The Hampshire countryside once again came alive this September as Mucky Weekender returned to Vicarage Farm for its sixth edition. Curated by Dub Pistols frontman Barry Ashworth, the festival has grown into one of the UK’s most distinctive boutique events. With a capacity of around 5,000, it avoids the excesses of the mega-festivals while delivering a line-up that balances heritage acts, underground selectors and fresh energy.

This year’s theme, “Dead Famous”, saw crowds dressed as icons from Bowie to Winehouse, while the FUNC non-alcoholic space and accessibility initiatives underlined the event’s commitment to inclusivity. Musically, Mucky remains eclectic, with ska, funk, reggae and breaks all finding their space. Drum and bass, however, had a commanding presence across the weekend, from pioneering legends to next-generation voices.

Day One: Roots and Introductions

Thursday 11 September set the tone in lighter fashion. On the Ashworth Mad House stage, Eva Lazarus brought her trademark blend of soulful vocals over bass-driven backdrops, while Gardna worked the mic with energy that blurred reggae, hip hop and jungle. Jaguar Skills stitched genres together with his rapid-fire mixing style, dropping snippets of drum and bass alongside hip hop and rave classics. The night leaned more eclectic than heavy, but the spirit of jungle was never far away.

By the time David Rodigan and Leftfield took control later in the evening, the foundations were firmly in place. For drum and bass fans, Thursday offered a reminder of the genre’s roots in reggae and soundsystem culture, setting up anticipation for the heavier nights ahead.

Day Two: Jungle Legends in the Woods

Friday 12 September shifted focus to the USS Seanie T “In the Woods” stage, where a run of heavyweight jungle names delivered a proper education. Ray Keith B2B Nicky Blackmarket drew one of the weekend’s biggest crowds into the forest, blasting amen breaks and basslines with the authority only veterans of their calibre can summon. Earlier, Ed Solo rolled through jump-up and liquid flavours, while Deekline and JFB bridged the worlds of breakbeat, turntablism and jungle bass. Closing the stage, Aries flew the Born on Road flag high, supplying pure festival energy with his selections.

Friday felt like the festival’s jungle night, the woods transformed into a rave enclave. The sound was heavy, but the atmosphere intimate, with Ray Keith and Nicky Blackmarket’s back-to-back set a particular highlight for heads who wanted a journey deep into the roots of the scene.

Day Three: The Drum & Bass Showcase

Saturday 13 September was where drum and bass took full command. The Crazy Diamond’s Club Stage, hosted by MC Chalkie White, stacked a relentless schedule of talent from afternoon until sunrise. Jon Bassline, Barrington & MC Five Alive, and K-Lue kept energy levels high through the day, before This Is Inja stepped forward with a solo showcase of sharp bars and infectious presence.

As night fell, Uncle Dugs & MC Enamie threw down an education in pirate radio culture, paving the way for one of the most talked-about sets of the weekend: DJ Die B2B DJ Krust with Inja. Die and Krust drew from their deep Bristol heritage, fusing funk-laden breaks with forward-thinking experimentation, while Inja tied it all together with charisma and lyrical fire.

The intensity only built from there. Adam F alongside Harry Shotta, Kirsty Hawkshaw and DJ Destruction delivered a hybrid performance blending live vocals, MC fire and classic D&B cuts. At midnight, DJ Rap showed why she remains one of the most influential figures in the genre, rolling through a set that balanced early rave energy with sharp modern production.

Finally, at 1am on Sunday morning, Fabio & Grooverider stepped up. Their headline set was nothing short of a masterclass, guiding the crowd through jungle foundations into contemporary rollers. For many, it was the pinnacle moment of the festival with two of the originators commanding an intimate crowd, reminding everyone why they are still regarded as the Godfathers of drum and bass.

Atmosphere and Community

Beyond the sets, Saturday showed what Mucky Weekender does best: community spirit wrapped around heavyweight music. Crowds were friendly, the scale intimate enough that you could move between stages with ease, yet large enough to feel the surge of energy when the basslines dropped. Costumes under the “Dead Famous” theme added colour, while the FUNC sober space and wellbeing support ensured inclusivity was more than a token gesture.

A Weekend to Remember

Across its three days, Mucky Weekender 2025 proved again why it has become a vital part of the late-summer festival calendar. Thursday set the cultural roots, Friday celebrated jungle heritage in the woods, and Saturday delivered an unmissable drum and bass showcase that spanned generations of the genre. From Eva Lazarus and Gardna’s vocal energy to Fabio & Grooverider’s headline masterclass, the weekend was a reminder of how deep and diverse the scene runs.

Mucky may not carry the size of the UK’s major festivals, but that is precisely its strength. It offers intimacy, inclusivity and eclecticism, where drum and bass is not just one genre among many, but the beating heart of the weekend. For the D&B community, 2025 will be remembered as the year the Godfathers met the new generation under Hampshire skies.