East Devon Soul Festival will support, nurture, enlivening and reawaken the music scene in East Devon, UK, utilising the underrepresented town of Seaton, snuck between those classic holiday destination, Lyme Regis and Sidmouth. Music is vibrant in these two places, central to their cultural and tourist economy. Seaton is a beautiful brutalist place, the concrete wall protecting the town from the ravages of the sea, a wide open expanse with white and red stone cliffs on either side, a perfect crescent, half moon, curvacious place. Seaton has lots of venues, all currently utilised to recreate school discos or house another covers band mainly full of blokes. East Devon Soul aims to bring global music beats from around the world to the southern shores, a Womadian aim to educate and glamourise, provide multi-ethnic culture to this mainly white populace. Bands featuring the music of Africa, South America, Europe, Australasia and Asia. Interesting electronic beats. New sounds, interesting instruments. East Devon Soul sees the heartfelt, music coming from within the self and collaborative cultures. A chance to dance and listen, to be transported, to be educated, to be entertained and join in with that process.
Plans are afoot for a big event in 2026, the East Devon Soul Festival. Venues across the town such as The Gateway Theatre, the Tramway and the Old Picturehouse will house artists within global, soul, funk, electronic and jazz genres, crossing divides, entertaining and educating. Early July will see people flock to Seaton, dancing on the beach, by the beach, looking at the beach. Devon’s answer to Cafe del Mar, evening summer raves, a quick dip after a sweaty dance.
This year we are bringing acts such as the Cuban Buena Bristol Social Club, Omega Nebula firing dub and step, Fulu with their hidden personas, brass and techno in joyous combination, the amazing soulful Hannah and the Affirmations, as sampled by Jay-Z, to the live drum and bass of Doctor Meaker. Cuban heavyweights Asere will fire into the region at the start of Novembr. Music ecosystems enlivened by adding to the mix, adding variables to support cultural expansion in this naturally beautiful place.
Information about the East Devon Soul Festival will be coming to your eyes and ears soon. July 2026. Great value. Great acts. Great fun
