The Best R&B Music Festivals

R&B is such an ethereal genre. But while losing yourself in delicious vocal harmonies at home is absolutely unreal, there’s nothing like experiencing such a dreamy genre in person with thousands of other passionate fans. 

Experiencing your favourite songs in person is simply unrivalled. So check out these incredible R&B music festivals to discover silky-smooth vocals and strong basslines played by the best artists in the game

 

T-Live Festival

Photo: T-Live Festival / Facebook.com

When: Sunday 6th August 2023

Where: Copthall Playing Fields in London

2023 lineup: Trey Songz, Jeremih, Jacquees, Fabolous, 112, Sunshine Anderson, and many more

Originally called Titan Festival, T-Live returns for its second edition in 2023 armed with some huge names on its lineup.

At T-Live in 2023, over 75 R&B, hip-hop, afrobeats, amapiano, and soca artists will take over six arenas on a sunny Sunday. Massive superstar Trey Songz tops the bill on the mainstage with Hip Hop Brunch, Dankie Sounds, Everything RnB, and Desi Beats hosting other stages.

The fest runs from 11 am - 9 pm, and tickets are an absolute steal at £50 in the third release. Or you can get a combination ticket which gets you entry to 51st Festival (on the 5th) and T-Live the next day for just £80. Bargain. 

 

Tickets for T-Live Festival

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Cloud X Festival

Photo: Cloud X / Facebook.com

When: Sunday 20th August 2023

Where: Beckenham Place Park in Beckenham, London 

2023 lineup: Pip Millett, Etta Bond, Col3trane, Saint Levant, Samm Henshaw, Berwyn, and more

One of the best R&B music festivals, especially for those looking for new sounds, comes to a lush area of woodland, greenery, and lakes.

Cloud X is a record label founded by LGBTQ+ and POC people to help the best underground artists get their music out there and develop their sound. The fest showcases the best in R&B but also soul and alternative hip-hop. 

Prioritising originality, Cloud X aims to nurture and encourage individuality while creating an inclusive space for the next generation of creatives to build their fan base. You don’t find many festivals like this one. 

 

Tickets for Cloud X Festival

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Strawberries & Creem

Photo: Strawberries & Creem Festival / Facebook.com

When: 2024 dates TBA 

Where: TBA in Cambridge 

2022 lineup: Lil Wayne (replaced by Ludacris), Tems, Ella Mai, Mabel, Tion Wayne, Juls, Children of Zeus, Pip Millett, ENNY, and more

Strawberries & Creem took a year off in 2023 but to give you a vibe for the lineup, we included some of the 2022 artists above. 

S&C bring a variety of genres to the people including R&B, hip-hop, afrobeats, drum and bass, house, reggae and African pop. In the fest's own words, it aims to be the epicentre of youth culture, keeping youth at the heart of everything they do while celebrating life. 

They’ve brought some of the most impressive and adored artists across genres to its stages over the years and we’re sure they’ll be doing exactly that again when it returns in 2024.

 

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Wireless Festival

Photo: Wireless Festival / Facebook.com

When: Friday 12th - Sunday 14th July 2024

Where: Finsbury Park in London 

2023 lineup: Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, D-Block Europe, 50 Cent, Flo, Bryson Tiller, Mariah the Scientist, and more 

While Wireless is of course more of a hip-hop festival, the fest also welcomes some incredible R&B artists to its stage over the summer weekend.

Wireless 2023 just wrapped up (read our review of that here) but they’ve already confirmed dates for 2024, so now we can start getting ready for next year. Crowds at Wireless always give it their all. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think the festival might be the last gig of their lives. That’s how hard they go.

The lineup is always full of the biggest and best in the game, and it’s one of the few UK festivals that seems to have incredible luck with weather. 

 

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Sundaes In The City

When: Saturday 5th August 2023

Where: Bristol Amphitheatre in Bristol

2023 lineup: Sister Sledge, Pip Millet, Children of Zeus, Da Fuchaman, and more

A Ben & Jerry's festival with free ice cream, comedy, a dance tent, and local traders - why wouldn’t you? 

Returning after a sold-out festival in Hastings, our favourite ice cream makers bring the party to Bristol this year with some huge names in disco, R&B, and hip-hop, with house tunes in the dance tent. 100% of ticket fees will be donated to local charities, and tickets are still insanely good value. 

Sundaes ‘23 has sold out, but if you join the waiting list, you might snag some tickets from someone who can’t attend anymore. Or you could eagerly await 2024 tickets like us. 

 

Tickets for Sundaes In The City

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Cross The Tracks

Photo: Cross The Tracks / Facebook.com 

When: Sunday 26th May 2024

Where: TBA in Brixton, London

2023 lineup: NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge), Masego, Loose Ends, Kelis, Roy Ayers, Ravyn Lenae, and more 

Cross The Tracks brings all the smoothest genres to one place in London. We're talking R&B, neo-soul, jazz, funk, hip-hop, and electronic music.

As well as enjoying some of the best artists in the silkiest of genres, the fest boasts street food vendors, local craft beer, independent fashion traders, panels and workshops, and art around the festival site. 

The 2023 edition has wrapped up but the team behind the fest has already set a date for 2024. Tickets will be available shortly so watch this space for updates! 

Click or tap here for the best funk and soul festivals  

 

Info and tickets for Cross The Tracks

 

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Love Supreme Jazz Festival

Photo: Love Supreme Festival / Facebook.com 

When: Friday 5th - Sunday 7th July 2024 

Where: Glynde Place, East Sussex

2023 lineup: Little Simz, Grace Jones, Thundercat, Candi Staton, Shalamar, Pip Millett, Tower of Power, Greentea Peng, and more

Love Supreme is one of the best R&B festivals for those who also enjoy soul, funk, and jazz. It’s the largest jazz festival in Europe that attracts fantastic artists across those genres. 

The fest first went down in 2013 and has always attracted both huge and emerging names and adoring crowds to a gorgeous National Park with an Elizabethan country house. When the sun sets, you can head to the Supreme Standards tent for DJs and dancing.  

Click or tap here for the best jazz festivals 

 

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Cincinnati Music Festival

Photo: Cincinnati Music Festival / Facebook.com 

When: Thursday 20th - Saturday 22nd July 2023 

Where: Andrew J Brady Music Center and Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio

2023 lineup: Al Green, Avery Sunshine, Babyface, Jill Scott, Jodeci, Midnight Star, Snoop Dogg, and more

If you’re happy to venture across the pond, CMF is easily one of the best R&B music festivals you could ever attend. 

First held in 1962 under the name Ohio Valley Jazz Festival, CMF has grown to become a three-day festival that showcases R&B, jazz, soul, and hip-hop. They've seen some true legends on its stage including Luther Vandross, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, and so many more. 

Now in its 59th year, the fest still brings incredible R&B lineups to music fans in Cincinnati and those happy to make the pilgrimage. 

Click or tap here for the best American music festivals 

 

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Bleached 

Photo: We Are Tight Knit / Instagram.com 

When: Saturday 5th - Sunday 6th August 2023

Where: Waterfront Park in San Diego, California

2023 lineup: Sam Austins, Leon Bridges, Lily Meola, Omar Apollo, Joji, Channel Tres, and more

Presented by Tight Knight, Bleached Fest delivers its debut this year with a pretty impressive lineup spanning R&B, indie, and pop. As well as the names listed above, there's PinkPantheress, BADBADNOTGOOD, Yves Tumor, and many other top artists. 

Bleached comes to San Diego's Waterfront Park with bay views for a relaxed festival experience. 

Click or tap here for the best festivals in California

 

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There you have the best R&B festivals! While you’re here, why not check out the best funk and soul festivals? Or the best cheap festivals in the UK? 

Search Skiddle now to find more festivals, near and far, and make summer 2023 one you’ll never forget. 

 

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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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