“Dance, drink, sing, enjoy and keep the faith.” It’s more than a slogan — it’s a philosophy. On the 1st and 2nd of March 2026, that philosophy takes physical form at Benidorm Palace, as the Northern Soul and Motown Party rolls into town with a running order that reads like a love letter to the scene.
Northern Soul has always been about devotion: to vinyl, to the dancefloor, to records that once slipped through the cracks and have since been crowned as anthems. This two-day programme embraces that tradition, blending veteran selectors, live orchestration and communal ritual — with just enough spontaneity to keep things gloriously unpredictable.
Sunday 1 March: From Afternoon Grooves to Midnight Devotion
Sunday opens at 3pm, easing dancers onto the floor with sets from Mark Holdsworth and the Linda Cannan / John M C “Flip Flop” pairing. As the afternoon stretches into evening, Vikki Caton and Kev Wood, followed by Adrian Moore and Mark Summerscales, steadily raise the temperature — the kind of slow-burn progression Northern Soul fans appreciate.
The emotional centre of the day arrives at 7pm, when Russ Winstanley takes control. A founding figure of the modern scene, Winstanley’s selections are never just records — they’re chapters in a shared history.
At 8.30pm, the event shifts gears as the Northern Soul Classics Orchestra brings the music into three-dimensional space. Brass, strings and rhythm sections rework dancefloor staples into something both reverent and thrillingly new. After a short charity auction interval in aid of Save My Life Animal Charity, the orchestra returns, reaffirming that Northern Soul isn’t frozen in time — it’s alive, breathing and evolving.
Late-night duties fall to Dek Jones, Shaun Banger Scott and Mick Nottingham, who carry the faithful through to 1am, when feet are sore, smiles are wide, and nobody wants to leave.
Monday 2 March: Live Energy and Communal Ritual
Monday’s programme leans into variety. Afternoon sets from Esteban Pacha and Avril Kesteven set a relaxed but purposeful tone, before Adrian Moore and Mark Summerscales return to bridge day into evening. A long, dancefloor-driven stretch from Kev Wood and Vikki Caton reinforces one of Northern Soul’s core truths: stamina is a virtue.
The evening once again belongs to Russ Winstanley, before a live highlight takes centre stage. Northern Live – Do I Love You delivers a fully-fledged concert experience, transforming beloved classics into collective singalongs. It’s polished, passionate, and unapologetically emotional.
After a charity raffle draw — again supporting Save My Life Animal Charity — Northern Live returns for a final set, before Shaun Banger Scott and Dek Jones close things down. Mark Holdsworth takes the final hour, guiding the last dancers through to 1am with the kind of selections that feel like a gentle goodbye rather than an ending.
More Than a Weekend. This isn’t just a timetable. It’s a carefully paced journey through sound, memory and movement — one that respects Northern Soul’s roots while welcoming new expressions of the culture. From orchestral reimaginings to all-night DJs, from charity auctions to communal chants, the Benidorm Palace Northern Soul and Motown Party promises something rare: a weekend where the past, present and future all meet on the same dancefloor.
Keep the faith. And keep dancing. Get your tickets here now.
