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16 Soundwave festival anthems

Written by
David Jenkins
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Taking place in the beautiful Croatian town of Tisno every July, Soundwave festival returns for a ninth instalment this summer.

Renowned for its winning combination of a sun-kissed, seaside location and top-drawer music from some of the best live acts and DJs around (this year including The Pharcyde, Roni Size and Roy Ayers), if you've never made it to Soundwave, there's still time to bag a ticket for this year's bash.

For a taste of what to expect, whether you're off to the festival this year or not, we recommend hitting up the official Manchester Soundwave launch party, taking place Saturday April 22 at Stage & Radio on Port Street. 

Tied in with the city's celebrations for Record Store Day, the party features Manchester favourites Children Of Zeus and Mr Thing alongside Soundwave regular DJs Gilla, Bobbafatt and Jim Bane, who here pick out some of their favourite tracks from the festival from over the years.

Read on for a taste of what to expect on Saturday and at the festival itself...

 

www.soundwavecroatia.com

 

1. A Tribe Called Quest - 'Buggin’ Out'

DJ BobaFatt - 'The sonics of jazzy boom bap can be found deep in the DNA of Soundwave's core. Nothing exemplifies this more than the synchronised reaction to THIS bassline, and its ability to prompt hundreds of folks to air-drum one off-beat snare drum, and belt out the word "YO!" in unison.'

 

2. Floating Points - 'Love Me Like This'

DJ Gilla - 'Great memories of this being played on the Beach Stage at sunset.'

 

3. Mr Scruff - 'Hold On' (ft Andreya Triana)

Danuka -  'A staple Soundwave mid-afternoon beauty. Mr Scruff's production with Andreya's vocal is always a winner.'

 

4. Soho - 'Hot Music'

Jim Bane - 'A certified dance-floor bomb. I've heard loads of DJs playing this out again at Soundwave.'

 

5. Slum Village - 'The Look Of Love'

DJ BobaFatt - 'One of the highlights at Soundwave last year was the sundown appearance of Slum Village on the main stage."

 

6. Stevie Wonder - 'Another Star'

DJ BobaFatt - 'Give us this day our daily Stevie… This is one of those timeless tracks that works on pretty much any Soundwave stage, any time of day or night. If this doesn't make you dance, I don't know how to help you in life.'

 

7. Sunlightsquare - 'Ochosi'

Jim Bane - 'I have some great memories playing this after dark on the beach stage, as well as dropping it on the Riot Jazz boat with a live horn section and Chunky on the mic!'

 

8. TNGHT - 'Higher Ground'

DJ BobaFatt - 'A definite Soundwave classic, this was heard everywhere on site when it was first released. It signified that it was rave o'clock. I think that might still be the case.'

 

9. Roy Ayers - 'Love Will Bring Us Back Together'

DJ Gilla - 'So excited to see Roy Ayers on the main stage this year. This track is one that I come back to again and again.'

 

10. Thundercat - 'Them Changes'

DJ BobaFatt - 'Another regular fixture in various Soundwave DJ sets last year was this low-slung beast from the cat, borrowing some drums from the Isleys.'

 

11. Lite Spots - 'Kaytranada'

DJ Gilla - 'Probably the biggest track of last year’s festival. The fusion of Brazilian samples and modern beats is one of the foundations of Soundwave.' 

 

12. Rude & Deadly - 'Lightnin and Tunda'

DJ BobaFatt - 'Jungle is generally the unannounced special guest at Soundwave parties. Bukem and Congo Natty were in the dance last year.'

 

13. Omar - 'It's So'

DJ Gilla - 'Omar is the king! The broken-beat / latin vibe of this is perfection.' 

 

14. Sam Gellaitry - 'Long Distance'

DJ BobaFatt - 'One of the biggest tracks from last summer's Soundwave DJ sets. Twiddly synths riding massive horns and an even larger bottom-end, with touches of Shabba punched into the mix. Wavy, in all sorts of senses.'

 

15. Julio Bashmore - 'Battle For Middle You'

DJ BobaFatt - 'A fave from several years back, this is a tried and tested 4/4 belter that still proceeds to make people stomp their feet.'

 

Children Of Zeus - I Can't Wait

'Finally, a top pick here from one of the Soundwave organisers, Noah Ball. You can catch Children of Zeus at both the Soundwave Manchester Launch and festival itself out in Croatia'

 

The Manchester Soundwave launch party takes place on Saturday April 22 at Stage & Radio.

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