Britain's soul survivors

Coinciding with a major BBC4 documentary series of the same name that begins tonight, it's a chance to see some of the greats of the scene, past and present and acknowledge that British soul isn't a poor relation of the US genre but a hugely significant movement that reshaped this country and still inspires artists worldwide.

'We've seen a lot of popular acts adopting an r'n'b edge in the last few years,' says Jan Kincaid, a founder member of soul stalwarts The Brand New Heavies. 'The downside has been that the soul scene hasn't been supported as much as others.'

BNH open proceedings tonight with artists who have been shaping the British soul landscape since the 1980s - N'Dea Davenport, Omar, Soul II Soul's Jazzie B and David McAlmont.

'Commercialisation means we don't have as many greats as there used to be,' Kincaid admits. 'In the 1960s and 1970s artists were developed; now record companies won't invest the time.'

Nevertheless, the inventiveness and energy of British soul practitioners is a source of inspiration.

'A lot of American artists look at what's going on here,' says Kincaid. 'D'Angelo is really into Omar; The Roots always keep an eye on what's happening here. We were the first to experiment with rap and live music. We're a small island but our influence still carries a long way.'

Sunday's Transatlantic Soul Connection gig will be celebrating that flow of ideas across the Pond with sets from some of the US and British artists from the 1950s and 1960s who kickstarted our love affair with soul: Geno Washington, Jimmy James, The Animals' Eric Burdon and Stax star Eddie Floyd among them.

Saturday's event is devoted to the Soul Britannia Allstars project, which brings together overlooked 1970s pioneers such as Linda Lewis, Hamish Stuart of Average White Band, Root Jackson of the funky FBI, plus members of nyah-rock trailblazers Cymande.

And to show the multi-faceted nature of the British scene, lovers' rock queens Janet Kay and Carroll Thompson (who cite Philly and Motown sounds as inspiration) are the opening set, while DJ Dennis Bovell runs his HiFi with Macca B on the club stage after the show.

Kincaid laments the current lack of live outlets for soul. But veteran soul DJ Norman Jay, who appears in the BBC4 series, is more optimistic.

'There's a nucleus of people doing very creative things,' he insists. 'And there are so many more outlets now, with the Internet, MySpace and radio stations.

There are open mic sessions nearly every night of the week in North London - there's no reason to feel downbeat at all.'

Tonight, tomorrow and Sun, Barbican, Silk Street EC2, various times and prices. Tel: 0845 120 7533.
Tube: Barbican/Moorgate