After just three years, the Love Supreme Festival seems to have established itself as a firm fixture on the jazz (and blues and soul) calendar.

This year’s edition, again in the beautiful East Sussex countryside at Glynde Place, offered veterans Chaka Khan and (Sir) Van Morrison as main stage headliners, with the likes of Neneh Cherry, Lisa Stansfield and Larry Graham in support. It was a line-up apparently aimed at an audience of a certain age.

And, why not? Youngsters have their own popular beat combos to listen to at no end of summer festivals.

Yet, despite the vintage of the main acts, the audience was again wide and varied. And so (away from the main stage especially) was the line-up. I was delighted to catch the likes of Go Go Pengiun, Get The Blessing, Bill Laurance [of Snarky Puppy] Project, and Dianne Reeves on the smaller stages, as well as several exciting acts which were new to me.

A personal bonus was finally meeting the ultra talented Zeeteah Massiah and her writer-producer-arranger partner Paul Caplin. 

Love Supreme is Britain’s only (or at least biggest) greenfield jazz festival, and its easy access from London, and promotion of Jazz FM (which also broadcast live from the site) make it an appealing prospect for those seeking a mini, jazzy (less muddy) Glastonbury experience.

Mainstream national media including The Guardian and The Telegraph carried favourable reviews, and next year’s [2016] dates (July 1-3) and venue (same again) have been confirmed, suggesting Love Supreme will be around for many years to come. I certainly hope so.

Here’s my review of the first (2013) festival, and the 2014 follow-up.