The Road to Jungle Bells 2024 – Tonto’s favorites from the headliners

With this year’s Jungle Bells right around the corner, I wanted to outline some of my favorite tunes from the headliners performing at the most imminent concert in the series, The Road to Jungle Bells. These are artists that most of us have seen develop from bright sparks in the scene into the superstars they are today, and remembering what tunes got me hooked in the past compared to where they are now was really fun. Before I get into that, I’d like to talk a little bit about what’s in store for the ticketholders this year!

Jungle Bells has consistently been the biggest Drum and Bass show that the US has to offer. Compiling the cream of the crop of the drum and bass world, MJ Lee and team have booked a historical concert once again this year. The first show in this seminal concert series, The Road to Jungle Bells, is on September 28th, 2024, at the awesome Masquerade complex in Atlanta, Georgia. Aptly held in the “Heaven” room, this initial concert is the stuff of dreams!

When i first saw this lineup I was stunned – this is an entire drum and bass festival packed into just a few nights.  Laced with the best of local and regional talent, the Jungle Bells series shows us just what is possible with dedicated drum and bass nights. Hosting a variety of styles, each of the three concerts this year has a different thing for every different raver. It’s inspiring to see such a complete and wide-angled view of drum and bass – this gives ravers of all different tastes to get down together and enjoy the music for music’s sake.

Here are my favorite and most memorable from each headliner:

Metronomy – The Look (Camo & Crooked Remix): Before these guys were known for creating some the nastiest, forward thinking heavy drum and bass in the world, they made happier tunes that most would fit into a “Pop” category. In my opinion, and especially for the time, this tune was just as forward thinking. In a major key, this one doesn’t get played out as much in heavy sets but I’ll never forget the first time I heard it. I was in a particularly edgy phase of my listening, and obsessing a bit over heavy music – when my friend showed me this tune I hated it. But I realized quickly I hated how much I loved it. Over time, it became clear that this song represented part of an artists’ evolution as well as my own personal progression in consuming and appreciating the art of drum and bass.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3YoecWvZGU?si=X3JzdhzBXuVIXArL]
Mefjus – Dissuade: This is one of the first truly game changing tunes I heard from the modern Neurofunk camp. I will never forget where I was and what I was doing: unfortunately I was at work at an office, but literally had to stop entering numbers to bounce in my chair. I kept thinking what a savage yet fresh take on the sound and composition of this genre, and Mefjus hasn’t stopped changing the game since. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zGMZwReVaI?si=5S3_MX86f1Bp0rpI]
Document One ft. Cimone – Newborn: Featured on their 2019 self-titled album on Shogun Audio, I often still have to double take that this is a Document One production. This is a soulful, deeply personal piece that has layers upon layers, sonically and lyrically. Representing a closing point in the album, this vocal line is totally incredible – catchy, smooth, assertive, and introspective. The duo has always represented drum and bass in many ways, but a lot people know them for dubstep bangers like “Clap” and “Praying for Silence”. On their album, tracks like “Holy Moly” and “1964” represent some of the heavier sounds these guys have to offer, and I’m sure their live show is no exception.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-KqYI0Hzps?si=WaVw8KAwSLu-l9p1]
Blossom – Stay: Blossom is an incredible vocalist and producer whose prowess has blessed many scenes – with hits in the house world as well as drum and bass, Blossom has offered incredible variety through the biggest airwaves in the game: BBC Radio 1, UKF, Deadbeats, HARD Summer, Nightbass, and the like. “Stay” is a dancefloor banger featuring soaring and intriguing vocals – the intro is subdued and minimal, while the drop brings classic mainstage energy with drive, depth, and a great chord progression.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xPhl1JauVw?si=CnMpgRUnKTz4V4Mk&start=1]

Safe to say this is the drum and bass event of the year.

If you don’t already have tickets to The Road to Jungle Bells you can still purchase them here

If you would like to purchase tickets for the opening ceremony, or for info the main show please check out the link here

Do yourself a favor and check out what MJ Lee and the Jungle Bells team are doing, and if you love drum and bass – you need to figure out how to get to this show. This is one that you’ll be talking about for years.

Buy tickets before they sell out!