with special guests: Setwun & The Soulstranauts
Kokoroko are one of the brightest lights in London’s ever-evolving jazz scene - their music a powerful mix of reclamation, celebration, and statement. Rooted in Afrobeat traditions and shaped by a new generation’s energy, their sound is groove-driven, joyful, and emotionally rich - a distinct product of the city’s diasporic soul.
Formed in 2014 and led by trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey, the eight-piece outfit emerged from the fertile South London scene that birthed Yussef Dayes, Nubya Garcia, and Ezra Collective - artists reshaping jazz through the lens of identity. Kokoroko took their own path, channelling the legacy of Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, and West African highlife into music made equally for the dancefloor and the stage. Their breakout 2019 single, “Abusey Junction,” released via Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings, became a defining anthem of the UK jazz renaissance - slow-burning, tender, and deeply moving.
Now, they return with Tuff Times Never Last - a rhythm-rich second album that deepens their Afro-jazz roots while venturing into new sonic territory. Written with the live show in mind, it captures their desire to move, uplift, and celebrate joy in hard times. “What do we want our next few years to feel like?” they asked. The answer is vibrant, playful, and full of intent.
This November, Kokoroko bring that radiant energy to Australia and New Zealand with headline shows in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland. Their music moves people - emotionally, spiritually, and physically. And this tour brings that feeling to our part of the world.