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George Clinton, Fred Wesley & Family Stone Among Mouth-Watering 3 Day Moseley Festival Bill

The Mothership has booked a landing spot in Moseley Park, Birmingham in July - when George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic zoom in to close the three day "Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival."

While some festivals have cut back on line-ups this year, and some are not happening at all in 2012, this one is a cracking feast of tasty music on 29th & 30th June & 1st July. Roots Manuva, Family Stone and Fred Wesley and the New JBs are also booked.

The Friday, curated by Birmingham’s Leftfoot, will see the return of Gilles Peterson who will compere and jump behind the decks for his legendary DJ set.

London Hip-Hop virtuoso Roots Manuva, is headlining the first night, joined by the genre defying Ghostpoet, cover maestro’s Introducing who will be taking on DJ Shadow’s ‘Entroducing’ in full, with Leftfoot’s new favourites Bad Bad Not Good, completing the main stage line up.

Headlining the second stage on the Friday will be local tropical dub pioneers Troumaca, electro heroes Free School, the groove driven Maylight and a DJ set from Leftfoot’s Sam Redmore.

Mr. Scruff will play on his very own stage – Mr Scruff’s Tennis Hut. He will also headline the "After Show Party" @ the Hare & Hounds - which is exclusive to Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul ticket holders. Tickets are £10 + booking fee.

On Saturday,BBC 6 Music star Craig Charles’ hosts his own Funk & Soul Club, curateing the line-up and playing a headline DJ Set on the second stage. He will also take over the "After Show Party" on the Saturday night, again exclusive to Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Ticket holders. Craig will be festival compere for the second year. Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club will feature performances from acts who have been championed on his acclaimed BBC 6 show.

Headlining the Saturday night are Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and Woodstock legends Family Stone. They will be playing a hit-laden set, which will include psychedelic groove classics such as “Dance To The Music,” “Family Affair” and “Everyday People.”

They will be joined on the bill by “Native New Yorkers” Odyssey, Speedometer, The Atlantic Players, The Bongolian, Lack of Afro (DJ Set) & Federation Of The Disco Pimp, Rotunda of Wonder, Electric Swing Circus.Introducing return to play their second show of the weekend; with their take on the music of Mr. Scruff.

On the Sunday, 1st July, It really is SHOWTIME!!!! The Godfathers of Funk – George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic drop in for some serious FONNKK! They will be bringing the party to a rapturous close on their only UK date of the summer!

Also performing on the Sunday will be James Brown’s trombone king and musical director, Fred Wesley, joined by his long time band The New JB’s. Completing the Sunday line up will be Soweto Kinch, Neil Cowley Trio, Zoe Rahman, Abram Wilson, Andy Hamilton & The Bluenotes, Husk, Miles Levin, Steve Ajao & Birmingham Jazz Youth Ensemble.

Last year’s event was called Mostly Jazz and has been re-branded for 2012. There will once again be two stages side by side at the festival, the second of which will feature up and coming talent. As in 2011, Tony Dudley-Evans’ development agency Jazzlines and Birmingham’s premier jazz & funk parlour The Yardbird will be curating the second stage, whilst Leftfoot will curate both stages on the Friday. Each will showcase some of their top acts and probably many of tomorrow’s stars.

Birmingham’s Moseley Park is a privately owned park usually only open to key holders. The Park is a stunning 11-acre woodland glade in the heart of Moseley Village, only 2 miles from the centre of Birmingham. It is the perfect setting for a festival as the ground slopes down into a natural amphitheatre in front of the lake.

The first ever Mostly Jazz Festival was held in 2010, with pioneering artists such as the Sun Ra Arkestra and Courtney Pine, alongside leaders of the new wave of British talent such as Polar Bear, Led Bib and Portico Quartet.
For 2011,the organisers added a third night on the Friday. Last year’s line-up included Stax legend Booker T, Smoove & Turrell, Alice Russell and Pigbag.
Local to the festival, Warwickshire based Purity Brewing Co. are again the official sponsor and supplying the booze on site.

Tickets for "Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul" are now on sale via www.mostlyjazz.co.uk. To avoid booking fees there is the option to send in a postal form or visit one of the official outlets, listed on the websiite.Ticket prices have been kept at 2011 prices. Day tickets are £28.50 for Friday and £37 for Sat & Sun. Weekend tickets are £79. There are concessions for under 16s.
Words SIMON REDLEY