Brand-new live music event is coming to Luton town centre in July

The Funk & Soul Festival debuts on Saturday 18 July 2026 from 2pm to 8pm with a standout line-up made up of jazz, soul and funk acts including renowned singers, DJs and bands. 

The event itself is completely free to attend; however, street food will be available to purchase alongside pop-up bars serving chilled beverages throughout the afternoon and into the evening. 

Jazz FM’s Richie Tee will be bringing the vibes to the Hat District throughout the day as your host. The line-up includes:

• The Pete Honegan Band: A collection of session players who have become much-loved at The Bear specialising in Soul, Funk and Reggae, and have backed well-known vocalists such as Hill St Soul, Omar and Teri Walker. 
• Hildia Campbell & The Voices of Soul: Luton singer Hildia was part of the family trio Voices with Soul, achieving fame as contestants on ITV’s X Factor and has performed in West End musicals.
• SoulFusionSeven: An extraordinary six-piece funk and soul band best known for their high-energy live shows and a captivating stage presence.
• DJ Perry Louis: A sought-after, respected DJ and the host of The Bear Club’s popular monthly Jazz Jam sessions.
• Gina Sedman & Monopoly: A powerhouse of soul and an internationally acclaimed recording artist whose career spans over three decades, sixteen albums and five #1 hits on the UK Soul Chart.
• Mick Foster (Soul Sessions) and Dave Watts from Diverse FM, a community-based Luton radio station offering music/video production, radio broadcasting, and mentoring to the local community through their Youth Connect programme. 

Neil Simmonds, co-owner of The Bear Club said: “The Bear Club is thrilled to be coming outside to celebrate Luton 150 this July. We’re going to be bringing a taste of the vibe of the club with some great live funk and soul and some superb DJ sets before heading back to our natural habitat of The Bear Club itself to keep the party going.”

Councillor Basit Mahmood, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Inclusive Growth at Luton Council, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with The Bear Club on what promises to be a really exciting brand-new event coming to Luton town centre. 

“We know how much our residents have been calling for live music in Luton, so it’s amazing to be working with our music venues and bringing events like this into the town centre for free.”

Music on the stage will draw to a close at 8pm, but the party continues at The Bear Club with the official after party. Tickets to see the award-winning Hannah Horton Quartet performing live jazz are available to purchase on The Bear Club’s website or on the door, whilst available.

The Funk & Soul Festival is the second of three outdoor live music events in Luton town centre this summer in partnership between Step Forward Luton, Luton Council and local entertainment providers:

• Saturday 27 June, ‘Market Hill Live’ from 2pm to 10pm with The Castle Live at Market Hill
• Saturday 18 July, ‘Funk & Soul’ Festival from 2pm to 8pm with The Bear Club in the Hat District
• Saturday 15 August, ‘Beats & Bites’ from 2pm to 8pm with PRAXIS DJ-Live in the Hat District

These live music events form part of a wider programme celebrating Luton’s 150th anniversary as a borough, with events and activities highlighting the town’s history, heritage and community spirit.

The Luton 150 programme also offers opportunities for businesses to get involved through sponsorship packages, providing brand visibility while supporting the local community. For more information, email marketing@luton.gov.uk.

Find out more about the artists and information for the day at place.stepforwardluton.co.uk/funk-soul.