Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival 2023: Final line up with headliners Ezra Collective & KC & the Sunshine band

One of Birmingham’s most popular local festivals is returning in style for 2023 with a legendary line up.

Mostly Jazz prides itself on offering a diverse, vibrant festival celebrating groundbreaking, innovative UK music alongside international trailblazers. Held in Moseley Park, a stunning 11-acre woodland glade in the heart of Moseley Village, the festival is just two miles from the centre of Birmingham, yet is a world away from city life.

With sloping grounds, creating a natural amphitheatre in front of the beautiful lake, it’s the perfect setting for a festival. Each year Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul brings incredible artists, workshops, arts, crafts, and a selection of Birmingham’s most loved street food and drinks vendors to Moseley, for one epic party weekend.

Friday Headliners are, Fat Freddy’s Drop - and the band is regarded as one of the world’s finest live draws with their sunshine reggae and soul best appreciated live. On Saturday, Ezra Collective are top of the bill with thier stunning jazz showmanship.

On Sunday, KC and The Sunshine band are the headlines, with their iconic tunes as popular today as they were when they set out half a century ago with their fusion of R&B and funk.

The final line-up has now being announced with music legend fred Wesley and ‘Maestro of Funk’ DJ Craig Charles joining the legendary independent festival which is back for its 13th event.

Having previously stormed Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival back in 2012, Fred Wesley and The New JBs return to the main stage on Saturday. And after taking a brief break, Craig Charles is also back on Mostly’s main stage – this time with added dancers. The actor, writer, broadcaster and DJ joins Sunday’s bill, where the BBC 6Music icon guarantees an inspired selection of crowd-pleasing funk and soul bangers!

With a line-up that spans genres, Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival 2023 also welcomes Kokoroko, Goldie (live), Jungle DJ Set and Crazy P Soundsystem (Friday); Ezra Collective, Smoove and Turrell, Heavy Beat Brass Band, Boca 45 and Young Gun Silver Fox (Saturday); and Incognito, Huey Morgan, Norman Jay, Jamz Supernova and Mica Millar (Sunday) - plus much more.

Alongside the music bill, the festival is also hosting a series of workshops, performances and activities with Birmingham Royal Ballet, street culture specialists High Vis Festival, and Dead Pixels (with their retro gaming caravan), plus Sofunk Dance Fitness, Drum N Bounce, The Swing Era, and dance tutor/dancer Ed Quigley.

With the full line-up now revealed, Mostly Jazz has also issued a call-out for volunteers. A variety of roles are available for those aged 18+, who gain free entry for the full event in return for two shifts. More information on how to apply can be found on the Mostly website.

Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival runs from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 July 2023. Tickets are on sale now from £57 per day or £145 for the full festival (plus booking fee). A Payment Plan is also available.

Here’s the full line up for each day:

Friday 7 July 202

• Fat Freddy’s Drop
• Kokoroko
• Jungle DJ Set
• Goldie (Live)
• Crazy P Soundsystem
• Eva Lazarus
• Jasmine Myra
• Lynks
• TrueMendous
• Emma-Jean Thackray (DJ set)
• Leftfoot DJs
• Reli.ah
• Nikhil Beats

Saturday 8 July 2023

• Ezra Collective
• Fred Wesley and The New JBs
• Smoove and Turrell
• Mr Scruff
• Boca 45
• Young Gun Silver Fox
• Alogte Oho and His Sounds Of Joy
• Mafalda
• Leftfoot DJs
• Toni
• Heavy Beat Brass Band
• The Notebenders
• Lara Jones
• Gabriella Liandu
• Lucas D & The Ghetto Grove
• B Music Ensemble

Sunday 9 July 2023

• KC & The Sunshine Band
• Incognito
• Craig Charles
• Norman Jay MBE
• Jamz Supernova
• Huey Morgan
• Mica Millar
• Leftfoot DJs
• VC Pines
• Freekind
• Mychelle
• The Coalminers
• Soul Grenades
• O.
• Ella More
• Island T
• Leftfoot DJs

For more details, see: mostlyjazz.co.uk