Mary J Blige, De La Soul Lead First 2015 Soulfest Line-Up

The annual celebration of neo-soul, R&B, jazz and beyond, SoulFest, has announced the acts populating its first-round line-up for this year's event, with the creative cabal led by renowned R&B songstress Mary J Blige, veteran hip hop trio De La Soul and US singer-songwriter Jill Scott.

Also signing on for SoulFest 2015, which hits Sydney's Domain and Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl over the weekend of 24-25 October, are acclaimed rappers from near and far including local legend Remi and fly-ins Talib Kweli, BJ The Chicago Kid and Dwele; revived late-'90s UK duo Floetry; the eclectic, entrancing jazz of Los Angelean muso Kamasi Washington; fellow LA native Jhené Aiko; Aussie soul man Daniel Merriweather; US-based contemporary Eric Benét; and sets from the Soul Of Sydney DJs and DJ Trey, as well as performances from Melburnian up-and-comers Maribelle (not the Dutch Eurovision winner of the same name) and Thandi Phoenix.

As Channel [V] notes, all up, there will be more than 20 artists on offer across two stages (plus DJ marquee), with a second announcement of acts — as well as sideshow dates for Brisbane and Perth — expected in the very near future. 

SoulFest members will have first crack at tickets for this year's event with a presale that opens up from 10am next Monday, 18 May, via the event's website. General-release passes will be available from 10am on Wednesday, 27 May.

For more information about SoulFest, see our dedicated event page under the Festivals tab.

soulfest 2015 first artist line-up

Mary J Blige
Jill Scott
Jhené Aiko
Charlie Wilson
Talib Kweli
De La Soul
Dwele
Eric Benét
Floetry
Daniel Merriweather
Remi
BJ Chicago Kid
Kamasi Washington
Thandi Phoenix
DJ Trey
Soul Of Sydney DJs
Maribelle