Sydney might be sassy and sexy but does it have soul? It does now, with the Spirit Of Soul Festival raising awareness and funds for mental illness.

A range of jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, Cuban, reggae and Latin musicians will play for three nights at Enmore’s The Factory, while other events, including lawn bowls, a movie night, record auction and photography competition, will run at other venues.

“The festival came out of a frustration that there wasn’t enough soul music in Sydney,” says Fani Elisari, the festival’s director. “Sydney is a difficult city to live in as a musician and this is a way for me to remind everyone to stay solid and do creative work and think outside the box. Don’t be boxed in by commercial pop - you don’t have to go pop to make it.”

The artists that prove her right include Coda, Metabass ‘N Breath, King Tide, Jackie Orszaczky and Tina Harrod, Declan Kelly and the Rising Sun, Vassy, Sista She, Stiff Gins, the Hands, the Bamboos, the Hipstones and Virna Sanzone.

After spending seven years taking care of her schizophrenic brother, Elisari decided to use soul music to advocate mental health issues and raise money for non-government funded projects. For example, tonight’s photo exhibition at Newtown’s MAD Gallery will donate the competition entrants’ fees to Roomies Artspace, which provides access to art projects to those with disabilities and mental illnesses living in boarding houses.

Saturday’s vinyl auction, held from 1-5pm at @Newtown RSL, will raise money for the Boarding House Project. Sunday’s lawn bowls at the Marrickville Bowling Club from noon-5pm will include a raffle for the Schizophrenia Fellowship and Carer Assist.

Everyone watching bands at The Factory will be encouraged to wear blue wrist bands from Beyond Blue, which supports those with depression. Elisari is also hoping people will wear afros to show support for The Black Dog Institute, which focuses on mood disorders.

Elisari does, however, caution against buying cheap afro wigs. “You can take the risk of looking like a clown,” she laughs.

See www.spiritofsoul.com.au for details.

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