Moseley Park, Birmingham
It always amazes me how quickly time flies. It feels like only yesterday we were dancing to the grooves of War, shaking a leg to the Leftfoot DJs, and quite literally raising the roof with Ezra Collective. And yet, here we are again — the festival is almost upon us!
So, what can we expect from this year’s incredible line-up? It’s a brilliant mix of seriously cool names, absolute legends, and plenty of exciting new prospects.
First on my list is the legendary New Zealand-born artist Jordan Rakei (Sat 11th). He’s one of the most exciting artists of his generation, writing songs with real sensitivity and passion — but equally capable of rocking a crowd when he leans into groove mode. I first met him back in 2015, and since then he’s grown into an artist of genuine international stature.
Another must-see is Jalen Ngonda (Sun 12th), a true Marvin Gaye figure for the millennial generation. His retro-inspired soul sound is currently taking the music world by storm.
Next up are San Diego trio Thee Sacred Souls (Sun 12th). Their breakthrough album on Daptone, Got A Story To Tell, had us all enthralled here at Jazz FM thanks to its superb songwriting and musicianship.
The legendary ensembles Soul II Soul (Fri 10th) and Cymande (Sun 12th) will also be bringing their catalogue of hits and unmistakable good vibes to the main stage — and I, for one, will be front and centre. I have a particular soft spot for Cymande, especially given their long-overdue global recognition, which finally arrived over 40 years later thanks to De La Soul and the power of an Akai MPC sampler.
I’m especially excited about drum & bass pioneers Fabio & Grooverider, who’ll be performing on the bandstand with a full band. Annie and the Caldwells (Sun 12th) are also high on my list, bringing their authentic Mississippi soul sound and an incredible backstory.
Australian artist Don West (Sat 11th) is another must-see, thanks to his exceptional songwriting and fresh take on soul. And I can’t leave out my good friends from Naarm/Melbourne, Close Counters. Their album Lovers Dance Academy was in my Top 10 of 2025, and I guarantee they’ll have the whole arena jumping with their soulful dance grooves.
On the jazz front, be sure to catch Daniel Casimir Big Band (Jazz FM Award winner), Emma-Jean Thackray (Jazz FM Award winner), and the exciting Geordie four-piece Knats — all firmly on the “must-see” list.
And on the DJ side, Nightmares on Wax, Somewhere Soul, Jamz Supernova, Quantic, and the ever-reliable Leftfoot DJs are all on my dance card, thanks to their ability to truly rock a party.
All in all, this year’s vibe looks set to surpass last year’s by a country mile. We at Jazz FM are hugely grateful to the fantastic Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival family for inviting us back to broadcast live from the site, ensuring we don’t miss a moment of the incredible music and stories unfolding on July 10th, 11th, and 12th in Moseley, Birmingham.
You’ll find us in the Yoga Hut on the right as you enter the site — don’t forget to give us a wave.
Tony Minvielle
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