De La Soul return for Mostly Jazz

Hip hop legends added to final night line-up.

Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival have announced that legendary hip hop act De La Soul will be returning to the festival to co-headline their closing night, Sunday 10th July.

The US trio changed the landscape of hip hop in 1989 with their seminal debut, 3 Feet High And Rising, and follow up, 1991’s De La Soul Is Dead. With inscrutable samplings, whimsically irreverent lyrics, social commentary, light rhythm, and laid-back rhymes, they’ve gone on to win a Grammy for their collaboration with Gorillaz (Feel Good Inc), while their ninth LP, 2016’s And the Anonymous Nobody…, underlined their continued influence – thanks to guest features from Snoop Dogg, Damon Albarn, Jill Scott, Little Dragon, David Byrne and even The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins.

Having last visited Mostly in 2016 for a crowd-pleasing main stage appearance, De La Soul join a festival line-up that already includes The Specials, Nightmares On Wax, Children Of Zeus and DJ Yoda (Friday 8th July); The Fatback Band, Oh My God! It’s The Church, Craig Charles and Horse Meat Disco (Saturday 9th July); and Al McKay’s Earth Wind And Fire Experience, The Wailers, Lady Blackbird and Greg Wilson (Sunday 10th July).

De La Soul replace the previously announced Cameo, who have cancelled their UK appearances.

Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival takes place at the picturesque Moseley Park And Pool, Moseley, Birmingham. With an eclectic mix of funk, hip hop, reggae, ska, jazz, blues, funk, soul, pop and rare grooves, the annual event also sees appearances from Barney Artist, Sam Redmore, Maya Delilah, Rosie Frater-Taylor, Tom Ford, Leftfoot, and Swingamajig, while the early years family rave specialist Big Fish Little Fish host a set from Glenn Aston.

For tickets (now limited) and more information see mostlyjazz.co.uk.