The Best Funk & Soul Music Festivals
Slap bass or caramel vocal melodies? No matter which floats your boat, you can find the best funk & soul music festivals right here.
Last updated: 11th Mar 2024
Originally published: 7th Jul 2023
Expressive, versatile, and dripping in history. You’ve gotta love the hypnotising feel-good vibes of funk and the dulcet sounds of soul.
And we at Skiddle are known live music addicts so, to us, there’s no better way to enjoy these incredible, rich genres of music than at a festival. Or two. Or more. Y’know, who's counting?
Bringing those timeless tunes alive with lights, adoring crowds singing along, disco balls, and fireworks, well, you just can’t beat it, can you?
Here are some of the best UK funk and soul festivals in 2024 (and one in the US) that anyone who loves those genres should be keeping an eye on.
Photo: Cross The Tracks / Facebook.com
When: Sunday 26th May 2024 (bank holiday weekend)
Where: Brockwell Park in Brixton, London
2024 lineup: Erykah Badu, Eve, En Vogue, BADBADNOTGOOD, Thee Sacred Souls, Iniko, Nicole Wray, Jamilah Barry, Summer Pearl, Natanya, Ama Lou, El Michels Affair, and more
The very best of London’s jazz, funk, and soul festivals (with some reggae and electronic, too!) returns for its fifth edition in 2024, and the lineup, as always, is looking stunning.
Presenting a mix of legends and future legends of the genres, alongside the tunes, there are workshops, food, talks, creative markets, and a wellness area.
Blessing us with its first edition in 2009, the fest has grown to become one of the most popular fests in the city and a firm favourite for fans of smoother, groovy sounds. Community-focused and all about unity, CTT has a super laid-back and approachable vibe.
Find more information and secure tickets for Cross The Tracks - HERE
Photo: Soul Town Festival / Facebook.com
When: Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September 2024
Where: Croydon Road Recreation Ground, Beckenham in London
2024 lineup: Earth Wind & Fire Experience ft. Al McKay, Maxi Priest, Kenny Thomas, Atlantic Starr, The Trammps, Jocelyn Brown, and more TBA
Soul Town loves a mixture of tunes. They bring together some of the best in soul, Motown, funk, disco, house, and sometimes - including this year - a splash of reggae.
With immersive light, sound, and visual shows across two main stages, over 40 street food stalls, a premium gin garden, and a cocktail beach, Soul Town knows how to give you a memorable festival experience with the best music.
Saturday is adults-only, while Sunday is the family-friendly day with loads to keep littluns busy, like fairground rides, face painting, and so much more.
Find more information and secure tickets for Soul Town - HERE
Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival
Photo: Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival / Facebook.com
When: Friday 12th - Sunday 14th July 2024
Where: Moseley Park in Birmingham
2024 lineup: Kool & The Gang, Yussef Dayes, Leftfield, The Blackbyrds, Craig Charles, Mr Scruff, Thumpasaurus, Ella More, Cherise, The Filthy Six, and more
Better suited to those with a diverse musical palette, Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul enrichens its offering with some other genres including electronic music, although many DJs still spin genre-adjacent tunes.
The independently-run fest holds friendship, community, and love close to its heart, and welcomes unsigned artists to its stage to help you discover your new favourite music.
If you’re a bit of a party animal, you can head over to the fests afterparties to keep the good vibes flowing.
Photo: Boogietown / Facebook.com
When: Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th September 2024
Where: Apps Court Farm in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
2024 lineup: Bananarama, Wet Wet Wet, Boy George & Culture Club, Soul II Soul, Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club, KC and The Sunshine Band, Heather Small, Mr Scruff, The Jacksons, Norman Jay, and more
One of the best UK funk and soul festivals in 2024 (that squeezes in a bit of house, pop, and disco, too), Boogietown is one to watch for sure.
The festival just released its lineup, and it's looking wild. With plenty of nostalgic favourites and modern giants spanning genres and decades, there's something there for just about every age group. Alongside the music, the festival typically offers street food, wellness activities, disco yoga, the funfair, fireworks, and more.
Just over half an hour from London, nestled among the bends of the Thames with hidden lakes, lush, green hills, and ancient woodland, Boogietown is so much more than a music festival. It’s escapism in its purest form. Food for the mind, body, and soul.
Find more information and secure tickets for Boogietown - HERE
Photo: Love Supreme Festival / Facebook.com
When: Friday 5th - Sunday 7th July 2024
Where: Glynde Place in East Sussex
2024 lineup: Chaka Khan, Mahalia, Black Pumas, Joss Stone, Jordan Rakei, Kool & The Gang, Sergio Mendes, Hiromi, and more
While Love Supreme is somewhat of a jazz festival, it always has a healthy slice of soul and funk in there with Kool & The Gang, Chaka Khan, Black Pumas, and Jordan Rakei. And with such brilliant, massive talents on the lineup for 2024, we couldn’t miss this one out.
Besides the live music, there are artist interviews and panels, film screenings, dance, comedy, spoken word, late-night dance tents, wellness activities, a kid's area, an onsite record shop, and even a pool for punters to enjoy.
If you’re open-minded when it comes to music, are keen to see legends headlining, and want more than just music at your next festival adventure, Love Supreme is certainly one to keep an eye on.
Photo: Moovin Festival / Facebook.com
When: Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th August 2024
Where: Whitebottom Farm in Stockport, Greater Manchester
2024 lineup: Leftfield, Laurent Garnier, and more TBA
If your ears love more than just funk and soul, Moovin offers those genres with reggae, house, and drum and bass.
Moovin started in 2016 and has massively improved each time, especially with its lineups. This small boutique festival goes down on a bull farm just outside of Manchester.
But it doesn’t stop at music. They’ve got fire shows, gong baths, yoga classes, and so much more to explore at this super laid-back festival. The organisers keep the capacity limited too, so you’ll never struggle with an overcrowded atmosphere. It’s all about love here.
Head over for an August bank holiday weekend you won’t forget!
Find more information and secure tickets for Moovin - HERE
Music At The Intersection
Photo: Music at the Intersection / Facebook.com
When: Saturday 14th - Sunday 15th September 2024
Where: Grand Centre, Arts District in St Louis, USA
2024 lineup: Chaka Khan, Lettuce, Black Pumas, Big Boi (Outkast), Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Lady Wray, Jordan Ward, Funky Butt Jazz Band, Cimafunk, and more
Bringing blues, jazz, soul, funk, R&B, hip-hop, and rock but with a focus on the first five genres, Music At The Intersection brings some of the biggest and best names in those scenes to St. Louis every year.
The festival books many St. Louis-based artists as well as national artists, bringing them multiple stages on the streets and green spaces of the neighbourhood for music fans to enjoy.
Alongside the tunes this year, there’ll be a food market, a city market, art activations, and even a gospel brunch on the Sunday.
Love R&B? Check out the best R&B festivals!
So which of the best soul festivals caught your eye? Or maybe funk festivals are more your jam? Or both. Both is good. With plenty of funk and soul festivals to choose from, you’re sure to have seen one that got you a bit giddy!
Still looking for brilliant festivals to check out this year? Why not take a look at the best dance and EDM, house and techno, or indie festivals next?
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.
Header: Cross The Tracks / Facebook.com