GARTH'S GIG GUIDE 21 NOV - 23 DEC
A vast array of live music is on across London over the next month. Get out and support the talent before Xmas kicks in and things get very, very quiet.
Leeds’ Gotts Street Park have produced notable British r&b/rap releases. Their Barbican concert on 26 November finds them joined rappers+vocalists for a unique event.
I’m posting this GGG early as this coming weekend offers a feast of live music and I want to alert everyone to the richness out there. This includes several phenomenal free concerts - you can see New Orleans’ finest brass band for free this Saturday!!! Honestly, the London Jazz Festival offers a feast to enjoy - even if you don’t buy a ticket. After that, well all kinds of heavyweight talents - David Murray, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, The Tubs, Dur Dur Band, Digable Planets, The Orb, Ayo, Fred Wesley, Kate Rusby and many more - alongside rising talents, veteran artists and, as Xmas approaches, bands and singers plying the nostalgia season. As the temperatures drop and darkness encroaches may you find music full of light and inspiration.
Susan Cadogan – 21 November, Hootananny, Brixton
Noted Jamaican singer Susan Cadogan helped shape lovers rock with gentle reggae ballads like Hurt So Bad. Cadogan was in excellent voice when I recently caught her at Skabour Festival.
Avishai Cohen - 21 November, Union Chapel, Highbury & Islington (LJF)
The jazz trumpeter makes brooding, introspective music – the Union Chapel should be a good setting for such.
The All-Female London Gay Big Band – 21 November, St Martins In The Fields, Trafalgar Square
In 2014, The London Gay Big Band reached the Semi Finals of Britain’s Got Talent. Here, their femme offshoot, brings together top jazz musicians for what will be a celebratory evening of female creativity and freedom.
Kneecap – 21 November, The Forum, Kentish Town
Beflast Irish language rappers and controversialists – the Kneecap film is brilliant, easily one of the best music biopics, so this should be raucous fun.
Rumer – 22 November, Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre
The plaintive British singer with the golden voice performs her best selling album Seasons Of My Soul.
Faris Ishaq – 23 November, Grand Junction, Paddington
Palestinian percussionist, nay-player and composer, Faris Ishaq charts unexplored territories with the nay, an ancient Middle Eastern flute dating back to 5000 B.C. Rooted in his Palestinian heritage and passion for the nay, Faris celebrates its cultural legacy in today’s modern musical landscape.
JT4tet + Nazarene – 23 November, Ram Jam Records, Kingston-upon-Thames
Cracking soul jazz quartet and top flight vocalist will create beautiful music for those who live way out west.
Bag Of Bones – 23 November, The Vortex, Dalston Kingsland (LJF)
The London-based quartet has honed its chemistry through many hours playing together. Original compositions experiment with the freedom of music within a loose structure.
Heemoon Lee – 23 November, Purcell Room, South Bank Centre (KMF)
A powerhouse of Korean music, Lee injects fresh energy and new life into time-honoured Korean folk songs (minyo).
Imelda May – 23 November, Royal Festival Hall, South Bank Centre (LJF)
The Irish singer started out singing rockabilly, joined Jeff Beck for his final years and now blends blues and jazz standards into her set.
Monobloco – 23 November, Electric, Brixton
Described as ‘the closest thing to being in Carnaval in Rio’, the big band pay homage to the great history of Latin music, recreating songs by the likes of Tim Maia, Jorge Ben, Alceu Valença and many more.
Imagine packing your Indian suit for a flight! Bo Dollis - one of the pioneering Mardi Gras Indians - will be a star attraction at The Barbican’s Take Me To The River.
NEW ORLEANS WEEKENDER – 23/24 November.
Celebrating the city where jazz was born over a century ago, LJF brings a selection of top New Orleans talent to London.