DUBSTEP IS HERE

With the help of promoters White Rhino and Dank Morass as well as the boys from 4zzz radio's Forcefed Fistfuls (Sundays 8pm), Brisbane's underground dub-step and grime scene has flourished this year with artists such as Flying Lotus, Hudson Mohawke and Joker taking over Barsoma and the Step Inn. And it won't die with 2008. The new year will see Flying Lotus swinging by the Moon Bar and London's The Bug and Warrior Queen (who was featured on Diplo's latest mixtape with Santogold) playing Step Inn on January 26.





Daring to be different, Laneway has again pushed its own boundaries by adding two more dub-step outfits to its bill. Hermitude and Rusko join robotic hip hop act Harmonic 313 and the African-techno inspired Portuguese Buraka Som Sistema, not to mention a plethora of electro-pop geniuses such as Stereolab (my personal favourite), Four Tet, Daedelus and newcomers Girl Talk and El Guincho. Laneway has indeed proved that it is ahead of its time and is well-placed to keep those wankers wearing nothing but boardshorts and the Australian flag well clear of the festival gates.


Yah! - Buraka Som Sistema feat. Petty