The Jazz Cafe reopening: Camden music spot to relaunch with social distancing

Jazzed up: Dele Sosimi will be among the first artists to play at the new-look venue
Siobhan Bradshaw
Jochan Embley2 September 2020

The Jazz Cafe will reopen as a socially distanced music venue later this month.

The famed Camden spot has been shut since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but will relaunch with a reduced capacity of 150 and an all-seated layout.

The venue’s upstairs restaurant will be in operation, with table service for drinks on the ground floor.

It comes after the venue launched a successful crowdfunding campaign in order to weather the coronavirus storm, generating more than £145,000 in donations.

Head booker Ruari Frew said that while it will “be very difficult to operate financially,” the venue “[owes] it to all the people who make the live industry tick to give this a go”.

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He added: “Our world is largely made up of freelancers, many of whom fell through the gaps of any government support. It's crucial that we get as many people as possible working again in a safe environment.

“Although it's not sustainable in the medium or long term, for now it's exciting to have musicians on stage in front of an audience, engineers in booths and bar staff serving drinks again.”

Afrobeat favourite Dele Sosimi is one of the biggest acts set to play at the venue, appearing on September 19. The day before, Sierra Band will open the new-look space with a “Night of Southern Soul”.

Elsewhere, there will be shows from Ghanaian band Osibisa, jazz musicians James Copus and Joe Downward, Cambridge singer-songwriter Etta Bond and more.

The Jazz Cafe is among the first major music venues to reopen post-lockdown, following in the footsteps of fellow Camden spot Electric Ballroom and west London jazz haunt 606 Club.

Head to thejazzcafelondon.com for more information.

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