Events

Made up of long term collaborators and dear friends, the Annie Whitehead 4tet delivers a powerful and joyous mix of African grooves, blustery free jazz, Ellingtonian expressionism, reggae stylings and bursts of driving blues.

Converting Vortex Downstairs into their very own living room, vocalists Rebecka Edlund and Immy Churchill invite you to a night of storytelling through music. With their shared love for songwriting and improvisation, the singers intertwine their unique voices with some of the most exciting musicians in the UK.

Saxophonist Jean Toussaint presents a special edition of his quartet JT4 feat. special guest Cleveland Watkiss.

Saxophonist Jean Toussaint presents a special edition of his quartet JT4 feat. special guest Cleveland Watkiss.

“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.

Gan Gemi (pronounced Gan-je-mee) is a young artist gaining a serious reputation as an arranger, producer and beatmaker, creating soundscapes which incorporate elements of jazz, electronic, classical and hip hop into a heady brew that speak directly to the soul.

Beyond the Blue are an exciting, up-and-coming London-based Jazz band. Their music, written and arranged by pianist/composer Jude Lane, draws influence from a wide range of genres ranging from UK dance music to jazz and classical music, with a unique instrumentation of: cello, guitar, alto, tenor and rhythm section.

Jamie Pye is a London-based jazz guitarist and composer with roots in both Australia and New Zealand. Drawing influence from all music and art and traditions, he pays particular attention towards the work of composers and bandleaders Brian Blade, Kendrick Scott, Petros Klampanis, Aaron Parks, Mike Moreno and Gilad Hekselman.

Legacy of Sound presents a special double bill featuring Awale Jant Band & Kawson Band, set to light up the stage with their infectious rhythms and captivating tunes.

The W is a newly established London-based contemporary jazz quartet of outstanding musicality creating chamber jazz that is as exciting and inventive, as it is elegant and sophisticated.

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, this performance has been cancelled. We apologise for the disappointment. All ticket holders will be refunded.

Join us for an evening of classic songs from 1940’s/50’s by USA and UK songbook composers. Zoe Francis beautiful voice and sensitive storytelling of a great lyric, will be backed by three leading UK musicians, legendary guitarist Jim Mullen, the incomparable Ross Stanley organ, and swinging Steve Brown drums.

“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.

A quartet of extraordinary improvisers: John Butcher (saxophones), Dominic Lash (double bass), Steve Noble (drums), and Pat Thomas (piano). This concert will be the group’s first performance since the album’s release – don’t miss a very rare chance to catch this remarkable group.

Curated by cellist Shirley Smart, Creations features a set by invited artists from the UKs vibrant free improvisation scene, followed by an acoustic jam session.

We welcome back the World Music Big Band with a new leader, Steve Pretty on trumpet and featuring Alison Rayner on bass and Mark Huggett on drums.

Pianist Sultan Stevenson returns to the Vortex with his trio featuring Jacob Gryn on double bass and Joel Waters on drums. A Londoner with roots in the Caribbean, Sultan is a product of both Tomorrow’s Warriors and the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy. He is influenced by the work of many of the greats of the jazz piano, including McCoy Tyner, Geri Allen, Herbie Hancock and Kenny Kirkland.

Our monthly late night series brings songwriters together to perform in the round, hosted by Matthew Herd. Tonight we are joined by brilliant writer and guitarist Arun Thava and his band.

Born out of Tony Kofi & Alex Webb’s shared love of Ellington, The Pocket Ellington manages what ought to be impossible – creating a classic Ellingtonian sound with just four horns & a rhythm section. But with Kofi, Alan Barnes, Andy Davies and David Lalljee on hand, anything is possible. Veteran bassist Dave Green and powerhouse drummer Winston Clifford provide the swing.

“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.

Expect an array of freely improvised Mopomoso bursts from some of the U.K.‘s most popular freely improvising musicians! Come & join us to celebrate yet another wondrous Mopomoso year, WAHOO!

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.

Diarra Walcott-Ivanhoe is a pianist and composer currently undertaking a post-graduate degree in Jazz at Guildhall. Having grown up in London, Diarra has had a rich and diverse musical upbringing that exposed him to an array of different genres including jazz, soul, reggae and soca.

Join the Andrew Linham Jazz Orchestra for their ‘Christ-Mess Extravaganza’ as they are welcomed back to the Vortex this festive season with original big band music composed by enigmatic leader and baritone saxophonist Andrew Linham.

  Ashley Bonfante presents a series of compositions and arrangements that draw their inspiration from the works of writers such as Sylvia Plath, T.S. Eliot, and traditional Romany folk songs. “This music has been specifically composed with these musicians in mind; reading can be a deeply personal thing and since the compositions arose somewhat organically […]

Alexandra Ridout brings a fantastic group of young musicians, all of which are thriving young musicians on the NYC scene, apart from the UK’s very own Freddie Jensen.

Led by composer, conductor, and saxophonist Josephine Davies, this ensemble features 17 of the UK’s finest jazz musicians. They will be performing the Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite, released on this auspicious day of winter Solstice, on Ubuntu Records.

Fini Bearman, Liam Noble and George Crowley come together for this memorable performance to explore much-loved songs from some of the great vocalists & songwriters of the last century, including Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan to Adrianne Lenker & Paul Simon.

“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by four of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan (+ a few guests), each one hosting one session on rotation.

The sensational vocalist Vimala Rowe joins guitar legend John Etheridge’s Blue Spirits (Pete Whittaker (organ) and George Double(drums) for a post Christmas treat of jazz, blues and global music.

We are delighted to welcome back Ian Shaw for his traditional New Year’s Eve performance.

Come and celebrate the arrival of 2025 with the Procrastinators’ customary laid back party. The one you are under no pressure to enjoy. Led by award winning reed player, singer and pianist Ewan Bleach the musical genius behind much of the swing dance and vintage jazz in London.

Roella is a British multi-instrumentalist, performer and composer of Nigerian and Jamaican heritage. Tonight, she brings her trio to the Vortex featuring Rio Kai (double bass) & Andee Liu (drums).

Award winning virtuoso jazz guitarist, composer and bandleader Miles Mindlin returns to the Vortex with a quartet featuring Noah Stoneman (piano), Freddie Jensen (bass) & Jack Thomas (drums).

Join us for a memorable night with a quartet featuring 4 Vortex familiar faces: Miguel Gorodi (trumpet), Nick Costley-White (guitar), Oli Hayhurst (bass) & Dave Ingamells (drums)

Jack has had an eclectic career so far, covering a wide range of musical styles, most recently he toured with Palestinian violinist Akram Abdulfattah for his debut UK tour and featured on his release ‘Akram Abdulfattah Live at Cambridge Folk Festival.’

Talkline represents the musical collaboration between vocalist and vibraphone player Amy Hollingsworth and pianist Will Hobson.

Alistair Martin presents music from his latest album, MONOMYTH 1K, alongside some of London’s most creative improvisers: Shirley Smart, Tom Smith, Eddie Lee, and Oren Mcloughlin.

A trio of extraordinary improvisers: Tom Chant (saxophone), John Edwards (double bass) & Eddie Prévost (drums).

Saxophonist Julian Siegel returns to the Vortex with his quartet featuring Liam Noble (piano), Oli Hayhurst (double bass) & Gene Calderazzo (drums).

Our monthly late night series brings songwriters together to perform in the round, hosted by Matthew Herd. We’re hugely excited to welcome the remarkable James Brute as he returns to his East London stomping ground.

Returning to his first instrument the Alto Saxophone, Tony Kofi joins the Organisation for a celebration to alto legend Lou Donaldson, whose roots in Bebop evolved into a mastery of the Soul Jazz movement instigated by the great Jimmy Smith and championed by Blue Note founder Alfred Lion.

“Vortex Lates” is a new series of events taking place in our downstairs bar from 10-1am every Friday or Saturday. A new late-night jazz hang for Dalston where you can grab a drink and listen to some of the best improvised musicians from around the city.

A weekly session on Sunday evenings, the jams will be hosted by some of London’s finest: drummer Jas Kayser, pianist Rick Simpson, guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs and tenor saxophonists Helena Kay and Riley Stone-Lonergan, each one hosting one session on rotation.