Love Supreme 2025 music festival in East Sussex review

Europe’s largest outdoor jazz festival returned this weekend, July 4-6, with a broad and impressive lineup spanning jazz, soul, funk, and R&B.

The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming – and there was a remarkable range of people there, from toddlers to grandparents and everything in between.

Touches like a champagne bar and gourmet food stalls lent a touch of sophistication, as did talks by journalists on the subjects of the day in the Jazz Lounge, whilst free copies of the Sunday Times were handed out. Lah-di-da indeed.

Speakers gave their hot takes (Image: Baxter PR) The camping experience was good too: the spacious campsite (with a dedicated family camping zone) was just minutes from the arena, and facilities were excellent – toilets and showers were plentiful and kept clean.

Saturday’s programme brought back-to-back standout performances.

Philadelphia’s own The Roots – with their jazz-infused hip-hop and airtight live instrumentation – set the place abuzz with a breathless early-evening set.

Backed by Questlove’s crisp drumming, Black Thought’s rapid-fire rhymes had the crowd roaring in approval.

The band’s improvisational jams and funk breaks blurred genre lines, getting young and old dancing as the sun began to set.

The Roots were full of energy (Image: Baxter PR) Shortly after, Motown legend Smokey Robinson proved age is just a number.

The 85-year-old icon strolled on stage with charisma and delivered a treasure trove of classics; fans swayed and sang along to The Tracks of My Tears and Cruisin’ like it was 1965.

Seeing Robinson's first UK appearance in 15 years was certainly a highlight, but we dashed over to the main stage as soon as The Tears Of A Clown ended, to watch Jacob Collier close out the day with an astonishing headline set.

The London-born prodigy (a multi-Grammy winner) turned the main stage into his playground, delivering the irresistible explosion of musicality that only Collier could provide.

His boundless creativity and contagious enthusiasm had thousands of voices harmonising on cue, as he sprinted between various instruments in a pair of yellow Crocs.

Jacob Collier performed a stunning set (Image: Baxter PR) It was his first major festival headline show in the UK, and he delivered on the promise with a performance that was equal parts virtuosity and heart. I'm not the biggest fan of his recorded music, but his set was stunning - 10 out of 10, and more.

Sunday kept the magic alive with a rich mix of rising talent and legendary acts.

In the early afternoon, Glasgow outfit corto.alto – led by Mercury-nominated multi-instrumentalist Liam Shortall – showcased the future of British jazz.

Their tight, groove-heavy set (laden with brass hooks and modern beats) had the brunch-time crowd nodding appreciatively.

It was a thrill to see younger jazz fans grooving alongside veteran listeners, all brought together by corto.alto’s genre-blurring sound.

Nile Rogers and Chic brought the groove (Image: The Argus) By early evening, the festival’s energy hit a peak thanks to Nile Rodgers & Chic.

The disco-funk royalty turned the grassy field into a giant open-air dancefloor, kicking off with an irresistible run of Chic hits.

As soon as Rodgers struck up the funky guitar riff of Le Freak, the entire arena was up and getting down.

Hit after hit followed (including the anthemic Good Times) in a jubilant singalong that felt like a living history of funk.

Nile Rodgers, ever the maestro, is the man behind so many of the biggest hits of the 20th century - and 21st century - and his band’s polished performance had everyone boogying with smiles all around.

When Nile is playing, it's just impossible not to feel good. Not even the pouring rain could dampen the vibes.

The variable weather couldn't dampen spirits (Image: Baxter PR) Finally, Maxwell provided a smooth, soulful finale to the weekend.

In his first UK show in nearly a decade, the neo-soul superstar delivered a seductive late-night set that seemed to slow time.

Swaying under the stars, couples embraced as Maxwell’s falsetto floated through hits like Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder).

His voice was in pristine form, effortlessly gliding from tender whispers to soaring high notes.

Love Supreme 2025 balanced world-class music with an inclusive, easygoing vibe.

With any festival, there's the bands you plan on seeing, and those which you just stumble upon. At Love Supreme, the quality of the bands we stumbled on was exceptional. Every band was full of incredible musicians at the top of their game.

We couldn't resist the funfair (Image: The Argus) A shoutout to the fantastic grey-bearded Neil Cowley Trio, the ultimate dad-looking band, and Arooj Aftab, who blended Pakistani influences with modern sounds.

The festival felt like a communal celebration – one where jazz aficionados, pop fans, and families with kids all felt equally welcome.

Love Supreme proved itself a jewel in Sussex’s summer season. I'm already planning for next year.