UK funk, soul & groove culture
Forget velvet ropes and £15 cocktails. From launderettes in Leeds to barbershop back rooms in Peckham, the UK’s most vital soul and funk nights are happening in tiny, affordable spaces with serious sound and no attitude. Here are eight rooms worth queuing for in 2026.
A new generation of UK reissue labels and tape-hunting DJs is pulling 1980s Brit-funk out of the shadows. We trace how forgotten demos, licensed masters and unplayed acetates are becoming vital documents of homegrown groove.
From packed club shows to festival fields in 2026, UK funk and soul acts are putting live brass back at the front of the stage. We look at the cost, the chaos and the dancefloor payoff of touring with a horn section.
Early doors, sunlight through the windows and a room full of people who came to dance rather than queue for a late licence. We look at the daytime soul and funk parties reshaping UK club culture this winter — and how to find the good ones.
Limited pressings, independent labels and DJs who want a record that feels like a secret: the UK seven-inch scene is having a moment. Here is why the 45 still rules the floor — and a starter stack of recent releases to hunt down.