St. Kat’s Sessions returns to St. Katharine Docks this late-May Bank Holiday weekend with six exceptional musicians on London’s only floating entertainment pontoon.
After multiple sold-out shows, the popular series now brings serious jazz credentials to the waterside estate.
Headlining both performances is artist in residence Olivia Swann, whose voice has become synonymous with the floating venue. Joining her is Wura Abimbola (stage name Wu’Ra), the powerhouse vocalist who made Team Tom on The Voice UK 2021 and has been building a name on London’s club circuit ever since. Award-winning actor and musician Inés Nassara flies in from Brooklyn – she’s sung backup for Cynthia Erivo and been the voice of Kate Spade’s 2021 Summer Campaign. Her extensive theatre credits bring dramatic sensibility to her jazz work.
The piano lineup is a dream, too. Will Barry, winner of the Musicians’ Company Young Jazz Musician Award 2017 and Royal Academy of Music graduate, joins Fraser Urquhart, the Edinburgh-born pianist crowned Rising Star at the 2017 Scottish Jazz Awards who specialises in American Songbook material from the 1920s-1950s.
On upright bass, Jack Garside brings experience from Mark Kavuma’s celebrated Banger Factory collective, where he’s toured internationally and recorded extensively. His playing balances sensitivity and drive in equal measure, making him a key voice in the new wave of British jazz.
Together, these six musicians breathe life into jazz standards and beloved classics against gorgeous vistas over the marina.
Each guest receives a complimentary glass of Nyetimber Classic Cuvee on arrival, with warm blankets for when the evening cools. Throughout both sessions, The Melusine (the estate’s seafood restaurant) serves seasonal small plates and the bar stays open an hour past the music.
Perfect for laidback listening, the jazz club vibes of plush seating, low lighting, and proximity between performer and audience make the whole thing feel like you’ve stumbled into someone’s very sophisticated living room – except this one bobs gently on the Thames. Tickets are limited due to the pontoon’s strict capacity, though the venue’s layout guarantees excellent views and acoustics for everyone.
For further information and to book tickets visit https://www.skdocks.co.uk/visit/
