When: 8th – 10th July 2022
Where: Moseley Park and Pool, Birmingham, England
Starting out life more than ten years ago as the Mostly Jazz Festival, but due to everyone assuming it was just purely jazz the name was changed to Mostly, Jazz, Funk & Soul and since that time the annual event has just grown and grown. It returns a week on Friday to its firmly established location of Moseley Park and Pool, less than two miles due south of Birmingham city centre but once you have entered through the private park’s gates you could be in another world altogether.
Moseley Park and Pool is run as a charitable trust by a group of local residents and is an absolutely stunning 11-acre woodland glade in the heart of Moseley village. The park features a beautiful lake and gently undulating grounds which serve as a natural amphitheatre once the festival’s main stage is in place. It really is the most delightful of surroundings in which to enjoy live music.
Once more Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul brings to us a wide range of diverse music from a host of top international acts and emerging local talent. This year’s headliners from the neighbouring West Midlands city of Coventry are Two-Tone legends The Specials who will top the bill on Friday night; the following night it is the turn of the stellar American funk outfit The Fatback Band to do the honours; and The Earth Wind and Fire Experience, featuring guitarist Al McKay – who had first joined the soul/funk/pop pioneers, Earth Wind & Fire in 1973 – close out this year’s festival in tremendous style late on Sunday evening.
An incredibly strong musical undercard comes courtesy of electronic music DJ and composer Nightmares On Wax who will take to the decks on the Leftfoot Takeover Stage on Friday, as well as appearances by hip-hop turntablist DJ Yoda, the Manchester soul project Children of Zeus, North London rapper Coops, and many more great acts besides.
Saturday sees Mostly, Jazz, Funk & Soul regular and festival favourite Craig Charles return to Moseley Park with his “trunk of funk” when he will be joined by Oh My God! It’s The Church, Horse Meat Disco, rapper Barney Artist, jazz-funkers Secret Night Gang, London’s black rose of the blues, Sister Cookie, amongst many other class acts.
And then on Sunday the festival welcomes to the event American hip-hop trio De La Soul (a late replacement for Cameo), along with reggae royalty The Wailers, highly revered Los Angeles-based jazz/soul singer Lady Blackbird, Greg Wilson and Ill Considered.
Alongside every other UK music festival, Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last year it attracted UK artists only and once again impacted by Covid-19 the festival had to move from its original dates in July to those usually occupied by its sister event, the equally marvellous Moseley Folk and Arts Festival in early September. This year, though, it is back to its regular weekend in July, bigger and even better.
Whilst the festival cannot expand in size due to its chosen location – and why would you want to move from such a perfect setting? – it has developed several new features for 2022. In addition to the pre-existing open-sided caravans, complete with table service (which afford a brilliant view of the main stage), this year also sees the return of the Off Piste area on the site by the lake boasting a bigger marquee and introducing the addition of a bar, shops and massage facility. In addition to this, the top tennis court in the park will now feature a new marquee hosting dance workshops and late night dance parties.
The quality of the catering – which was already extremely good – has also been developed even further with the introduction of what Festival Manager John Fell describes as “identified brands”, including Original Patty Men, English Indian, and Peruvian street food from Chakana.
It all makes for a fantastic, family-friendly festival. It looks as if it will once again sell out ahead of a week on Friday. Remaining tickets, and all the information relating to the event, can be found on the Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul website
