Live Music
Jazz Nights in London: 160 events this week (14 Sept to 17 Sept)
Where to find live jazz in London, from Soho basements to South Bank venues. What to expect, which areas to head to, and how to pick a night. Updated daily.
Get the appLive Jazz Nights
Roland Perrin - World Jazz and Latin Piano
Sean Fyfe Quartet Featuring Acclaimed New York Trumpeter Joe Magnarelli
Open Mic, Blues and Jazz
Eric Ranzoni Solo - Blues Piano and Boogie Woogie
AL “DENTE” DUNN - JAZZ PIANO
The Ealing Jazz Jam
Alleycats Jazz Band
Swing Dancing Lessons
One Jazz at Spiritland - with special guest Dom Servini (Wah Wan 45s)
Tuesday Jazz with Harry & Elizabete
Live Jazz at Louie
Phil Minton / Nick Neuberg / Theodora Laird / Theo Guttenplan (quartet) + Caius Williams & Ute Kanngiesser (duo) + Nick Neuberg (solo)
Live Jazz Jam
Live Jazz Session: Solo Pianist
Future Jazz Showcase
Francesinha + Jazz Night!
Jazz Jams
Bun Sabbath Jazz Night
Five Star Swing: In The Mood
Blues Jam with Robin Bibi
Live Jazz at the 606 (Weeknights)
Tuesday Jazz Session
Live Jazz at The Cambria
Jazz & Open Jam
Blues Jam
Down With It! Weekly Jazz Jam Session
Jazz Tuesdays
PETE SAUNDERS DUO
Live Jazz Jam Sessions
The Longshore Drifters Album Launch
Jazz by Far (Solo Jazz Taster + Dancing)
Dalston Doozy Swing Dancing Night
Jazz Night at the EDT
Jazz Jam with Carshalton Jazz
Jazz Night with Jazz Journey
Wednesday Night Live Jazz
Vocal Jazz Jam with Jamie Safir
Open Jam Night (jazz, soul & R&B)
Essosa
Live Music + £6 Cocktails
Knitting and Crochet
Down With It! Jam Session - Hosted by Andrea Rinciari
Neo-Soul + £6 cocktails
Kings of Soul by Nate Simpson
Live Music Night
Tequila Tuesdays
Live Music Wednesdays at The Effra
Live Music at The Oak
The Late Late Show
London has a jazz scene that runs deeper than most cities its size. It is not confined to one neighbourhood or one style. You will find it in Soho basements that have been running since the sixties, in East London pub back rooms, in South Bank concert halls, and occasionally in places that do not obviously advertise it at all.
Ronnie Scott's in Soho is the name everyone knows, and it earns its reputation. But it also books months ahead and fills up. The more interesting habit is learning the second tier: places like Ronnie's sister venues, the 606 Club in Chelsea, Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston, and Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho (which sounds unlikely but consistently pulls serious musicians). These are the rooms where you can often walk in on a weeknight and catch something properly good.
East London carries more of the contemporary and experimental end of the spectrum. Dalston and Hackney have venues that blur the line between jazz, soul, and improvised music. If you want straight-ahead bop or swing, Soho and the West End are still where most of that weight sits. The South Bank and Barbican programme bigger names on a longer lead time, worth checking if you want a guaranteed seat for a headliner.
Most jazz nights in London start later than you might expect, often 8 or 9pm, sometimes with an early set and a late set. Weeknights can be the better call if you want a less crowded room. Sundays have a long tradition of jazz lunches and afternoon sessions, especially in pubs around North and East London. Free entry nights exist, mostly at pubs and bars hosting residencies, though ticketed shows at dedicated venues are usually worth the cost for the room quality and sound.
Venues to know
- Downstairs at 180 3 events this week
- Jazz Cafe 2 events this week
- The Windsor Castle 2 events this week
- Nightjar Shoreditch 2 events this week
- Leytonstone Social Club 2 events this week
- The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch 2 events this week
How we pick
OnlyHere tracks live listings from over a hundred London venues, councils, and programmers, refreshed nightly. Picks favour events with confirmed dates, real venues you can find on a map, and editorial notes written by us, not the promoter. Prices and dates come from the listing itself; we never guess.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best jazz in London?
Ronnie Scott's in Soho is the most famous, but Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston, the 606 Club in Chelsea, and Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho are all strong regulars. Each has a different character: Vortex leans contemporary and experimental, 606 is intimate and unlicensed (you bring a bottle), Ronnie's books international names. The best room for a given night depends more on who is playing than the venue's reputation.
Are there free jazz nights in London?
Yes. Several pubs across North and East London host weekly jazz residencies with no cover charge, typically on weeknights or Sunday afternoons. Some bars in Soho and Shoreditch also programme jazz without a ticket requirement, though they may have a minimum spend. The live feed below filters for free events when you select the free option.
What is the jazz scene like in East London?
East London, particularly Dalston and Hackney, is where much of the newer generation of London jazz musicians plays. Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston is the anchor. The sound here tends toward contemporary, experimental, and crossover styles, mixing jazz with soul, afrobeat, and improvisation. It is a different feel from the Soho club tradition, more informal and often cheaper.
How do I find jazz nights on this week in London?
The live listing below shows jazz and live music events updated daily. Use the week or weekend filter to see what is coming up. Dedicated jazz venues like Ronnie Scott's and Vortex also publish their own calendars if you want to plan further ahead.
Is London jazz mostly Soho or are there good venues elsewhere?
Soho has the oldest concentration of jazz clubs and still books the biggest international names. But there is genuine depth elsewhere: Dalston and Hackney for contemporary jazz, Chelsea for the 606 Club, the South Bank and Barbican for larger ticketed concerts, and a spread of pub residencies across North and East London. Soho is the obvious start, but it is not the whole picture.
How many jazz nights in london are listed right now?
There are 160 events listed on this page right now. It updates daily.