The iconic London venue has shared the news of its socially-distanced reopening across its social media handles. From September 18, The Jazz Cafe will be hosting a ‘jam-packed’ season of live music, with a limited number of two, three, four, and six-seater tables available per night.
Around six months have passed since the venue was shuttered in March, and socially-distanced gigs have been officially allowed since August 15, but The Jazz Cafe has only now found a solution to safely host live music. The club, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year, will soon return to its ‘seven days a week’ schedule with a wide range of artists performing on its intimate stage.
Ruari Frew, head booker at The Jazz Cafe, confesses that while he is grateful for the support the venue has received, its current reopening plan is not sustainable in the long-term. He said: ‘We’re still a long way off where we need to be, and it will be very difficult to operate financially, but we owe it to all the people who make the live industry tick to give this a go’.
Frew also highlighted the importance of getting struggling artists safely back on stage: ‘Our world is largely made up of freelancers, many of whom fell through the gaps of any government support. It’s crucial that we get as many people as possible working again in a safe environment’. The Jazz Cafe has served as a launch pad for countless artists over the years; many prominent British musicians such as Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Ed Sheeran performed here before becoming global superstars.
It’s good to be back! We’re kicking off our opening weekend with firm Jazz Cafe favourite and resident groove-machine Dele Sosimi. He brings his legendary afrobeat party to Camden for two separate shows on Saturday 19 September. Tickets: https://t.co/4RkZHnwhyB pic.twitter.com/2HKmEBK6Vx
— Jazz Cafe (@TheJazzCafe) September 3, 2020
The venue is fortunate in having survived the coronavirus pandemic and being able to reopen; an estimated two thirds of British music venues remain closed due to ‘unviable’ social distancing guidelines. According to its website, The Jazz Cafe’s autumn reopening lineup is as follows:
September
18/09/20 – Sierra Band Present A Night Of Southern Soul
19/09 – Dele Sosimi & Friends
20/09 – Anime Film Scores performed by Piano & String Quintet
21/09 – Anime Film Scores performed by Piano & String Quintet
23/09 – Sierra Band presents Neil Young – After The Goldrush 50th Anniversary
24/09 – Live For Beirut
25/09 – Light of The World
26/09 – Osibisa
27/09 – Sunday Soul
28/09 – Havana Música: A Celebration of Cuban Music With The Latin Bridge
29/09 – James Copus And Joe Downard
30/09 – Cubafrobeat: Cuban-Afrobeat Explosion
October
02/10 – PBUG
03/10 – The Music Of Otis Redding with Reuben Richards And The Jezebel Sexted
04/10 – Beat Of Brazil
08/10 – Lola Young
09/10 – Tony Momrelle
10/10 – Cuban Independence Day With Sambroso Afro-Cuban All Stars
13/10 – The Howl & The Hum
14/10 – Fela Kuti’s Birthday With Bukky Leo & Black Egypt
15/10 – Balcony + Tayo Sound
16/10 – Jay Phelps’ Afro Cuban All Stars / Pyjaen Play Roy Hargrove
17/10 – Etta Bond
19/10 – A Night Of Whitney
20/10 – Loathe
21/10 – Howie Payne
You can purchase tickets to see these performances here.
