Brighton Festival 2024 promises a full and varied programme of contemporary music.

An array of musicians from across the world and closer to home, from Orchestra Baobab and Roberto Fonseca to home-grown indie band Sea Power, plus theatre show No Love Songs from group The View’s Kyle Falconer will be on at this year’s festival.

With 24 Hour Party People screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce as guest director, everyone is invited to experience the Wonder and Hope of shared musical experiences from May 4 to 26.

West African outfit Orchestra Baobab bring their trademark fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms, pop hooks and oral storytelling tradition to Brighton Dome’s Concert Hall on May 7, in their 50th anniversary year.

Cuban jazz pianist and Grammy nominee Roberto Fonseca will be playing music from his latest album La Gran Diversion with an eight-piece band on May 26. Taking inspiration from 1930s Paris, La Gran Diversion travels back to La Cabane Cubaine, once the French capital's hottest cabaret club.

After honing their sound in Brighton over 20 years ago, multi-award-winning indie veterans Sea Power will be performing a one-off homecoming show on May 23 in Brighton Dome’s newly refurbished Corn Exchange.

Spiritualized bring their psychedelic and experimental sounds to Brighton Festival on May 18 and will perform music from their Grammy nominated album, Everything Was Beautiful, which was created in collaboration with more than 30 musicians and using 16 different instruments.

Theatre and live music collide in No Love Songs (May 17 to 18), a show about the emotions and challenges of parenthood inspired by the real-life experiences of Kyle Falconer, frontman of the NME Award-winning band The View and his partner Laura Wilde. Co-written by award-winning writer and director Johnny McKnight, No Love Songs explores the weight of postnatal depression through a blend of music, tears and laughter. Songs are taken from Falconer’s hit second solo album, No Love Songs for Laura and reimagined live on stage.

Read more: Brighton Festival 2024 promises magic, wonder, hope and a bit of slime

Performer, artist and writer Brook Tate also takes inspiration from his own life in his concept gig Birthmarked (May 9), telling the story of a young Jehovah's witness coming to terms with his sexuality and finding his feet. Featuring a live band and original music written and performed by Tate and his band.

On May 24, club and dance music pioneer James Lavelle presents his Rōnin:Live show under his UNKLE moniker, performing a bespoke live selection of recent recordings, remixes, reinterpretations and classics.

On his first ever Norman Soul UK tour, DJ Norman Jay MBE stops off at Brighton Festival on May 3. Co-founder of Notting Hill Carnival’s famous Good Times Sound System and dance music station KISS FM, Jay was awarded his MBE for services to deejaying and music in 2002. Norman Soul is his deeply personal take on Northern Soul.

Regarded as the south coast’s loudest and liveliest party band, Brighton institution Carnival Collective celebrate their 30th anniversary at Brighton Festival on May 12. With community, creativity and fun at the heart of their performances, Carnival Collective deliver a tidal wave of musical flavours, including Latin, samba, drum ’n’ bass, jungle, ska, hip-hop, swing and funk. Brighton's own tropical outfit, Lakuta, will also bring their signature mix of afrobeat, funk and Latino grooves to the party.