It started back in 1987, when a few hundred soul and jazz funk enthusiasts congregated in a windswept holiday park in Berwick-upon-Tweed. But in the 40 years since, what would become the Southport Weekender has not just been recognised as a great British cultural institution, but a global place of pilgrimage for people who love soulful music, spanning house to soul to jazz and beyond and showcasing the greatest DJs and live artists from across the world. Over that time, it's moved around the country. It's faced financial catastrophe, tragedy and COVID, witnessed different musical genres bloom and fade (and sometimes bloom again) and remained always a force for positivity, love of music and celebration. It's built up a following that ranges from the veterans who've been back every year for decades to young enthusiasts, sometimes even across generations of the same family. Packed with 40 years of photographs, flyers and memories, this is the story of the Southport Weekender, told by the artists, DJs, chalet-dwellers and dancers who every year turn a corner of the UK into a genuine family reunion - and a celebration of the world's best music.
