If you’re a fan of both music and roads named after building materials, we have some good news for you: the Cement Avenue Kazoo Fiesta Brick Lane Jazz Festival is coming to town 25th-27th April.
The festival is now in its fourth year, and the organisers will be upping the tempo with performances slated to take place over three days at Village Underground, Rich Mix, and a dozen live venues at and around the Truman Brewery that all share the same affection for new underground music. That includes Rough Trade East, 93 Feet East, Ninety One Living Room, Cafe 1001, Juju’s Bar & Stage, The Big Chill, Brick Lane Tap Room – and new for this year, a dedicated Nord stage on Dray Walk and an unplugged acoustic stage in the former Big Chill space, curated in partnership with Signature Brew.
It’s shaping up to be a 12-stage genre-defying extravaganza of jazz, hip-hop, neo-soul, breakbeat, electronic and the bits in between – a reflection of London’s underground scene in full bloom. All venues are a short stumble from the central hub at the Truman Brewery, which transforms into a hive of gig-hopping activity every April.
More than 100 well-established and emerging artists will perform, all currently making their mark in the world of improvised and experimental music. You can see the full line-up here, but in terms of names you might already know: the 2025 headliners include ambient zither legend Laraaji, funk-soul bassist and vocalist Adi Oasis, and genre-blurring producer Ragz Originale. Also on the bill are Tokyo’s cult multi-instrumentalist Takuya Nakamura, French electronic jazz maestro Neue Grafik, drummer-MC hybrid MckNasty (who’s drummed for Stormzy among others), and Parliamentary Jazz “Best Newcomer” winner Ogunjobi.
Friday night will also feature award-winning singer-songwriter Ego Ella May, 90s R&B revivalist Ojerime, electronic duo Plumm x skttrd, and Budapest’s jazz-hop trio Jazzbois. Saturday brings Levitation Orchestra’s cinematic soundscapes, nu-reggae star Summer Pearl, and genre-hopping headliner Oscar Jerome. And Sunday closes out with BBC Young Jazz Musician finalist Luke Bacchus, US-based trumpet virtuoso Theo Croker, and Manchester’s street-soul outfit Secret Night Gang.
For those just looking to dip a toe in: there’ll be free-entry spaces across the site, including the Tomorrow’s Warriors live stage at the Brick Lane Tap Room, the Signature Brew stage at The Big Chill, and DJ stages at 93 Feet East and Cafe 1001.
Festivities kick off with a Warm-Up Party at the ICA, led by Spirit of Sundaze Ensemble – purveyors of the capital’s most iconic dance nights – before the whole thing wraps with an official afterparty at Village Underground featuring some of London’s best DJ talent.
And if you need a breather (or just a burrito), the Truman Brewery’s also home to DF Tacos, Ely’s Yard, and of course, Brick Lane itself.
For food, drink and…
…all that jazz.
NOTE: The Brick Lane Jazz Festival is taking place from 25th-27th April 2025. You can find out more, and get tickets at the Brick Lane Jazz Festival website.
The Old Truman Brewery | 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
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