KOKOROKO Tickets

Kokoroko are one of the brightest lights in London’s ever-evolving jazz continuum - a band whose music feels like a reclamation, a celebration, and a statement all at once. Rooted in Afrobeat traditions but shaped by the energy of a new generation, their sound is joyful, groove-led and emotionally charged - a distinct product of the city’s diasporic soul.

Formed in 2014 and led by trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey, the seven-piece ensemble grew out of the same fertile South London soil that gave us Yussef Dayes, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings and Ezra Collective — artists who reframed the language of jazz through a lens of identity. Kokoroko took a different path, channeling the legacy of Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, and West African highlife into music that feels as suited to the dancefloor as it does the stage. Their 2019 breakout single “Abusey Junction,” released via Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings, became a defining anthem of the UK jazz renaissance - slow-burning, tender and totally unhurried.

Now, Kokoroko return with their highly anticipated second album Tuff Times Never Last - an expansive and rhythm-rich record that deepens their connection to the global lineage of Afro-jazz while pushing their sound into new terrain. Written with their live show in mind, the album reflects the band’s desire to move, to uplift, and to explore joy in the face of adversity. “What do we want our next few years to feel like?” was the question at its core. The answer is vibrant, playful and full of intent.

Driven by their unmistakable female-led horn section and the fluid chemistry of a band that plays like family, Tuff Times Never Last leans into dancefloor heat: MPCs, vintage gear, psychedelic synths, echoes of Nigerian disco, lovers rock, and electro-funk all find space here. But at its heart, the record remains deeply rooted in community, soul, and Kokoroko’s foundational mission - to reimagine African musical traditions for a new era.

Whether you came in through the Brownswood compilations, caught them live in a sweaty club room, or found them on a late-night jazz playlist, one thing is clear: Kokoroko make music that moves people - emotionally, spiritually, and physically. And on this tour, they’re bringing that feeling across the globe.