A new four-day music festival is set to arrive in Bournemouth this coming bank holiday weekend, offering residents a major event featuring soul and house music from 1 May to 4 May 2026.
The Bournemouth Soul and House Weekender will feature live performances and DJ sets across several town venues, including Hot Rocks, Eden, The Stable, and Key West. According to the event organisers, the festival aims to revive the town’s music heritage by hosting more than 50 performers, including international acts such as Bobby and Steve, Tommy Musto, and Seamus Haji.
The festival was created by local figure Keith McNicol, who owns the Richmond Classics fashion business, alongside Bob Povey and Jon Coomer of Bump N Hustle. They are joined by Andy Ward, the founder of the long-running Vocal Booth Weekender, and the team from Vocal Booth Radio, who are providing support for the event.
Attendees will need a festival wristband to access the various venues throughout the four days. The programming is designed to cater to different audiences, featuring family-friendly daytime activities alongside late-night club sessions that will run until 4am on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to music, the festival will host record fairs and various workshops for visitors.
This event follows the tradition of British soul weekenders, a format that first began in 1979. Organisers hope the festival will establish Bournemouth as a regular destination for national and international dance music fans.
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