Dorset’s diverse music festival We Out Here nurtures ravers of all ages; just the tonic in a country closing five nightclubs per week, says Amy Rose Everett
The obvious draw of attending a festival put together by a DJ of Gilles Peterson’s calibre is, of course, world-class music. The BBC Radio 6 stalwart and South Londoner founded respected record labels Brownswood Recordings and Acid Jazz, as well as award-winning music-radio platform Worldwide FM alongside Boiler Room co-founder Thristian Richards (which in turn hosts offshoot Worldwide Festival in the South of France).
Peterson knows what he’s doing, as do his connections in the worlds of production and programming. Their work shows the appropriate amount of reverence for the UK’s globally significant contribution to music at a time when the fate of our treasured club scene remains uncertain: 67 nightclubs closed in the first quarter of 2024, 71% of those shuttered being independent businesses.
Copping a ticket, I knew to expect a varied line up of soul legends, jazz greats, and drum & bass luminaries from around the globe, spread across four days, and an array of whimsical stages and dance areas.
This year’s lineup counted three-time Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, British music producer Floating Points, and fabled American record producer Ron Trent among its biggest names, plus Mercury prize-winning Sampha and electronic musician Joy Orbison. Nigerian artist Obongjayar would surely draw a large crowd following summer hit ‘Adore U’, Fred Again’s remake of his original song ‘I Wish It Was Me’, while Outkast frontman André 3000’s array of flutes was guaranteed to spark curiosity.
What ticket holders might not have anticipated from an event promising mind-bending orchestral arrangements, gritty rap, hardcore techno, smooth lover’s rock, and archetypal Detroit house was a ton of excellent kids entertainment. 
Mere mention of such considerations would be enough to put off some ravers, the notion of nappy changes and quiet camping areas downright hostile in a field supposedly dedicated to hedonism. But with its fifth iteration another sell-out success, We Out Here is proving that revellers at all stages in life can party together, without compromise. How? Organisers are laser-focused on fostering the sense of unity that’s all-important in keeping the UK’s endangered nightlife scene alive.
“I really wanted to bring to the UK a festival that celebrates the elements of UK club culture, and the community that surrounds it, that I have been lucky enough to be a part of over the years”, says Peterson. 
Arriving in the manicured gardens of Wimborne St Giles in Dorset, my immediate impression of We Out Here matched the high end musical extravaganza promised: Yaya Bey’s unmistakable New York drawl reached The Avenue Boutique Camping reception area as I checked into a Bell Tent, complete with a double bed, two chairs, and all-important power points for charging electronic devices.
Spanning simple pre-pitched tents, airstreams, accessible and family camping facilities, yurts, and ultra-premium ‘Sultan’s Lair’ Moroccan-style lounges, the array of ‘glamping’ options denotes the clientele: largely aspirational millennials plus their families, who value comfort as well as great music. Elevated food and drink stands lined my short walk to the main stage, which took me past the Blue Moon Cafe – a space introduced after 2022 feedback forms reflected the desire for a calming, late night relaxation area.
The first thing campers see when entering the arena is a physical manifestation of the festival’s dedication to enriching young lives: a football pitch fashioned from hay bales. Here social inclusion charity Football Beyond Borders runs a football tournament.
FBB Co-Founder and CEO at Youth Beyond Borders Jasper Kain tells Globetrender: “FBB works with young people who are really passionate about football but disengaged at school. We aim to help them finish school, to make new friends for life, and find connections and confidence that will help them succeed in the future.”
Walking past spectators cheering on kids participating in a knockout competition, Kain added: “We Out Here, what a festival. It’s amazing to be here with such a mix of people from all different backgrounds and ages.”
FBB is one of eight charities featured in We Out Here’s ‘Good Karma’, a pilot charity token scheme which sees £1 from every ticket included in a fund ring-fenced for participating charities. I received a pound in token form on arrival, and explored an area detailing each charity before making my donation. Other charities include Black Lives In Music, championing diversity in the music industry, and Borderlands, supporting refugees and vulnerable migrants. 
This dedication to inclusivity is reflected in the meticulous design of the festival; everyone can enjoy the bright pastel signage and decor. While The Bowl and Rhythm Corner’s dedicated dance areas are undoubtedly geared towards grown ups, it’s not uncommon to spot a three year-old clad in ear defenders on Dad’s shoulders towards the back. East London-based music collective The Silhouettes Project headlined the Lush Life stage on Saturday night, sharing their own messages of youth support and pride with a raucous crowd of all ages.
I spotted a set of twins taking an afternoon nap in their buggy, metres from iconic 150 person dance hub the Lemon Lounge, while their parents caught a relaxed set by Gladdy Wax, an iconoclast of sound system culture. During Sampha’s Friday night show, a nine year-old told me politically-minded British rap act Dave was his “favourite at the moment.” It’s heartening to see the next generation of music lovers enjoy their first taste of quality live music acts in a friendly setting, stoking the passion needed to support a culture fighting more setbacks than ever.
High costs, low footfall and oppressive regulation are seeing music venues squeezed out of city centres, their residents facing a post-pandemic cost of living crisis that leaves little expendable income for going out. Grassroots venues – offering a vital springboard for young acts – are at the highest risk of closure.
Meanwhile, We Out Here’s dedicated Family Area has responded to a surge in 11-16 year-olds attending the festival with a nourishing programme of interactive workshops and immersive experiences, curated by People Dem Collective co-founder Victoria Barrow-Williams.
The National Youth Jazz Orchestra ran tuba lessons, while multi-dimensional creative Bel Cobain taught art. British singer Corinne Bailey Rae delivered an immersive presentation of Black Rainbows, her latest album exploring notions of Black identity. 
Bailey Rae tells Globetrender: “I love the energy of the festival, I love the size of it, that it’s manageable. I love the vibe and mixture of world music. It reflects Gilles’ whole ‘worldwide’ theme – good people, good energy.”
The next wave of composers, DJs, producers and programmers flitted between mixing lessons, African djembe drumming workshops and a family-friendly Disco Shed, in-between making new friends at bracelet-making workshops, trying family yoga and paddle boarding.
Over at BookLove, We Out Here’s travelling multicultural book carnival, they could read culturally inclusive content in countless languages.
Globally successful acts linked to We Out Here are living proof of the necessity of schemes and spaces that nurture young talent in these ways. Mercury Award-winning Ezra Collective, who headlined in 2023, were introduced at London youth jazz club Tomorrow’s Warriors – and are passionate advocates of We Out Here’s Family programme.
Since the festival’s inception in 2019, Tomorrow’s Warriors have programmed hundreds of young musicians across several stages. This year, the Big Top tent was renamed Tomorrow Warriors Big Top to reflect the youth collective’s vital role in the future of UK jazz culture. 
Gilles Peterson says: “Their importance cannot be overstated. Be it the future talent they are bringing through or the incredible names that have come before, they are a vital part of our cultural scene.”
While venues across the country are closing, We Out Here is building a forever home for great music, and the next generation of people making it. Beyond a welcoming, expertly-curated and well-run festival, it’s a blueprint for diversifying and saving UK club culture.
Photo credits: Rob Jones | Khroma Collective; Jake Davis | Khroma Collective
Support local: the UK’s top jazz venues
The Wardrobe, Leeds. Celebrating 25 years, this intimate jazz, comedy, burlesque and club venue is found in the cultural quarter of Leeds City Centre.
Troy Bar, London. A laid-back, local Shoreditch gem, offering a unique mix of live music. Quality and community take priority over commercial trends; expect homemade Caribbean food, and a welcoming atmosphere.
The Jacaranda, Liverpool. The venue that gave birth to The Beatles, The Jacaranda is built on a 60 year mission to offer a stage for new artists, hosting open-mic nights every Sunday and live bands in the basement gig venue most nights.