Brick Lane Jazz Festival: Ashley Henry, Bel Cobain, Reuben James - how to get tickets

Brick Lane Jazz Festival returns this week with a massive line-up after an inaugural event in 2022.

The festival includes shows across seven venues from Friday to Sunday (April 14-16), with music ranging from jazztronica and Afrobeat to Latin.

Acts on the bill include Ashley Henry, Bel Cobain, Reuben James and Sarathy Korwar.

Events are taking place at venues around the Truman Brewery - Werkhaus, 93 Feet East, Ninety One Living Room, Cafe 1001, Juju’s Bar & Stage, Brick Lane Tap Room - as well as at Village Underground.

93 Feet East

At 93 Feet East, Tenderlonious kicks off events in the live room on Friday, while headliner Bel Cobain will follow Saturday support sets from Sofia Grant and Werkha with her psychedelia-infused Afrobeat. The Sunday will host nu-jazz newbies Vertaal and singer/rapper Kay Young before Reuben James, known for his collaborations with Sam Smith, takes to the stage.

In the main bar a Tru Thoughts Records takeover will feature broken-beat legend WheelUp and neo-soul duos Melonyx and Anushka. On Saturday, Coco María will be sharing her joyful Afro-Latino rhythms and

NTS’ Chicken Foot Soup promises a heartfelt set of picks from Dom P and Goya Gumbani’s hip hop, soul and reggae collection, before Beauty & The Beat’s freeform, no-limits dance party.

Werkhaus

The line-up in Werkhaus features Eerf Evil and Ashley Henry, a composer and pianist who was nominated for 2020’s Jazz FM Awards and Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards.

Brooklyn-born London resident Goya Gumbani headlines a late show on Friday.

Ninety One Living Room

The festival will this year hold events at the flagship jazz club in partnership with record label and talent launchpad Jazz re:freshed.

The not-for-profit organisation will be curating across the weekend, with performances from Colectiva, Vula, David Mrakpor & Friends, Insxght, and more. Heading things up will be Steam Down Presents, showcasing all-new material. Founded by multi-instrumentalist and producer Ahnansé, the south-east London collective have been fusing future soul melodies, west African rhythms, and spiritual jazz since 2017.

Cafe 1001

Cafe 1001 will present an eclectic weekend of funk, modern soul, house, and jazz.

DJ Miche will be mixing on Friday, while Vandorta, DJ Tigas and Andrew Ashong also feature.

Juju’s Bar & Stage

Juju’s Bar & Stage boasts a new Funktion One sound system will host talent from across the city, including 10-piece British jazz ensemble Seed, who were nominated for 2019’s Mercury Prize, and neo-jazz singer-songwriter Ni Maxine, who uses sound to shed light on the experiences of Black women.

After support from drumming prodigy Jay Kayser, Saturday night’s party will be led by one of the most important Afrobeat musicians in the world today, Dele Sosimi, along with his 11-piece band, CubAfrobeat, who hail from Havana, Cuba, Laos, and beyond.

Brick Lane Tap Room

Brick Lane Jazz Festival is partnering with Tomorrow’s Warriors charity for the 2023 event, with 10% of festival profits being donated to the charity’s artist development programme, along with a showcase of their youth talent across the weekend at the Brick Lane Tap Room.

A performance from the Nu Civilisation Orchestra will be the finale of the festival on Sunday night. Notable orchestra alumni include Moses Boyd and Ezra Collective.

Village Underground

US-born, Indian-raised, London-based drummer, producer, composer and bandleader Sarathy Korwar headlines Village Underground on Sunday, topping off a weekend that also features Lex Amor, Secretsundaze, Gotts Street Park, Cody Currie, Zakia, Poly-Ritmo, Jay Phelps and Gotts Street Park.

How to buy Brick Lane Jazz Festival tickets

Day and weekend tickets cost between £39 and £125.

All matinee live shows are free, while three venues offer free entry throughout the weekend - including two DJ-led venues and the Tomorrow’s Warriors youth showcase at the Brick Lane Tap Room.

Tickets are available at dice.fm