Many free, unticketed events included
Now entering its 33rd year, the global celebration of music, EFG London Jazz Festival, is back. For 10 days and nights, musicians from all over the world will come together in London to perform boundary-pushing music that showcases jazz and its influence across genres and cultures.
Music transcends borders, and jazz is especially adept at blending musical traditions around the world and bringing together diverse communities. EFG London Jazz Festival has always embraced collaborations between musicians from all over the globe with jazz and its surrounding genres’ openness to diversity, creativity and unity, while continuing to evolve and inspire musicians and audiences worldwide.
Multi-million selling music icon Tanita Tikaram returns for the first time in 8 years with a rare performance at the Royal Festival Hall.
Tanita Tikaram shot to fame at just 18 years old with a unique string of hit songs that showcased her remarkable voice and reflected the independence of the late 1980s/early 90s, defying previous female music stereotypes and defining her in the eyes of music history.
Tikaram’s debut album Ancient Heart sold over 4 million copies and generated a legion of loyal fans across the world that still remain today. Nine studio albums later her cultural standing is reflected not only in her music and poignant creative collaborations, but also in her deeply personal interest in humanity and politicism.
This significant return to performing in her hometown will see her explore her extraordinary back catalogue in new ways and also feature new material, for the first time allowing the audience the chance to get to know the woman behind the voice. With a specially created 21st century chamber band featuring Helen O’Hara (Violin, The Charlatans/Dexys Midnight Runners), Marc Pell (Drums, Mount Kimbie), Andy Monaghan (Bass, Frightened Rabbit), Zosia Jagodzinska (Cello), Midori Jaeger (Cello), Chris Roberts (Guitar), Bartek Glowacki (Accordian) Tanita Tikaram will bring to life the songs that have shaped her.
This year, EFG London Jazz Festival has partnered with the Aga Khan Music Awards to celebrate the Music of the Great East, with a special global music takeover on the final weekend of the Festival, including multiple events at the Southbank Centre from 21-23 Nov. As part of this, a special show at the Ismaili Centre is taking place on Thursday, 20 November to celebrate the life and work of tabla player Zakir Hussain. Triveni Quartet: An Homage to Zakir Hussain features Fazal Qureshi, Kala Ramnath, Jayanthi Kumaresh & Anantha Krishnan, all leading Indian classical exponents of their respective instruments – tabla, violin, saraswati veena & mridangam.
Now a key venue of the festival, The Lower Third just off Tottenham Court Road has a clutch of new shows including a collaboration with London based DIY festival and tastemakers Brainchild, Flur + Rosie Turton & Miryam Soloman on Sunday 16 November, Binker Golding on Wednesday, 19 November and SuperOrganic 3rd anniversary on Friday 21 November.
As in previous years, the Festival has curated a programme of free, unticketed events that anyone can turn up to and enjoy, taking place each weekend of the Festival in the Barbican’s foyer and in the Southbank Centre’s Clore Ballroom.
On Saturday, 15 November, The Barbican FreeStage will spotlight Australian jazz with a collaboration with Melbourne International Jazz Festival, with shows from Jeremy Rose and Erica Tucceri. On the same day at the Southbank Centre’s Clore Ballroom, Milestones Blues Party will transform the venue into a vibrant celebration of blues. Expect a ska-reggae-rocksteady melting pot, paying homage to these fabled Caribbean house parties of 1960-80s Britain. Dance, socialise and kick back to the lineup of fresh artists and DJs.
This year, sponsors EFG Private Bank have renewed their partnership for another three years to 2028, ensuring that the breadth and diversity of the festival can continue into the future. Each year, they collaborate to create the EFG Elements Series, a special collection of four concerts showcasing the richness of the programme. For 2025, the handpicked highlights include: Jazz Voice, Nigel Kennedy, Tanita Tikaram and Ana Carla Maza.
Tanita Tikaram 15th November 7.30pm. Southbank Centre / Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
EFG London Jazz Festival 14th – 23rd November.
Booking and full festival details: https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/
