I have been contacted by the Ministry of Soul (that's Bob and Gavin to you and me) to inform you of the confirmed dates of Soul Essence 27. I'm so excited I think I just pee'd in my pants a bit. The dates for this annual conjunction of soul and beer and beer and soul (and lager shandies for the ladies) are April 17th, 18th and 19th. So get out your filo-faxes (that's like a kind of old school PDA to anyone under 30 who's reading this) and cross off those days, and probably a few days afterwards too, since none of us are as young as we used to be, eh guv?

If you've forgotten any detail of Essence 26, you can refresh your memory on the Flickr Rogues Gallery. This website will fill you in on what's happened in the past, how to book, and a whole bunch of other things you probably thought you could live without knowing.

The whole glorious affair takes place at the Raynscourt Hotel, Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth, the same hotel we've been using since the very first weekender back in nineteen eleventy seventeen. Rooms at the Rainscourt Hotel do sell out quickly so be sure to get your application in early if you want to stay at the hotel (it's much easier to stagger up to your room drunk if you do!).

For weekend passes, please call 01525 375404. For any other information, please call the information line on 07966 277536.