Main Stage

The Main Stage at this year’s Great Exhibition Road Festival will be bigger and better than ever!

Hosted by Portobello Radio and featuring world class acts from Royal Albert Hall and Royal College of Music, expect amazing music across the weekend, with DJs from Portobello Radio and Kids on the Green in between every act. The programme showcases a variety of music including big brass bands, swing, blues, jazz, funk, RnB, rock and Motown! Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to groove with us at this year’s Main Stage!

Saturday

12.00-12.45 Royal College of Music: 10 Piece Brass Band

13.15-14.00 Shirt Tail Stompers            

14.30-15.15 Tomorrow's Warriors Female Frontline

15.45-16.30 Maroon Town

17.00-18.00 Rock Soul Collective Presents: HERHIMTHEM and Ruth Brown

Sunday

12.00-12.45 Portobello Radio Presents: Kids on the Green

13.15-14.00 Amity

14.30-15.15 The Big Smoke Family

15.45-16.30 The Higher Planes   

17.00-18.00 Atlantic Soul Orchestra

About the performances

Royal College of Music: 10 Piece Brass Band - Students from the Royal College of Music perform a fun, lively programme with some pieces you may recognise. Come and join us as we kick-start the Great Exhibition Road Festival Main Stage performances with a bang!

Shirt Tail Stompers - London's top vintage band, the Shirt Tail Stompers are firmly established at home and internationally, playing Harlem Swing and the Hot Jazz of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Featuring music from composers such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Count Basie.

Tomorrow’s Warriors Frontline -  A formidable 8-piece line-up of some of our finest young Warriors musicians, championing the role of women in jazz. This powerful live show draws inspiration from the jazz greats and blends a contemporary vibe with elements of jazz-fusion, funk, and R&B.

Maroon Town - Mixing ska and reggae music with rap, funk and Latin, Maroon Town produce a fresh new sound with conscious and uplifting lyrics.

Rock Soul Collective Presents: HERHIMTHEM and Ruth Brown - Experience the electrifying energy of HERHIMTHEM, a dynamic UK duo captivating audiences across music festivals with a vibrant feel-good vibe, bringing energy to all whilst celebrating diversity and inclusivity. Next, indulge in the soul-stirring talent of Ruth Brown who found fame in the first series of the BBC’s The Voice, has already graced the West End stage in the iconic Dreamgirls musical, and will be performing exclusive tracks from her eagerly anticipated new EP. 

Kids on the Green - Kicking off Sunday's amazing main stage programme, Portobello Radio is proud to present an exclusive performance from upcoming 'Kids on the Green' artists including - Sonic Daze, Behkham and Olympia May. Alongside these amazing artists, 11 year-old DJ Jahkai Rose will be taking over the decks with some feel good Sunday music!

Amity - Described in The Guardian newspaper as 'miraculous' with 'dense surreal lyricism', and compared with the likes of Adele, this young stars raw, powerhouse voice and empowering lyrics are imprinted with their drive for justice, inner healing, freedom, and a passion for enriching lives. Amity recently won the Royal Albert Hall's prestigious Future Makers 2023 competition. 

The Big Smoke Family - Inspired by New Orleans and made in London, The Big Smoke Family have been filling dance floors across the UK and Europe since 2012. Following in the footsteps of modern New Orleans funk bands such as Trombone Shorty, Galactic and Cha Wa, The Big Smoke Family fuse new and old traditions with memorable chants, driving horn lines and funky street-beats.

The Higher Planes - This amazing four part group are a psychy garage soul band from south London. With credits inckluding various international festivals, major events and radio including BBC Introducing, expect an infusion of folk, acid rock, blues soul and funk!

The Atlantic Soul Orchestra - Established in 2012 the Atlantic Soul Orchestra has forged a reputation as one of the United Kingdom's most prestigious bands. Musically directed by a GRAMMY® award winning producer with some of the best musicians in this field, expect the very best of the golden era in Soul and Motown hits!

Visitor information

The Main Stage can be found at location number 12 on the Festival Map

This is a drop in event. This event has step-free access on Exhibition Road.

To attend the Festival, please make sure to register for free. Registering is the only way to receive the latest Festival updates, a first look at the programme, and opportunities to book free tickets for popular events.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE FESTIVAL