Jazz, Funk & Soul Highlights – Autumn 2025

Band on the Wall presents the best in contemporary jazz, funk and soul with our upcoming shows this autumn, featuring: Ezra Collective keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones, analogue ambassador and multi-hyphenate Adrian Younge, genre-bending rising star Tara Lily and more!

Arjuna Oakes – Thursday 25 September – The Copper Bar | Tickets
Arjuna Oakes is an accomplished singer/songwriter, pianist, composer and producer from New Zealand, currently based in London. Following the release of his debut EP ‘The Watcher’ in 2019, Arjuna has released another six projects all to widespread acclaim. Two EP’s ‘First Nights’ and ‘Final Days’ are a collaboration with longtime friend and co-producer Serebii, released by LA-based record label Innovative Leisure (BADBADNOTGOOD, Allah-Las).

Joe Armon-Jones – Thursday 21 October – Band on the Wall | Tickets

Joe Armon-Jones is a keyboardist, producer, songwriter and bandleader based in south London. An alumnus of the influential jazz education programme Tomorrow’s Warriors and a founding member of the BRIT Award-winning Ezra Collective, his virtuoso piano playing and improvisatory talents have made him a sought-after collaborator, lending his talents to projects spanning jazz, dub, electronic, pop, and hip-hop..

Reuben James – Thursday 16 October – Yes, The Pink Room | Tickets

Ruebn James heads to Manchester with his ambitious third album ‘Big People Music, spanning the worlds of lively funk, jazz improvisation, classic soul and pop songwriting, featuring global talents including Jamie Cullum, Jungle, Honne, Emeli Sandé, Joe Armon-Jones, Theo Croker, Keyon Harrold, Kofi Stone and more.

Ashley Henry – Sunday 14 December – Band on the Wall | Tickets

Born and raised in South London, Henry graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2016 and has gone on to perform and collaborate with the likes of Jason Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, and Jean Toussaint. Henry is beautifully influenced by his Jamaican heritage and in particular the wave of Caribbean jazz musicians from the 1950s, including the likes of Joe Harriott, Harold McNair, Dizzy Reece, Harry Beckett and Wilton Gaynair, who arrived in Britain during the jazz boom of the late post war period.

Muito Kaballa – Saturday 16 March – The Copper Bar | Tickets

Muito Kaballa is an ensemble based in Cologne that draws influence from Afrobeat, jazz, soul, hip hop, samba, and more, creating a unique sound that the band refers to as Hybrid Grooves. With high-energy performances, choreography, and showmanship, they get the audience dancing and sweating, but they also create thoughtful and intimate moments for reflection and sing-alongs.

Tara Lily – Thursday 20 November – Deaf Institute | Tickets

Growing up in Peckham as part of a British Bengali family has given Tara Lily a unique perspective on music and global culture. She has spent her life absorbing a multitude of sounds and genres from her surroundings, ranging from electronica to jazz and RnB to traditional Bengali folk music.

Adrian Younge – Thursday 20 November | Tickets

Composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Adrian Younge is known for his dedication to analog sound and collaborating with artists such as Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, and João Donato. Adrian will be performing with an outstanding 10-piece orchestra to present ‘Something About April III‘ – the final chapter of his Brazil inspired psychedelic soul trilogy.

Keyon Harrold – Wednesday 22 October | Tickets 

Award-winning trumpeter, vocalist, songwriter, and producer Keyon Harrold is touring in support of the GRAMMY nominated recording ‘Foreverland’. This is an outstanding crossover album with features a bevy of collaborators. Laura Mvula sings on the title track ‘Foreverland’. Common and Robert Glasper contribute to the song ‘Find Your Peace’, and GRAMMY winning musician PJ Morton lends a wistful vocal to the nostalgic single ‘Beautiful Day’.

Emma Jean Thackray – Thursday 6 November – Band on the Wall | Tickets

Multi-dimensional multi-instrumentalist and producer Emma-Jean Thackray brings her extraordinary second album ‘Weirdo’ to Band on the Wall. Musically and creatively, Weirdo bridges grunge, pop, soul and jazz, channelling George Clinton and Kurt Cobain in the award-winning artist’s powerfully idiosyncratic style. Virtuosic musicality and self-expression is combined with humour in this triumphant exploration of loss, recovery and gratitude.

Venna + special guest – Monday 24 November – Band on the Wall | Tickets

South London’s Grammy Award winning saxophonist and producer Venna has announced his debut album, MALIK. The album also features a long list of musicians including Rocco Palladino, Elijah Fox, AoD, J Warner, Marco Bernardis and longtime collaborator, Yussef Dayes.

Rosie Frater-Taylor – Wednesday 15 October – Band on the Wall | Tickets

Rosie Frater-Taylor is a virtuoso guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter of remarkable emotional depth. Her singular sound effortlessly fuses rock, alt-pop, neo-soul, new-school jazz, and folk. Her latest album, Featherweight, draws on the legacy of luminaries like Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan while channelling modern influences such as John Mayer, St. Vincent and Madison Cunningham.

BALTHVS – Thursday 4 December – Band on the Wall | Tickets

In just five years, BALTHVS has become one of indie music’s most vital and globally resonant voices. At the heart of the group is Balthazar Aguirre, the band’s founding guitarist, as well as funk enthusiasts Vanessa Muñoz on bass and Santiago Lizcano on drums. Inspired by artists like Santana, Khruangbin, Thievery Corporation, and The Grateful Dead, their sound fuses the spirit of 70s psychedelia with groove-driven funk, Latin rhythms, and ambient texture.