EFG London Jazz Festival announce their Free & Family schedule.
Monday, October 06, 2025
EFG London Jazz Festival has announced its programme of Free and Family events to be held at The Southbank Centre, The Jazz Social and Barking Riverside,14-23 November 2025. Press release attached
We have received the following press release;
EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 2025
Announce Free and Family events held at The Southbank Centre, The Jazz Social and Barking Riverside
14-23 November 2025
This November, EFG London Jazz Festival returns with a powerful programme of free events celebrating community, culture and global sounds. From underground Caribbean house parties to the pulse of Lagos, from youth-led innovation to family-friendly gigs, the festival reaffirms London as a global stage for jazz and beyond. With accessibility at its heart, the festival welcomes audiences of all backgrounds and abilities to share in the joy of live music.
At the Southbank Centre’s Clore Ballroom on Saturday, 15 November, step into the spirit of Britain’s legendary Caribbean house parties of the 1960s–80s. Curated entirely by young producers from the Milestones programme, a culmination of 6 months of workshops, training and shadowing, enabling 8 young people to programme and produce their own event with the support of the Serious team, Blues Party transforms the Clore Ballroom into a vibrant ska-reggae-rocksteady celebration. Expect fresh live acts, DJs, and a panel discussion exploring the cultural legacy of these iconic gatherings. Blues Party is headlined by #SDWEEKLY, Steam Down’s weekly jam night.
The following day at the Clore Ballroom, the city’s brightest young musicians take the stage in this showcase of the capital city’s diverse youth ensembles for London Lineup. Featuring brand-new music from ImPossibilities, Wired4Music, JMI Youth Big Band, Tomorrow’s Warriors Youth Ensemble, and Roundhouse Resident Artists, each performance tells the story of community, culture, and identity in today’s London.
Closing the festival at the Clore Ballroom on Sunday, 23 November, is Lagos to London, a day-long celebration of Nigerian music and its influence on UK jazz. Experience Richard Ọlátúndé Baker’s powerful Ọlátúndé Ensemble, visionary saxophonist Camilla George’s mass-participation big band project Isang, the collective spirit of Orii, and the legendary Bukky Leo & Black Egypt. Workshops, DJs and drumming sessions bring the energy of Lagos right to Southbank.
Also on Sunday, 23 November, the Festival returns to Barking Riverside with an all-day, free celebration of Nigerian and West African music. Afrobeat ambassador Dele Sosimi headlines alongside fun and engaging drumming workshops by One-Drum, DJs and community celebration. Plus, catch Senegalese guitarist Abdoulaye Samb performing live on the Thames aboard an Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.
The Jazz Social is hosting a unique series of high-quality live gigs for little ones and their grown-ups. From folk and jazz singalongs with Tots Tunes with Tara Franks on Friday, 14 November, and intimate storytelling and standards with award-winning vocalist Nishla Smith and Matthew Bourne on Saturday, 15 November, to an electronic micro-rave for toddlers with Graham Smyth on Sunday, 23 November, EFG London Jazz Festival’s Baby Jazz Club proves you’re never too young to fall in love with live music.
In addition to its Free and Family programmes, the EFG London Jazz Festival stands as one of the world’s leading city-wide festivals, presenting over 300 performances across more than 60 venues over 10 days and nights. From world-renowned artists to emerging talent, the Festival offers a rich and diverse programme designed to inspire and engage audiences of all ages.
EFG London Jazz Festival Free & Family Shows
14 Nov - Tots Tunes with Tara Franks - Baby Jazz Club at The Jazz Social
15 Nov - Nishla Smith and Matthew Bourne - Baby Jazz Club at The Jazz Social
15 Nov (1:30–7pm) - Blues Party ft. Maia Reid, Steppin’ Over, Blissy E (DJ), Duke Peckings (DJ), #SDWEEKLY - Clore Ballroom
16 Nov (12–7pm) - London Lineup ft. ImPossibilities, Wired4Music, JMI Youth Big Band ft. Shirley Smart, Tomorrow’s Warriors Youth Ensemble, Roundhouse Resident Artists - Clore Ballroom
23 Nov (1–7pm) - Lagos to London ft. Ọlátúndé Ensemble, Camilla George presents Isang, Orii Community, Bukky Leo & Black Egypt, Dare Balogun (DJ) - Clore Ballroom
23 Nov - Riverside Sounds with the Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Experience ft. One-Drum, Dele Sosimi
23 Nov (11:46–12:45) - Abdoulaye Samb live aboard Uber Boat by Thames Clippers - Bankside to Barking Riverside
23 Nov - Graham Smyth Music to Interact With - Baby Jazz Club at The Jazz Social
Serious is one of the UK’s leading producers of live jazz, international and new music through concerts, festivals, tours, digital shows, talent development schemes, learning and participation programmes, and bespoke events for all.
https://serious.org.uk/
EFG International is a global private banking group offering private banking and asset management services and is headquartered in Zurich. EFG International’s group of private banking businesses operates in around 40 locations worldwide. Its registered shares (EFGN) are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.
https://www.efginternational.com/uk
The Creative Engagement Programme is possible thanks to the support of Arts Council England, Postcode Society Trust and generous donors through the Serious Trust.
The Barking Riverside Programme is possible thanks to the support of Barking Riverside Ltd. Barking Riverside is one of Europe’s largest and most exciting residential developments, providing East London with up to 20,000 new homes for a community of up to 50,000 people. Barking Riverside is delivered by Master Developer Barking Riverside Ltd, a joint venture between the Mayor of London and housing association L&Q.