The revival of ukg.
Garage is back and better than ever.
The 2-step rhythms and fast drums were inescapable in the UK 30 years ago. Despite the genre’s slight fall from grace, it’s great to see that the influence of UK Garage remains undeniable in 2025. There’s something about the spinback and 90s nostalgia that keeps drawing in a new generation of fans, breathing fresh life into UKG with a brand-new lease of energy.
UK Garage is a dance-orientated genre that arose in the UK during the early 1990s. The characteristics of UKG are heavy basslines, a continual 4/4 or 2/4 rhythmic pattern, and its upbeat and raw demeanour. Although, for many, Garage is more than just a genre—it’s woven into parts of British culture. More specifically, it was a sound championed by the working class in the beginning.
Some artists that pioneered this musical movement were producers such as DJ EZ, Grant Nelson, and Richard Purser. Many of these artists and MCs started making their own garage records due to the high price of US imports in record shops.
In the last few years, UK Garage has been re-growing in popularity, with a bank of underground artists and songs building for this new wave of garage fans. However, it was 2022 when the genre truly began to take off again, with acts such as Interplanetary Criminal (IPC) and Sammy Virji attracting thousands of young people to the genre with their addictive lyrics and catchy rhythms.
Zachery Bruce (IPC), when asked about the resurgence of UKG, said:
“EVERYBODY KIND OF LOVES GARAGE, RIGHT?”
In 2022, Bruce broke into the mainstream charts with ‘B.O.T.A.’, which was arguably the sound of that summer. Bruce argued that the pandemic increased this generation’s young adults’ appreciation for UKG, as they were hungry for real club nights and music to dance to.
This resurgence has continued to grow and is not only exciting for established names but also for emerging DJs. Josh Samuel, an up-and-coming UKG DJ, shared that this new hype for the genre is inspiring him and other producers. When questioned as to why the genre is growing in popularity, Samuel said: “It’s just such a fun genre with no prejudice, it’s all about having a good time. Now it’s back, it’s bigger than ever!”
2025 is set to bring even more momentum to UKG, with festivals and club nights dedicated to the genre selling out faster than ever. I cannot wait to see how the genre develops with time. One thing is for sure—it’s here to stay!
