The press release is headed “Groove Armada and more added to Mostly Jazz Festival 2025.” In a world where “jazz” is widely co-opted – perhaps because of the cachet it bestows, perhaps from misunderstanding or perhaps because few can agree anymore what it is – the heading sounds promising, as if in Birmingham this summer jazz were being reclaimed – with just a little non-curricular “commercial” activity for added spice or to balance the books.
As in the fraught matter of jazz definition above, the beholder will have to be the judge of the accuracy of the festival’s title. The latest lineup, announced 29 January, is as follows: Maribou State, Groove Armada (DJ set), Goldie (DJ set), Kofi Stone, Summer Pearl, LULU. (the British/Nigerian singer-songwriter, “with a dot” as well as block capitals), The New Consistent, Fila Brazillia DJs, Erol Alkan, Leftfoot DJs, War, Craig Charles, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Sam Redmore presents a James Brown Special, Tom McGuire & The Brassholes, MT Jones, Disco Manifest, Big Band of Boom, Speak!, DDQ, Harrsn ft The House Gospel Choir, Variations DJs, The Hussain Brothers, B:And Together, Czafari, Ezra Collective, Somewhere Soul (DJ set), Jalen Ngonda, MRCY, Rosie Lowe, Alive By Night, Amy Gadiaga, Diddy Sweg, Heavy Beat Brass Band, Q Sermon, Dave Lee (JN), Lovely Helen, Ming (Eat Vietnam) and Soundlab Brum.
One might, in view of the above roster, have to allow that perhaps “Mostly” was an irresistible play on “Moseley”, where the event is held. But “Moseley Jazz Festival” would likely have created even greater expectations. “Mostly” allows some kind of leeway, and it’s well taken by a festival in which Ezra Collective (nominated in the Brit awards’ alternative/rock category) seems to be the sole concession to something approaching jazz. Reading on in the publicity we see that Mostly Jazz has grown into “Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival”, which sounds closer to the mark, but hardly as snappy.
The festival began in 2010 and is described by the promoter as “a diverse, vibrant festival, celebrating ground-breaking, innovative UK music alongside international trailblazers”. It’s held in Moseley Park, an 11-acre woodland glade two miles from the centre of Birmingham. Previous headliners have included Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Gregory Porter, Chaka Khan, The Specials, The Wailers, KC and The Sunshine Band and Kool and The Gang. More information and tickets for the festival, Friday 11 to Sunday 13 July 2025, are at mostlyjazz.co.uk.
