Soul Lounge Return to the Isle of Wight Festival for the First Time in 15 Years

Island soul and funk collective — featuring a founding member of Mercury Prize-nominated The Bees — make their long-awaited return to the Hipshaker Stage on Thursday 18 June at 6.30pm

Isle of Wight soul and funk collective Soul Lounge are returning to the Isle of Wight Festival 2026 this weekend for the first time in 15 years — taking to the Hipshaker Stage on Thursday 18 June at 6.30pm for what promises to be one of the most hotly anticipated homecoming sets of the weekend.

Led by vocalist and bandleader Ric Stanbridge — whose theatre credits include the touring productions of Beatles: Let It Be and Small Faces: All or Nothing, and whose career has taken him across Norwegian Cruise Lines' stages worldwide — Soul Lounge return with a six-piece line-up that represents some of the finest musical talent the Island has produced.

The line-up features:

Ric Stanbridge— Vocals & Bandleader Touring theatre credits include Beatles: Let It Be and Small Faces: All or Nothing; international stages with Norwegian Cruise Lines worldwide
Tim Parkin— Trumpet A founding member of Isle of Wight's own Mercury Prize-nominated The Bees, and co-founder of 77:78
Rob Capewell— Guitar Touring West End theatre musician: Mamma Mia!, Blood Brothers, Joseph. TV: This Morning & BBC Breakfast
Jules Nelson— Keys / Guitar / MD Live band member of PP Arnold; resident musician for Warner Hotels
Mike Holdcroft— Saxophone Empire Session Recordings artist spanning jazz, Afrobeat, reggae and ska
Chris Phillips— Drums Multi-instrumentalist, music educator, and fellow member of 77:78

Soul Lounge deliver a high-energy programme of soul, funk and Motown classics, drawing on over 200 combined years of professional experience — and 21 years as one of the Isle of Wight's most celebrated live acts. This summer's festival appearance marks a landmark homecoming for a band whose reputation has grown far beyond the Island.

"It's been fifteen years since we last played the festival and we can't wait to get back out there. The Isle of Wight Festival has always meant something special to us — it's our home crowd, and we're going to give them everything we've got." — Ric Stanbridge, Vocalist & Bandleader, Soul Lounge

Soul Lounge appear on the Hipshaker Stage at the Isle of Wight Festival, Seaclose Park, Newport, on Thursday 18 June 2026 at 6.30pm.

Website thesoullounge.uk Press & Interview Enquiries hello@thesoullounge.uk

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Notes to editors: Full EPK available at thesoullounge.uk/soul-lounge-epk.html. High-resolution photography and technical rider available on request. For interviews and further information, contact hello@thesoullounge.uk