maspalomas soul festival 10th anniversary lineup details

Maspalomas Soul Festival: 10th anniversary lineup revealed

Maspalomas Soul Festival returns for milestone 10th edition

Sixteen groups and artists from around the world are flying the flag for soul music at Spain’s premier event for the genre and one of Europe’s standout summer music festivals. The Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival takes place on Gran Canaria from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 June, on the stunning stage of Playa de San Agustín in San Bartolomé de Tirajana.

Dedicated to founder Dania Dávora

This tenth edition is dedicated to the memory of its creator and driving force, Dania Dávora, director of DD Company Producciones, who passed away last March. Her vision, passion and commitment were instrumental in turning this gathering into an unmissable event for soul lovers and a cultural and tourism landmark for Gran Canaria. Over the past decade, the festival has attracted major international names, projected the name of Maspalomas Costa Canaria far beyond its shores, and earned the status of Local Tourist Interest. Held in the south of the island, it draws thousands of visitors each year with its high-quality, free-to-attend programming, open-air concerts, food offerings and family-friendly atmosphere.

Headliners and highlights

Organised by San Bartolomé de Tirajana Town Council and directed and produced by DD Company Producciones, this year’s edition boasts a brilliant lineup of musicians, the majority hailing from the United States. Audiences can expect veteran voices carrying the essence of 20th century soul alongside young innovators pushing the genre’s boundaries. Concerts will take place on the first two days from 7:30pm until well past midnight on the Playa de San Agustín stage.

Not to be missed are two octogenarians who still command the stage without losing a note: Lenny Williams, author of the legendary soul anthem ‘Cause I Love You’, and John Ellison, who immortalised ‘Some Kind of Wonderful’ – a rhythm and blues classic covered by 75 artists. On the more contemporary side, the festival welcomes Bigg Robb, an all-rounder who moves through funk, R&B, modern blues, gospel and Southern soul, blending it all into the style he calls “big soul”.

Voices from the birthplace of soul

Arkansas brings Karen Wolfe, the queen of soul blues, shaped by gospel and blues traditions. From the very cradle of soul music, Memphis, come powerful voices steeped in the deep legacy of Southern American music. Shunta Mosby boasts over two decades in music, establishing her as a solo artist in her hometown. Candy Fox is another prodigy who was singing gospel in church at the age of three; her career took off with debut album Soul Stir in 2009. Gospel holds no secrets for Dani McGhee, also from Memphis, who has owned the stage since the age of five and released his first album, Unveiled, in 2019.

Another young Memphis talent, Dot. Moore, arrives with a new album, Connect the Dots – the second of her career, blending classic soul with contemporary R&B. And to celebrate the legendary sound of this city and its great artists, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame band returns for a third visit. Made up of eleven talented musicians, this group – created to honour the artists inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Southern Tennessee city – will serve as the festival’s house band.

Spanish and local talent

On the Spanish side, Koko-Jean & The Tonics bring a vibrant offering fusing soul, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and funk, led by Mozambican-born Koko-Jean Davis, now based in Barcelona. Support for Canarian talent comes from City Dock Band, with a foray into film soundtracks that have conveyed soul music, and the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Municipal School of Music, in recognition of the collective effort and quality of work produced in its modern music classroom. Two DJ sets by Manel Ruiz ‘El Especialista’ and Dr. Wampush (Xavier Valiño) will spin the best of the genre to open the two big music days on Friday and Saturday respectively.

National broadcast partnership

The Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival will enjoy extra reach thanks to an agreement with Spanish national broadcaster RTVE as the festival’s official media partner. The public broadcaster will provide special coverage through programmes dedicated to the event on both TVE and Radio 3, bringing viewers the standout performances and moments of a particularly significant edition – the tenth anniversary. The collaboration will also help boost the visibility of Gran Canaria and Maspalomas Costa Canaria as a tourist and cultural destination.

Source

Scroll to Top