Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival ready to start

New York disco legends to join local heroes in Moseley.

Birmingham’s Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival is back this weekend with a top-flight line-up of big names, classic artists and new talent.

Rescheduled from July, the festival runs from Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd August, and opens with a headline set from The Cinematic Orchestra (who last appeared at Mostly ten years ago). They’re joined by Maribou State (DJ set), the Mercury Prize nominated jazz/ electronic/ psych/ trio The Comet Is Coming, and the equally lauded Nubya Garcia, whose debut album, Source, featured prominently in numerous 2020 end-of-year polls.

Day two finds 1970s British funk heroes Cymande, the crowd-pleasing Craig Charles, the always entertaining The Cuban Brothers, and the powerfully voiced Hannah Williams and The Affirmations taking to the stage.

The festival concludes on Sunday in spectacular fashion with Mr Jukes and Barney The Artist (a new collaboration featuring Bombay Bicycle Club’s Jack Steadman), and Hot Chip’s unique DJ-meets-performance concept, Hot Chip Megamix. US R&B legend Jocelyn Brown (above) and New York disco hitmakers Odyssey also appear.

Across the weekend, you can also catch several stars of the West Midlands music scene, including Kofi Stone, Lady Sanity, Call Me Unique and Xhosa Cole – the young saxophonist who’s earned three major national jazz awards in three years (BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018; Newcomer, Parliamentary Jazz Award 2019; and Breakthrough Act, Jazz FM Award 2020).

Featuring music across three stages, as well as well-stocked bars and food vendors, the festival will be operating under Covid-safe guidelines, and at a reduced capacity.

John Fell, Mostly Jazz’s Festival Manager, said: “After the Government shifted the dates for the lifting of restrictions we moved fast to ensure we could reschedule, with many of the artists working with us to ensure they could appear.

“There’s some firm Mostly favourites back with us – including The Cinematic Orchestra, Cymande and Odyssey – and also some great acts making their Mostly debuts, such as Hot Chip Megamix and the legendary Jocelyn Brown.”

Discussing the impact of the pandemic, John stated: “We’re keen to ensure that everyone attending will feel safe and secure at the festival. With that in mind we’re operating at under-capacity, to make sure there’s more space, and also asking all visitors – whether they’re enjoying the music in the park, or working with us – to only attend if they feel well.”

“Mostly 2021 will be such a party, but we’d like to ensure everyone coming has the best time they can, while still feeling safe and secure, and being mindful of those around them.”

Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival takes place from Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd August at Moseley Park, Moseley, Birmingham. For tickets and more information, see mostlyjazz.co.uk