Blue Note London Unveils Star-Studded Inaugural Lineup: Erykah Badu & Robert Glasper Lead The Charge!
Legendary jazz club Blue Note is set to open its first U.K. venue in London's Covent Garden on September 23, featuring Grammy-winner Robert Glasper as its headline act and creative ambassador. The 250-capacity club aims to be a vibrant hub for jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and more, celebrating both international and local talent. This marks a significant milestone for the brand, promising a rich contribution to London's cultural landscape.
Blue Note, the iconic jazz club brand, is set to make its highly anticipated debut in the United Kingdom, opening its first London venue on September 23. Located in the vibrant Covent Garden, the 250-capacity club will launch on what would have been the 100th birthday of legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, adding a significant layer of historical resonance to its inauguration. This marks a pivotal expansion for Blue Note Entertainment Group, extending its renowned presence beyond cities like New York, Tokyo, and Milan to the thriving U.K. capital.
The grand opening will feature a headline residency by Grammy-winning pianist and record producer Robert Glasper, who will perform on September 23 and 24, and return for an extended engagement from November 13 to 27. Glasper has also been appointed as Blue Note London’s creative ambassador, a role in which he will help shape the artistic direction and programming of the new venue. Expressing his enthusiasm, Glasper highlighted London's long-standing support for his career and his respect for the U.K.'s musical culture, envisioning the club as a dynamic space where "jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and everything in between can meet, evolve, and surprise people."
The inaugural season promises a diverse lineup of acclaimed artists across various genres. Confirmed acts include the celebrated vocalist Erykah Badu, British jazz-pop sensation Jamie Cullum, esteemed jazz saxophonist Nubya Garcia, influential drummer Yussef Dayes, the vibrant Afrobeat collective KOKOROKO, and local east London singer and rapper Hak Baker, with more artists yet to be announced. This eclectic programming underscores the venue's commitment to fostering a broad musical experience.
Blue Note London's main room is designed to host two distinct nightly performances, scheduled for 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., with the venue operating until 1 a.m. from Monday through Saturday. Tickets for the initial wave of shows will be available for general sale on August 14, preceded by member and venue presales commencing on August 12. Enthusiasts can find further ticketing and line-up details on the official Blue Note London website.
Tsion Bensusan, co-owner of Blue Note Entertainment Group, emphasized the long-held vision for this London venture, describing its opening as one of the most significant milestones in the company's history. She articulated a hope that Blue Note London will transcend being merely a venue, aspiring to become "a home for musicians, a gathering place for the community and an integral part of London’s cultural landscape." Echoing this sentiment, Nick Lewis, Blue Note London’s director of music and programming, underscored the landmark nature of the opening for both the team and the city's rich musical heritage. He affirmed the club's dedication to showcasing global jazz luminaries while simultaneously spotlighting the exceptional and rapidly flourishing homegrown U.K. jazz scene, promising audiences the "very best of jazz and adjacent genres, nightly in the heart of London" and a "significant and meaningful contribution to the U.K. live music scene."