Room want to promote.

Boiler Room has already hosted a successful showcase-festival in NYC last month, and now they are returning home to London to put on a triumphant display of the best new talent in the UK. This time, it’s taking place at The Cause in Tottenham. With a ‘no headlines’ policy, Wednesday opens the show with a showcase of live music and jazz vibes. On Thursday, The Cause will be bringing together varying styles of rap, afrobeats and mic culture, all under one roof. If you’re looking for something more D’n’B heavy, soundsystem clashes and forward-facing club music will dominate Friday and Saturday night. If you’ve missed out on tickets or you don’t live in London, Boiler Room’s video platform 4:3 will commission artists to present installations on each night of the festival.

Credit: Boiler Room

To say that the line-up is diverse would be an understatement. The line-up is at the heart of this festival – it’s not about the food stalls, the event sponsors, or the spirit-mixers. This is a festival for the music purists, who want to see a stellar line-up and nothing less. It would be against the spirit of the festival to pick out the best-known acts or just my personal favourites. Therefore, I’m going to list them all right here, right now. Don’t hold your breath, it might take you a while to absorb it all.

Anaiis, Brainchild, Creole Cuts, Footshooter, gal-dem, Jas Kayser, Kay Young, Kevin Kaynes, Grupo Elegua, Olivia Dean, Rachel Chinouriri, Wildflower, Woom, XVNGO, Zakia, Anetha, Basic Rhythm, Basmati, Bradley Zero, Brutalism 3000, Carista, Cassie Raptor, Cici, False Witness, FILTH, Fiyahdred, Flora Yin-Wong, Gracie T, JASSS, Kikelomo, Lady Shaka, Manara, Nadine Artois, Nino Brown, Nyksan, PANDORA'S JUKEBOX, Parfait, Possession, Pxssy Palace, Shannen SP, Shayn, Weirdcore, YCO CRU, Yung Singh, Agent K, Black Junglist Alliance, Blackeye MC, Breakoutm, Brockie, Bunter, Dale Mussington, Dark Pheonix, Decibella, Devious D, DizzyBlonde, DJ Ki, DJ LAG, DJ Perception, DJ Uno, DM C.U.T, Double O, Dwarde, Equinox, Eye1, Funky Flirt, Future Retro London, Hagan, Highrise, Illmatika, Jamie G, Jamz Supernova, Kenny Ken, Kool FM, Lady Passion, Lost Child, Manuka Honey, Mc Blacka, MC Det, MC GQ, MC Melo D, Mr Porter, My Kool, Nicky Best, Nicky Blackmarket, No Nation, Ragga Twins, Ras Sterling, Remadee, Rude Boy Keith, Rupture, Sam Interface, Sheba Q, Shockin B, Shylo MC, T Dunn, Tamsin, Tim Reaper, Timehri, Yosh, Yush, BKTHERULA, BRICK, Cookin Soul, Denzel Himself, Deto Black, Digital Nas, Dreya Mac, Elevation Meditation, ENNY, Feux, Glade Marie, Goya Gumbani, Rago Foot, Hook, Jake Milliner, Kasien, KEYAH/BLU, Kojey Radical, Lord Apex, Mechatok, Mowalola, Namasenda, p-rallel, Toolate, Winch, Vivendi Sounds, Risky Roadz.

Tickets are sold out for the last two nights, but you can still grab them for Wednesday’s jazz-themed night, as well as Thursday’s celebration of London’s rap scene. Click here for more.

Credit: Boiler Room

 

Words by Rebecca Clayton