What is OUT.FEST?
Started in 2004, OUT.FEST is an annual festival celebrating adventurous and experimental music in all its diversity (improvised music, electronics, jazz, contemporary classical music, new idioms, etc etc etc), gathering and mapping, in its programme, music vanguard’s history, present and future.
OUT.FEST usually happens in the beginning of October and lasts for 3 to 4 days, taking over several official and improvised venues across Barreiro, a city just across the Tagus River from Lisbon, which used to be the country’s main industrial city and a major railway hub up until the 1990’s. More than 70 different spaces have been used in the festival’s history, with several more still to be discovered.
A typical OUT.FEST Saturday involves an afternoon filled with shows throughout 3 or 4 simultaneous venues (all walking distance from each other), and culminates, after dinner, in a non-stop concert marathon lasting until sunrise (clubbing included). Each year we programme around 30 artists from every corner of the world in the most diverse genres imaginable - from free jazz to drone music, weird electronic beats to improvised folk, extreme metal, ambient, you name it (oftentimes we can’t really characterize our artists in any pre-existing genre, honestly. And that’s the way it’s supposed to be!).
OUT.FEST is organized by OUT.RA, a non-profit based in Barreiro which, besides the festival, organizes a wealth of other exciting projects and events around adventurous sound & music which you can check here. The festival is supported by the Barreiro Municipality and the Portuguese Arts Council, and co-curated by our friends Filho Único.
When does OUT.FEST take place?
The 19th edition of OUT.FEST will take place between the 4th and 7th of October, 2023.
Where does OUT.FEST take place?
OUT.FEST takes place over three or four days in Barreiro, Portugal, and typically features more than 30 performances in at least 6 or 7 different venues / spaces (most of them around the city center - library auditoriums, churches, jazz clubs, old ballrooms, small theaters, watermills, train workshops and everything in between). Audiences are invited to explore new music and discover our decidedly non-touristy city with a fresh set of eyes and ears.
Who will play this year's edition of OUT.FEST?
Discover the full lineup for 2023 here.
What are the dynamics of the festival? How long do the concerts last?
OUT.FEST’s dynamics vary greatly depending on the day and venue. On Saturday afternoons, for instance, the spectator is expected to make choices and devise an itinerary between the different artistic proposals and venues and discover new artists and spaces. Venues used in these periods have limited capacity and you are encouraged to arrive early if you really don’t want to miss THAT show (but if you do, there’s always another show to see just a short walk away).
Nighttime concerts usually don’t overlap (though in some cases the rest time between shows is less than 5 min) and the festival experience is a more traditional one.
In all cases, the standard duration of a show is around 40-45 min, which may vary depending on the artist and repertory.
How do I make sure I don't miss any festival updates?
NLine-up additions and other festival news items are announced on this website, but the best way to stay up-to-date with festival news, tickets and programme updates is to subscribe to OUT.RA’s newsletter, and make sure to follow our Facebook and Instagram pages (especially while the festival is happening, when we’ll post any major updates or changes exclusively on our social networks).
I miss the festival! Is there a way to watch past performances?
Yes! We have recorded several festival performances over the last years, which we have gathered in our Videotheque at OUT.RA’s website (alongside videos from shows we’ve done outside the festival); some are full shows, some are excerpts coupled with interviews with the musicians. We are constantly publishing new videos, so be sure to check in from time to time - or subscribe to OUT.RA’s newsletter to be notified of new entries.
In the archive section you can also look back into each edition's line-up going back all the way to 2004.
Can I purchase any OUT.FEST merchandise?
OUT.FEST merchandise is available at festival venues. You can also check out OUT.RA’s webstore online for all OUT.FEST related merchandise, as well as records, books and the like associated with the festival and other projects of ours.
Where should I find accommodation?
Como cidade não-turistificada que é (excepto durante o OUT.FEST, é claro), o Barreiro tem pouca oferta de alojamento (podem tentar here and here); no entanto, o centro de Lisboa está a apenas 20min de barco, e aí existem centenas de opções à vossa disposição: o Living Lounge Hostel oferece um desconto especial to OUT.FEST patrons.
Keep in mind that Barreiro-Lisbon ferries run each day from 5.05am to 1.30am, so there’s only a short window without service. OUT.FEST does offer a shuttle bus service after the end of the shows on Friday and Saturday night (departure around 2.30am), from the venue to Lisbon city center (to book a ticket write us an email).
Is public transportation available?
Getting to Barreiro from Lisbon city center and back is just a 20 min ferry ride from Terreiro do Paço station. Ferries run each day from 5.05am to 1.30am, and you can check the full timetables here (pay attention to the differences between weekdays and weekends).
On Friday and Saturday nights OUT.FEST offers a shuttle bus service back to Lisbon, departing near the venue after the last shows, at around 2.30 (but you can also stay for clubbing and grab one of the first morning ferries of course).
Inside Barreiro there’s a reliable public bus service, which you can use for free if you’re an OUT.FEST ticket-holder, though all of 2023’s venues are within a 15 min walk from the ferry station.
How do I get from one festival venue to another?
All of 2023’s venues are in the city center, within a 5 min walking distance from each other. If you’re staying elsewhere in Barreiro, you can use the TCB public bus company for free if you’re an OUT.FEST ticket-holder (just show the driver your ticket or wristband upon entering the bus).
I would like to attend the festival as a journalist. How do I apply for accreditation?
If you'd like to attend the festival to provide media coverage, get in touch with us and present the outlet for which you write and send us a festival coverage proposal. Please note that we cannot guarantee accreditation for everyone interested or for all shows, due to capacity issues.
