12 Songs of Serious
It’s been a busy year – we’ve brought hundreds of shows and thousands of artists to stages across the UK and beyond. Thank you for all your support!
To celebrate the holiday season, the Serious team have handpicked their favourite tracks from 12 artists who we’re working with now and in the future. We hope you enjoy listening over the festive break!
Paramount Quartet ft. Julian Lage
Hailed by The New York Times as “one of the greatest musicians in jazz history,” GRAMMY Award-winning saxophone titan Joe Lovano has distinguished himself as a prescient and pathfinding force in the arena of creative music. Formed in early 2024, Joe Lovano's new Paramount Quartet performs in London for the first time, featuring virtuoso guitarist Julian Lage, longtime collaborator Asante Santi Debriano on bass and drummer Will Calhoun (of Living Colour fame).
Nigel Kennedy
One of classical music's true greats, Nigel Kennedy remains the bestselling violinist of all time. He singled-handedly paved the way for a new generation of artists, who have enjoyed success both in the classical field and in the mainstream.
Kennedy performs his “Concert for peace, acceptance and forgiveness” with the vocalist and composer Cleveland Watkiss, among others, at the Barbican in 2025 which will feature new music that they are writing together. He said that its theme looks upon the musical performance as “a collaboration between all of us” (Guardian).
Madeleine Peyroux
Madeleine Peyroux's captivating ninth album, 2024’s Let’s Walk, is the acclaimed singer-songwriter’s most assured, courageous work to date. These unabashedly personal songs are powered by the distinctive, honeyed croon that delivered her from Paris streets to concert halls.
After performing at the Barbican earlier this year the acclaimed singer-songwriter is back to perform at London's Cadogan Hall and Saffron Walden in February 2025 to bring, yet again, another "beguiling" show (Arts Desk).
Bill Laurance & Michael League
There are some duos which can seem as if they have been patched together. And there are others which come into being naturally and completely of their own accord. The pairing of pianist Bill Laurance and bassist/oud player Michael League is very much one of the latter; the two musicians have known each other since student days. The two quickly formed a musical bond that would grow through the formation of Snarky Puppy in 2004 and its development over years of touring together, a number of solo albums and collaborations, and finally, in 2020, the birth of their duo.
Following on from the release of their first duo album last year, Where You Wish You Were and two sold out performances at the Southbank Centre as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, 2024 sees the release of their follow-up album Keeping Company and the announcement of a 2025 UK Tour across Bristol, London and Manchester.
Tindersticks
Known for their richly orchestrated, darkly beautiful music, Tindersticks have carved a niche for themselves since their inception in the early 1990s. Their distinct style, characterized by dense, literary lyrics and melancholic orchestrations has earned them a dedicated cult following. The new album Soft Tissue is their first since 2019’s No Treasure But Hope, drawing new life from the contrasts and convergences of its tight, intuitive songs and restless details, marrying the rigor of songwriting with an experimental approach.
They bring an exciting headline show to the Royal Albert Hall for early 2025.
Lizz Wright
Earlier this year, Lizz Wright released her studio debut album Shadow. On Shadow, Wright works with renowned engineer Ryan Freeland who recorded 'Grace' and has also worked with music legend Bonnie Raitt. Shadow features acclaimed artists Angelique Kidjo and Meshell Ndegeocello. Anchored by acoustic guitars and layered with string quartets, harp, Carnatic Indian classical strings, gospel vocals, and bare emotion, Shadow presents Lizz in a gentle and triumphant light.
Following her spellbinding performance at the Proms and a sold-out show at Cadogan Hall earlier this year, we’re so excited to welcome back Lizz Wright to London’s Barbican Centre for 2025!
Book tickets for 2025
Ludovico Einaudi
Over the years Ludovico Einaudi has quietly become one of the most successful musicians in the world. His hauntingly beautiful and evocative music tops the classical charts worldwide, particularly here in the UK, which this year, saw him sell out two London Palladium shows in 90 minutes and 5 further dates at London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall for 2025, marking the longest continuous headline run by a pianist in the Hall’s history!
This year Einaudi announced his new album The Summer Portrait, inspired by the reminiscence of childhood summers filled with freedom and experiences. This is set for release in January 2025 ahead of his UK and Ireland tour.
Tony Ann
With over 100 million views and more than 6 million followers on social media, Tony Ann pushes the limits of neoclassical and popular music, seamlessly blending contemporary and classical styles.
After selling out multiple shows at EartH and Jazz Cafe in 2024, virtuoso piano player and composer Tony Ann returns to perform at the Barbican Centre in 2025 for his biggest London show yet!
STORRY
Performer, visual artist, advocate - STORRY is quickly emerging as an artist to watch. Having reached the final of The Voice 2024, she embarks on her first UK tour this coming April across Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Brighton.
CHIII: The Come Up, released in 2020 as the first part of an ongoing trilogy, received critical acclaim with multiple award nominations. This seminal album set the groundwork for her innovative sound. Currently, STORRY is set to release her second concept album CH2: Run, the prequel to her debut album.
Neil Cowley Trio
After a 7 year hiatus, the Neil Cowley Trio reunite for their UK tour in 2025, presenting music from their outstanding brand-new album, Entity, alongside some fan-favourite Cowley classics. This follows their sold out London premiere at this year's EFG London Jazz Festival.
In 2006 the Neil Cowley Trio burst onto the scene with an exciting sound that fizzed with energy; their muscular anthems, galloping grooves and tender moments placed them at the forefront of a new movement in jazz, paving the way for 6 highly acclaimed albums over 10 years. Pianist and composer Neil Cowley then pressed ‘pause’ to pursue a solo career – no less successful - taking in neo classical composition and electronica. Now, stirred by his extended time of solitary music making, he makes a firm statement about the joy, comfort and the rewards of human connection in the digital age. Joining Cowley are his close musical allies, bassist Rex Horan and drummer Evan Jenkins; three friends giving their all to each other, metaphorically dancing together.
One True Pairing
Tom Fleming, former Wild Beasts songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist is back with a new project, One True Pairing.
Having played the last Wild Beasts gig in early 2018, Fleming went back to basics with One True Pairing. Written entirely by himself, Tom brought on Ben Hillier (Depeche Mode, Nadine Shah, Graham Coxon) to produce his first music. Endless Rain is Fleming's latest album, a dark, but compassionate and hopeful sophomore record shaped by the backgrounds in traditional music, classical and noise rock of its players. Sonically, Endless Rain is an ambitious and widescreen record quite unlike anything in Fleming’s back catalogue. It is the product of a singer-songwriter finding new clarity.
Following his debut London performance at this year's EFG London Jazz Festival, he returns in 2025 with his first UK tour across Brighton, Bristol and Manchester.
Enji
A sold out Café Oto show, her first UK tour and opening for Crosscurrents Trio at the Barbican as part of this year's EFG London Jazz Festival, Mongolian jazz singer Enji has had a busy year. With her one-off sound and delicate, dexterous vocals, Enji is garnering fans from the likes of BBC 6 music’s Gilles Peterson, as well as an invitation to perform a session for COLORS in Berlin. Enji’s latest album Ulaan received numerous 'Album of the Year' reviews with MOJO describing her as “Like Ella Fitzgerald singing in Khalkha”.
Expect more to come from Enji in 2025.
Read, Watch and Listen
EFG London Jazz Festival 2024 Highlights
Take Five Edition XIX: Collaborations from last years Take Five Talent Development Scheme
Dianne Reeves and Song Yi Jeon Interview with Jumoké Fashola about the Rolex Mentoring Programme
Listen back to this year's EFG London Jazz Festival Spotify Playlist
Articles
Polychromatic Sounds: Photographing the EFG London Jazz Festival - Wonderland
‘I was playing with fire’: An Interview with One True Pairing - Guardian
How black South Africans used jazz to fight apartheid - Telegraph
Interview with piano virtuoso Pat Thomas on his journey through jazz - Guardian
Special thanks to all the Serious team and the friends and freelancers, the writers, composers and musicians, the organisers, venues and festivals and all the partners who have helped us this year.
Wishing everyone happy holidays and looking forward to seeing you next year!
From all the Serious team
