The iconic Blue Note Jazz Club is set to open its first UK location in London next month, and has confirmed the first performers, which feature Robert Glasper, Erykah Badu and more.
Located on St Martin’s Lane in Covent Garden, the first UK location for the legendary space will open on September 23 – fittingly, the 100th birthday of John Coltrane – and is set to capture the same atmosphere as the venues in New York, Los Angeles, Milan and beyond.
It will offer a contemporary programme as well as surprise performances, and all of which will celebrate British talent alongside world-class international artists across jazz and adjacent genres.
The new Covent Garden venue will have two performance spaces: a 250-capacity main room that will host two shows each night at 7pm and 9:30pm, and a 100-capacity ‘B-Side’ room that will open later in the year and be dedicated to emerging talent.
A contemporary food menu is also on offer, as the location is dinner throughout the week and has signature cocktails on offer.
To open the new venue, five-time Grammy winner Robert Glasper will headline the club’s grand opening on September 23 and 24, before returning for a further seven shows in November.
As well as opening the space, Glasper is also onboard as a creative ambassador, and in a statement the jazz icon shared: “London has been a big supporter in my career from the very beginning, and I’ve always had so much respect for the musical culture of the UK past and present.
“There is a deep love for music that pushes boundaries, and Blue Note has always been a home for that same spirit,” Glasper added. “Starting this new club is about creating a space where jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and everything in between can meet, evolve, and surprise people.
“I’m excited to build something in London that feels intimate, fearless, and alive, a place where artists can take chances and audiences can experience the music up close.”
Other performers lined-up so far include Neo-Soul star Erykah Badu, jazz-pop singer Jamie Cullum, saxophonist and composer Nubya Garcia, iconic drummer Yussef Dayes, afrobeat group KOKOROKO, and London rapper Hak Baker.
Tickets for the first run of shows go on sale at 10am BST on Friday August 14. Visit here for tickets and pre-sale access.
“London has always been one of the world’s great music capitals, with an extraordinary jazz heritage and an incredibly diverse creative community,” said Tsion Bensusan, co-owner of Blue Note Entertainment Group. “Bringing Blue Note to London is something we’ve envisioned for many years, and opening our doors here marks one of the most significant milestones in our company’s history.”
Nick Lewis, director of Music & Programming at Blue Note London added that the new space marked “a real landmark moment, not only for our team but for the city’s rich musical history”.
“We’ll be welcoming some of the greatest jazz artists worldwide whilst shining a light on our exceptional emerging homegrown UK jazz scene which has been on fire in recent years,” Lewis added. “Audiences will experience the very best of jazz and adjacent genres, nightly in the heart of London. We look forward to making a significant and meaningful contribution to the UK live music scene.”
Ahead of the opening date, Blue Note London is launching two membership offerings. The first is the Founding Membership, which offers priority access, exclusive experiences, and more. The second is the Founders Society, which is limited to 100 members and reserved for those who want to play a lasting role in Blue Note London’s opening chapter. Visit here for more information.
Blue Note London 2026 shows are:
SEPTEMBER
23-24 -Robert Glasper
27 – Yussef Dayes
28-29 – Jamie Cullum
30 – Nik West
OCTOBER
1 – Nik West
2 – Nubiyan Twist
3 – The Banger Factory
8-9 – Jamie Cullum
10-11 – IMEHO – An Intimate Experience with Erykah Badu
14 – Emily Bear
15 – Nubya Garcia
16-17 – Nubya Garcia
18 – Hak Baker
19-20 – SHABAKA
22-23 – Steamdown x NYJO
24-25 – Keyon Harrold
26 – The Soul Rebels
31 – Milena Casado
NOVEMBER
2-3 – Richard Bona
8 – Brandee Younger
9-10 – James Carter (Coltrane 100)
13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 22 – Robert Glasper
27 – Jazzanova Live feat. Wayne Snow
29 – Tank and the Bangas
DECEMBER
3 – New Regency Orchestra
4 – Waaju x Majid Bekkas
5-7 – Cory Henry Trio
13-15 – The Brand New Heavies
16 – KOKOROKO
20-22 – The Brand New Heavies
Plans to open a London Blue Note Jazz Club were shared in May, ahead of the confirmation, the Met Police and local residents raised concerns about the opening times.
At a hearing on February 12, members of The Met told Westminster City Council the venue’s late running hours would “expose more people to crime and disorder in the immediate area” and that gig goers “leaving the venue late at night” may become a target for phone snatchers as well as illegal taxis who “prey on vulnerable, intoxicated lone females”.
Nearby residents also objected to the proposed running hours, urging councillors to limit the venue’s closing time to 11pm.
Despite these complaints, plans for the club were welcomed by the Music Venue Trust. Sophie Asquith, Venue Support Team Manager for the MVT, said in a statement: “Music Venue Trust is delighted to learn that Blue Note has been granted a license with the hours needed to enable its world-famous jazz operation to flourish in central London.
