Next weekend sees the launch of The Soundcrash Funk & Soul Weekender, an all new UK music festival.

When & Where

From Friday 13^th to Monday 16^th May, the festival will open its doors for the first time at Pontins Holiday Centre, Camber Sands, Sussex. 

What to Expect

Music fans will enjoy a weekend packed full of established and up and coming acts and DJs from the worlds of funk and soul, reggae, jazz, ska, northern soul, disco and hip-hop. 

On top of all the great music there will be a whole host of other activities to enjoy and indulge in across the weekend including karaoke, quizzes, record fairs, jazz dance classes and much much more.

There is also the added bonus of this year’s festival being held at Pontins Holiday Park, which means your ticket includes chalet accommodation, so say goodbye to cramming you and your friends in that rubbish pop up tent you use every year at other festivals. 

Line up

This year’s collection of artists and performers is as diverse and eclectic as the list of genres above suggests.

At the top of the bill sits jazz vibraphonist and R&B legend Roy Ayers, breakbeat and electro-funk DJ pioneer Afrika Bambaataa and prolific alternative dance trailblazer Will Holland aka Quantic.   

There’s also BBC 6 Music’s true voice in funk and soul, and festival circuit regular Mr Craig Charles, the man described as “perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived” Tony Allen and nine-piece dub, ska and roots reggae band Gentleman’s Dub Club.

Across the weekend there are also sets from one of the hardest working DJs on the circuit, the all vinyl eclectic Mr Scruff, mash up Jedi DJ Yoda and Nottingham Hill Carnival and radio legend Norman Jay MBE.

There is plenty of live music too, with performances from new and exciting Swedish vocalist Fatima, afro-beat ambassador Dele Sosimi, West-African funk and disco masters Ibibio Sound Machine, soul singer-songwriter and DJ Andrew Ashong, hip-hop collective Lazy Habits and many many more.

To see the full list of acts and videos of each, check out the official festival page here.

The Location

The location for the festival, as hinted at earlier in this preview is quite different to most festivals for two reasons. The first is that unlike most festivals where you have to pay over the odds for good accommodation, the most basic weekend ticket gets you chalet accommodation.

The second is that the festival is very close to the sea, which means you can go for an afternoon on the sands in between sets if you enjoy the beach.

Other activities

Like plenty of festivals, there is lots more on offer than just the music stages. All in keeping with the weekend vibes, there will be jazz boogie n’ soul dance classes, disco yoga, live band karaoke, record fairs, music quizzes and a jazz café among others.

Using the location to its advantage, there will also be pool parties on site and after the live music there will be a number of after parties, including a Soundcrash speakeasy party and a Wah Wah 45’s takeover party.

Plenty of these activities, such as the pool parties will cost you a little extra, so make things a lot easier and book ahead through the Soundcrash Funk & Soul Weekender website. 

If this preview has caught your eye then head over to the festival website here and grab yourself a ticket.