A guide to Cross The Tracks Festival 2023

Cross The Tracks returns to Brixton's Brockwell Park again this year for its annual celebration of soul, jazz and funk. Making a name for itself as a community-driven event that helps to uplift the local South London area as well as inviting talent over from all across the world, it makes a strong case for being one of the UK's most inclusive festivals.

This year's key names include Harlem's own Kelis, Alfa Mist who just released his acclaimed new album 'Variables', the bright energy of Ezra Collective and one of the biggest draws NxWorries, a collaboration between Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge. Seeing two huge names together on stage is going to be one of the highlights of the summer.

The festival takes place at Brockwell Park which also hosts festivals such as Wide Awake and City Splash. Cross The Tracks should see festivalgoers basking in the sun on Sunday 28th May. To get more of an idea about what to expect from this year's festival, we spoke to Saskia Hadley a member of the festival's marketing team.

It seems as though Cross The Tracks has a real community feel to it, what do you think makes the festival feel so inclusive?

"It’s a festival for everyone, designed by intent. It’s a space for music lovers to come together, no matter who you are. I think music is a great uniter too and jazz, funk and soul are genres that speak to that."

You have seven different stages at the festival, which one do you feel will be the hidden gem?

"Actually, we’ve nudged it up to 8 now – there are just too many incredible artists! It’s a hard choice, but for me, the hidden gem is going to be Locomotion. We’re showcasing some really unique sounds, pushing the established boundaries this year, from Hermanos Gutiérrez, Carrtoons, Adi Oasis, Liv.e, The Kount and more."

Do you think it can sometimes be understated how important the impact of soul, jazz and funk has been on London’s music scene?

"In London and in the UK beyond, jazz, funk and soul not only shaped the sounds of the time but the more modern iterations of groove music, heavily influencing artists from Loose Ends (on our line-up!) right through to Jamiroquai. More importantly, these genres were born of and pioneered by Black musicians, developing the first genuinely multi-racial club scene in the UK."

The festival has a lot of upcoming talents alongside the established names, who stands out to you as an exciting prospect?

"Someone I can’t stop listening to right now is Yazmin Lacey, also home-grown talent! She’s only been on the scene for a few years and has already been prolific, this year's album 'Voice Notes' is a must-listen. It’s a smoky blend of jazz, soul and electronica, littered with her own phone voice notes, that speaks directly to the experience of life in this moment." 

Who do you believe are the must-see acts at the festival this year?

"Where do we even begin! I know we make the programming but it’s going to be a really difficult choice this year with so much talent and energy onsite. My must hits are, Nxworries, Masego, Kelis, Yazmin Lacey, Roy Ayers (it’s his farewell tour!), Wesley Joseph, BCUC, Gilles Peterson, Adi Oasis, David Rodigan… the list goes on." 

You have NxWorries headlining the festival this year, what are you looking forward to the most about seeing them perform?

"Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge are such a dynamic duo, with a real know-how to curating an amazing audience experience. Two legends in their own right, leaning into their combined project, I think they’re going to bring something very special for fans this year."

You also have Ezra Collective headlining, what impresses you the most about the group?

"Ezra Collective are brilliant because they’re at the forefront of the movement that marries incredibly hard-won jazz technical knowledge with the beats of a new generation. I think they honour those that came before them whilst uplifting their contemporaries. There’s an element of social commentary, a zeitgeist, whilst still producing incredibly elevating music. I don’t know any person that doesn’t vibe to Ezra Collective – they’re boundary transcending."

From your food vendors to the beer market, a lot of it is based in London, how important for you was it to keep things local?

"It’s a huge priority for Cross The Tracks. There are so many incredible traders, artisans, musicians, charities and vendors literally on our doorstep, the place we call home. It would be remiss to prioritise these people in our community, we rise together."

How else do you support the local South London community?

"We work with local charities, to showcase and support the incredible work they’re doing in the community. As with every year, we’ve donated a load of NHS tickets to workers and another set has been given away for free to local residents. Through guestlist and other activities, every year we allocate The Brockwell Live Community Fund to community projects and initiatives in the local area. Last year we raised £42,000 that went directly to those that make South London such a special place."

Aside from the food stalls, what other activities can people expect to find dotted around the site this year?

"We have literally everything! Street food, craft brewery, panels, live music workshops, walkabouts, face painting, fairground, artisan traders, and a roller disco stage! I’m almost losing track of everything on offer this year."

It sounds as though Cross The Tracks is going to have one of its most exciting years to date. With funk, soul and jazz legends throughout the line-up, it is a festival for innovators both new and old. It is integral to the South London community and the wider reach that these genres have. If you want to grab yourself a ticket for this year's festival then you can towards the bottom of this page.

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.

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