THE STAGE has been set for a brand new three day soul music festival on the Costa del Sol.

The aptly named Costa del Soul Festival will run from June 21 to 23 with dozens of top international artists such as Gibson Brother and Marta High & The Soul Cookers.

Entry to all 27 concerts will be free and performances will be held all along the coast including the promenade of Estepona, Plaza de la Mezquita in Benalmadena and the promenade of Rincon de la Victoria.

The deputy mayor of Estepona Pilar Fernández Figares said the free tickets, together with the dates around the night of San Juan, ‘practically guarantees the success of the event and its continuity over time.’

The touring festival has been launched by promoters Costa del Jazz, who have had years of experience running the Festival Open Jazz in Malaga.

The Diputación de Málaga, the Estepona, Benalmadena and Rincon de la Victoria municipalities, Unicaja Banco and hotel associations collaborate in the launch, which aims to become a benchmark event in Europe.

Organisers have said the goal is for the festival to all the municipalities of the Litoral Path in the future.

Figares said: “The goal is for the festival to run through all the municipalities of the Senda Litoral in successive editions, thus serving to increase the cultural offer of the province.”