Go disco dancing and get your funk fix with our list of 2017s soulful summer UK festivals
We've compiled a list for you, in chronological order, of some of the UK's top festivals for 2017 that feature disco, funk, jazz, and soul artists. There's a lot to choose from, and occasional clashes, if only we could go to all of them...
When: Wednesday 26th April - Sunday 1st May
Where: Festival site in Montpellier Gardens, Edinburgh Fringe style with free stuff happening all over as well.
Who:
Laura Mvula (Big Top)
BBC Music Introducing Presents...Jo Whiley (St Paul's Church)
Camilla George (The Daffodil Restaurant, £65 incl. Three Course Meal)
Jack Savoretti (Big Top)
'...around town' (free gigs)
Will Young (Cheltenham Town Hall)
Why:
'If someone doesn’t get jazz, how do you woo them towards enjoying it? The Cheltenham Jazz Festival, with 47 official concerts plus a lively fringe, is a good answer, offering the chance to dip into many different styles of jazz' - The Times
When: Saturday 6th May
Where: Baltic Triangle, Liverpool
(We have been informed that a London Disco Festival is also in the works for 2017)
Who:
David Morales
DJ Jazzy Jeff
D-Train
Ultra Naté
Tony Humphries (4hr Tribute to Zanzibar set)
Joey Negro
John Morales
Why:
When: Sunday 28th May
Where: Brockwell Park, Brixton, London
Who:
Paradise Garage feat Joey Llanos Studio 54 feat Nicky Siano Horse Meat Disco (Stage Takeover) Crazy P (full live band) Late Nite Tuff Guy
There's also a strong selection of local food and booze, with Soulshakers overseeing the bars, with Brixton Brewery, Canopy Beer Co & Brick Brewery.
Why:
'A proper South London knees up' - London On The Inside
When: Friday 12th - Sunday 14th May
Where: Pontins, Camber Sands, East Sussex
Who:
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
Hot 8 Brass Band
The Sugar Hill Gang
Mr Scruff
Nubiyan Twist
Why:
'It’s a festival whose DJs can get away with hot stepping between Anderson Paak, Earth, Wind & Fire and James Brown. Now, who doesn’t like that?' - The Ransom Note
When: Friday 26th - Sunday 28th May
Where: Gilcombe Farm, Bruton, Somerset
Who:
The Heavy
The Sugarhill Gang
Todd Terry
Greg Wilson
Plump DJs (Discofunk Set)
Why:
'it's easy to switch off here and focus on the important business of having a good time.' - Subba Cultcha
When: Friday 26th - Sunday 28th May
Where: Upminster, Greater London
Who:
There is an entire Glitterbox Stage:-
Roger Sanchez
Todd Terry
Joey Negro
Simon Dunmore
The Shapeshifters
As well as a Defected in the House Stage:-
Basement Jaxx
Duke Dumont
Julio Bashmore
Why:
'We Are FSTVL continues to thrive as one of the UK’s best medium-sized festivals, offering a diverse range of electronic music over a usually sunny weekend.' - Summer Festival Guide
When: Friday 30th June - Sunday 2nd July
Where: Eastnor Castle, Eastnor, Ledbury, West Midlands
Who:
Groove Armada
Bondax
The Sugarhill Gang
The Hot 8 Brass Band
Dusky
Greg Wilson
Cirque Du Soul DJs
Why:
When: Friday 9th - Sunday 11th June
Where: Stanwix Park Holiday Centre, Greenrow Silloth, Cumbria
Who:
Joey Negro
Mood II Swing
Boogie Cafe Session
Lotus Disco
Soul Sam
Why:
When: Saturday 10th June
Where: Finsbury Park, London
Who:
Kerri Chandler
Roger Sanchez
David Morales
John Morales
DJ Jazzy Jeff
Derrick Carter
Joey Negro
Danny Krivit
Rony Humphries
Why:
When: Saturday 17th/Sunday 18th June
Where: Hove Park, Brighton & Hove
Who:
Funk the Format:
Goldie
Alice Russell
Norman Jay MBE
Funk the Family:
Jazzie B (Soul II Soul)
Jenna & the G's
Why:
'Soul, funk, hip-hop, then Latin music, but it all stems from the same music really, anything with rhythm and soul, and that’s what I’m always trying to bring to my festival.' - Lucy 'Elle J' Small, Brightons Finest
When: Friday 30th June - Sunday 2nd July
Where: Glynde Place, Horsham, West Sussex
Who:
The Jacksons,
George Benson,
Herbie Hancock
Gregory Porter
Corinne Bailey Rae
Why:
'Like jazz’s long-missing Glastonbury – an eclectic, cross-generational, multifaceted celebration of a music' - The Guardian
When: Friday 7th July - Sunday 9th July
Where: Moseley Park, Birmingham
Who:
Chaka Khan
Soul II Soul
St Paul & The Broken Bones
The Sugarhill Gang
Lee Fields & The Expressions
Craig Charles
Don Letts
Izo Fitzroy
Why:
'Mostly Jazz offers an eclectic mix of genres and styles and is designed for music lovers with varied tastes rather than the purists.' - Birmingham Mail
When: Friday 18th August - Sunday 20th August
Where: Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Who:
Level 42
Gloria Gaynor
Status Quo
Village People
The Sugarhill Gang
Why:
'What must be one of the most welcoming and positive festival atmospheres I have ever experienced' - Basingstoke Gazette
When: Thursday 24th - Sunday 27th August
Where: Privately owned woodland in Lincolnshire
Who:
Moderat
De La Soul
Dusky
The Black Madona
Mr Scruff
Leon Vynehall
Craig Charles
Ben Pearce
Greg Wilson
Horse Meat Disco
Why:
'A spooky, fun-filled weekend in a great setting with even better music' - Ministry of Sound
When: Friday 8th - Sunday 10th September
Where: Norfolk Showground, Norwich
Who:
Billy Ocean
Soul II Soul
Jocelyn Brown
Heatwave
Odyssey
Mungo Jerry
Why:
'Travel back to the '80s and relive the decade of neon, big hair and great tunes.' - Escapism Magazine