9.49°C Unless you’ve been in hiding over the past few months, you’ll know that Colchester Free Festival returns next weekend after a year off. One noticeable gap in 2013 was the lack of representation from Colchester’s dance music culture. This year, that’s firmly addressed, with DJs in the bandstand across both days and a strong line-up on the Hollytrees Stage on Saturday.
It’s the Hollytrees Stage takeover that stands out, with SubCulture curating the Saturday programme under the guidance of Paul Hagger and Alex Graham (MC Pinkeye). The line-up reflects the diversity of their nights and the wider local bass scene.
The pair say the opportunity to curate a stage at Colchester Free Festival is invaluable, both for SubCulture as a brand and for the artists they champion. They credit the festival organisers for allowing them to showcase music that represents their parties, the town and bass culture more broadly.
A key focus for SubCulture is platforming the strongest musicians and creatives within their extended musical family and across Colchester. The area continues to produce talent across multiple genres, supported by a growing network of studios, venues and independent infrastructure.
Over the years, artists connected to the collective have progressed to national and international stages. The festival, they say, is a rare moment when the town pools its creative energy into a shared celebration, and to be part of that cultural fabric is an honour.
The takeover stretches beyond the park. An official afterparty at Tribal Nightclub offers a chance to explore the full SubCulture sound. The daytime programme begins with reggae veteran Bopper Rankin and moves through hip-hop, ska and dub before heading into garage, grime, jungle and drum and bass. The night closes with local producer Heist delivering his upfront UK style in the club.
Performers across the day and night include Heist, Dream Mclean and YT, among others.
SubCulture’s broader view reflects the current climate of independent music. With the digital age reshaping the industry and blurring the line between commercial and underground markets, they see growing opportunity for self-driven artists. Their commitment remains to niche genres and hard-working independent musicians – and that, they believe, is what’s truly worth celebrating.
