Dele Sosimi (UK) featuring Nikolaj Hess

Dele Sosimi, the Nigerian-British Afrobeat Ambassador, Musician and Educator, has been at the heart of the global Afrobeat scene since relocating to the UK in December 1995. Having started his musical career with Fela Kuti's Egypt 80 band in his teens, he then teamed up with childhood friend Fela's son Femi Kuti (back in the late eighties) to kick start the Positive Force - touring, recording and performing worldwide.

Over forty years later, he remains a tireless ambassador for the unique musical movement all over the world. His blend of complex funk grooves, traditional Nigerian music, African percussion and an underlying sense of jazz combines with his virtuoso keyboard skills and rhythmic singing to make him one of the most respected Afrobeat authorities of his era.

Hackney-born and UK-based Dele has performed all over the planet, from the Montreux Jazz Festival to Mawazine Festival in Rabat Morrocco; Ollin Khan in Mexico, South Korea and the Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Dele was also Afrobeat music consultant for the National Theatre's production of Fela!, often performing with fellow-pioneer Tony Allen.

Dele’s pioneering musicality has also spawned collaborations with an impressive range of artists, including Estuary 21 (Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly), electronic artists Medlar and Qness, the afro-latin  Cubafrobeat, Lokkhi Terra, and Eparapo, led by DSAO bassist, composer and producer Suman Joshi. These collaborations have spawned an impressive discography, ranging from his solo album "You No Fit Touch Am" to the brand new LP ‘The Confluence’ with Estuary 21.

“A true master of the form.” - Clash Magazine

“Dele Sosimi.. A total music legend!” - Cerys Matthews (BBC 6 Music)

“Organically shimmering with sun-lit horns and synth powered grooves.” ★★★★ - Songlines Magazine

Nikolaj Hess

Multiple award-winning pianist and composer Nikolaj Hess is a sophisticated, boundary-pushing virtuoso artist with a sound that spans Nordic jazz, post-bop, new-classical, and Global jazz traditions. His touch on the piano is described as effervescent and golden, and Mitch Myers from Magnet Magazine/Down Beat calls him “one of the most inventive pianists working today”.

His deep background in jazz, classical and scandinavian folk music together with his interest in West-African music has combined in a unique creative amalgam of his own, leading to numerous international collaborations and releases of his own.

He has won Berlingske Tidendes young talents gold medal, was chosen as best European jazz pianist under 25 for the RAI competition, has won 2x Danish Music Awards, Politikens Album of the year, the composers union Autor’s honorary prize, and he has an impressive string of nominations as well, including best music in film at the London International Film Makers festival, 3x Danish Music Awards album of the year, DMA jazz musician of the year, and Composer Of The Year at Carl Prisen.