Soul, Funk & Jazz Festivals in United Kingdom

Belfast Vital is a major annual music festival held at the Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast, Northern Ireland, featuring high-profile international headliners. Established in 2002, the event has become one of the city's premier outdoor concert series, attracting tens of thousands of music fans each summer.

Rewind Festival South is a premier 80s-themed music festival held annually at Temple Island Meadows in Henley-on-Thames, United Kingdom. The event features a nostalgic lineup of iconic retro artists alongside themed entertainment, vibrant fancy dress, and family-friendly activities.

Beautiful Days is an award-winning independent music festival organized by the Levellers and held annually at Escot Park in Devon. The event is renowned for its family-friendly environment and grassroots ethos, featuring diverse musical acts, site art, and entertainment across six stages without corporate sponsorship.

The Just So Festival is an award-winning family arts festival held annually at Rode Hall Estate in Cheshire, England. It offers an imaginative array of literature, music, theatre, and workshops designed to immerse children and their families in a world of creative wonder.

Lost Village is an immersive music and arts festival set within a secluded forest in Lincolnshire, offering a unique blend of electronic music, gourmet food, and surreal performance art. The event invites attendees to explore an 'abandoned' woodland village featuring world-class DJs, interactive theatre, and wellness workshops.

Reading Festival is the UK's longest-running popular music festival, held annually in Reading over the August bank holiday weekend. It showcases a diverse lineup of rock, indie, and hip-hop artists, sharing its bill with the simultaneous Leeds Festival.

Between the Trees is a unique festival set in the Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve in South Wales, blending indie-folk music with natural science, art, and wellbeing. The family-friendly event focuses on reconnecting people to the natural world through a mix of live performances, educational talks, and creative workshops within an ancient coastal woodland.

Shambala is a fiercely independent and radically sustainable festival in Northamptonshire that offers a diverse program of music, workshops, and performance art. Renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere and eco-conscious ethics, the event is completely meat and fish-free and powered by 100% renewable energy.

Leeds Festival is a major annual music event held at Bramham Park during the August Bank Holiday weekend, featuring a diverse lineup of rock, indie, and hip-hop artists. It operates simultaneously with its sister event, Reading Festival, sharing the same roster of international headliners across two sites.

Manchester Pride is a prominent annual LGBTQ+ festival held in Manchester, UK, featuring a massive parade and celebrations centered around the city's historic Canal Street area. The event includes a diverse program of live music, cultural activities, and advocacy initiatives dedicated to promoting equality and celebrating queer life.

CarFest is the UK's largest family fundraising festival, founded by presenter Chris Evans to combine a passion for motoring with live music and celebrity entertainment. The event raises significant funds for various British children's charities while featuring high-octane track action, chef demonstrations, and performances from top music artists.

Victorious Festival is a major three-day music event held annually on Southsea Common in Portsmouth during the August Bank Holiday weekend. It features a diverse lineup of popular indie and rock artists alongside family-friendly attractions and a picturesque seafront setting.

All Points East is a premier multi-day music festival held in London's Victoria Park, showcasing a diverse array of global headliners across rock, indie, and electronic genres. The event features two weekends of major concerts and a free midweek community program called In The Neighbourhood.

Found Festival is an independent micro-festival at Buckinghamshire's Claydon Estate that blends Americana, folk, and roots music with wellness and creative workshops. The event prioritizes discovery and community, providing an intimate setting for attendees to connect through music, dance, and arts.

Forwards Festival is a contemporary music and social action event held annually at Clifton Downs in Bristol, United Kingdom. It features a diverse lineup of international artists alongside a dedicated space for discussions on urgent social and political issues.

Big Beach Busk is an annual music and performance event held on Portobello Promenade in Edinburgh. What makes it unique is that it is an unstructured, free mass busking event, where performers spontaneously gather to create a mile-long stretch of live entertainment by the sea.

Rally Festival is a community-driven music and arts event inspired by DIY culture, celebrating London's diverse artistic communities with a focus on alternative, electronic, and experimental sounds. This one-day festival, known for its grassroots vibe and collaborative curation, integrates a range of artistic disciplines and features a blend of live acts and DJs.

Lido Festival is a multi-day music event debuting in June 2025 at London's Victoria Park, featuring artist-curated lineups and a strong emphasis on sustainability. The festival spans two weekends and showcases globally established headliners alongside emerging talent through a program designed to engage the local community.

End of the Road Festival is an independent music event held annually at Larmer Tree Gardens on the Wiltshire and Dorset border, known for its curated alternative, indie, and folk lineups. The festival offers an intimate atmosphere with diverse programming that includes comedy, workshops, literature talks, and a hidden library set within the scenic woodland.

Brighton Psych Fest is a multi-venue music festival in England that celebrates psychedelic culture with a diverse lineup of psych-rock, post-punk, and experimental artists. The event takes over various independent venues across Brighton to showcase both established international acts and emerging underground talent.

BunkFest is a free-access community music festival held annually in Wallingford, South Oxfordshire, on the banks of the River Thames. Its accessibility and community focus make it special, with entertainment spread throughout the town and a large volunteer base, even incorporating the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway line.

The British Country Music Festival is a premier indoor event held at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, dedicated to showcasing contemporary UK country and Americana artists. The festival features over 100 performers across multiple stages, providing a significant platform for both established stars and emerging homegrown singer-songwriters.

Faversham Hop Festival is a street festival in Faversham, Kent that celebrates the town's hop-growing and brewing heritage. What makes it special is its focus on community, offering a blend of live music, parades, family entertainment and artisan stalls, often with free entry.

Mucky Weekender is an intimate boutique music festival in Winchester curated by Barry Ashworth of the Dub Pistols, featuring a genre-spanning lineup of electronic, dub, and ska. The event is set across themed stages in the Hampshire countryside and is celebrated for its vibrant community spirit and grassroots atmosphere.

Worcester Music Festival is a free, three-day event held in multiple venues across Worcester city centre. The festival is unique as the UK's largest donation-entry festival, where proceeds support a local cause, blending music discovery with community support.

Equinox Festival is a multi-genre, grassroots gathering in the Lincolnshire Wolds, renowned for its inclusive "gathering of the tribes" atmosphere and celebration of creative freedom. This not-for-profit event features over a hundred bands and DJs across six stages, complemented by immersive light shows, fire performances, and diverse workshops.

No Bounds Festival is an annual multi-venue event in Sheffield, UK, that explores the intersection of electronic music, art, and technology. It is distinctive for its focus on club culture, fostering spontaneous and sensory-rich experiences through an eclectic lineup of electronic, techno, and experimental sounds, complemented by diverse performances, workshops, and immersive installations.

Sŵn Festival is an award-winning, multi-venue contemporary music festival held annually in Cardiff, Wales, that focuses on showcasing emerging talent and new music. Established in 2007, the event transforms various city-center spaces into a vibrant hub for discovering both homegrown Welsh artists and international acts.

Hockley Hustle is a music and arts festival that takes place across multiple venues in the Hockley area of Nottingham. It is unique for raising money for local charities while showcasing a diverse range of local talent.

Whitby Blues Rhythm and Rock Festival is a music event that takes place at Whitby Pavilion in Whitby. The festival is held in a Victorian-era theatre that offers views of the North Sea and Whitby Abbey.

WinterStorm is a classic rock festival held annually in the seaside town of Troon, Scotland. It is special due to its unique atmosphere created by bringing rock fans together on the west coast of Scotland during the dark, cold, wintry months.

Tunes In The Dunes is a vibrant three-day music festival set directly on the golden sands of Perranporth Beach in Cornwall, England. It features a diverse lineup of international headliners and local talent against the scenic backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival is an annual three-day event held in the scenic woodland glade of Moseley Park in Birmingham, UK. It showcases a diverse lineup of world-class jazz, funk, and soul artists alongside emerging local talent in a vibrant outdoor setting.