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Alongside previously announced acts, and with the final wave of artists in this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival to follow next month, the Barbican today announces a performance by South African a cappella group The Joy, produced with Barbican Associate Producer Serious.  

South African a cappella group The Joy make their Barbican debut, bringing their tightly woven harmonies to Milton Court Concert Hall.

In less than three years, The Joy have become known for their ability to spread instant euphoria. The five piece, which comprises Pastor (Ntokozo Bright Magcaba), Duzie (Melokuhle Mkhungo), Guduza (Sphelele Hlophe), Sthombe (Phelelani Sithole) and Marcus (Sanele Ngcobo), grew up in a part of South Africa where the Zulu tradition of isicathamiya (a Zulu a cappella singing style) is central to the cultural identity of its people. In a meteoric rise to international prominence, The Joy appeared in the UK on Jools Holland’s 30th anniversary Later with... programme last year, and opened Doja Cat’s headline performance at Coachella, showing that the magic of isicathamiya music isn’t restricted to the townships where it first flourished.

Their Barbican performance will celebrate the release of their self-titled debut album (June 2024, Transgressive Records), recorded live, in real time in North London’s Church Studios.

Produced by the Barbican and Serious
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EFG London Jazz Festival 2024 performances at the Barbican announced to date: 

• Pat Metheny: Dream Box (Fri 15 Nov 2024, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm) 
• Pat Metheny: Dream Box (Sat 16 Nov 2024, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm) 
• Anouar Brahem Quartet (Sun 17 Nov 2024, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
• NEW - The Joy (Sun 17 Nov 2024, Milton Court Concert Hall, 7.30pm)
• Charles Tolliver celebrates Max Roach @ 100 (Mon 18 Nov 2024, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
• Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio and Britten Sinfonia (Tues 19 Nov 2024, Milton Court Concert Hall, 7.30pm)
• London Symphony Orchestra x seed. featuring Cassie Kinoshi (Thurs 21 Nov 2024, Barbican Hall, 7pm)
• Cross Currents Trio: Zakir Hussain, Dave Holland, Chris Potter (Fri 22 Nov 2024, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
• Marilyn Mazur’s Shamania (Fri 22 Nov 2024, Milton Court Concert Hall, 7.30pm)
• Take Me To The River: A Celebration of New Orleans Music (Sat 23 Nov 2024, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
• Sikelela, 30 years on… A celebration of the South African jazz tradition and avant garde (Sun 24 Nov 2024, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)

Full listing details can be found here. 

SUPPORT ACTS ANNOUNCED

Experimental pop auteur Cornelius makes his Barbican Hall debut, as he showcases his latest album Dream In Dream.

Known for pushing musical boundaries, Cornelius has made an indelible mark on the music industry. His journey began with breakthrough album Fantasma in 1997, a mesmerising fusion of motoric rhythms, French pop melodies, Beach Boys harmonies and glitched electronics. With a dramatic shift in tones, forms, and spaces with Point (2001) and live music contributions to iconic groups like Yellow Magic Orchestra and Yoko Ono’s Plastic Ono band, Cornelius’ unique blend of art-pop has earned him worldwide recognition from a legion of dedicated fans.

Now, with his seventh full album Dream in Dream (2023), Cornelius continues to push the boundaries of musical innovation. This latest work seamlessly combines intimate moods with layers of electronic and acoustic sounds.

This debut Barbican performance will take audiences on a journey blurring the boundaries between reality and dreams, enveloping listeners in a hazy, expansive atmosphere of sound, visuals, and lighting working in complete synchronisation.

Support comes from Ichiko Aoba, a cult figure in her native Japan, whose Disney and Studio Ghibli soundtrack-inspired compositions evoke childhood nostalgia through ethereal storytelling, guitar and strings.

Produced by the Barbican
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R&B songwriter and producer Lynda Dawn brings her blend of 80s-inflected soul, funk and jazz to Milton Court, in a continuation of Barbican’s partnership with Errol and Alex Rita’s South London-based musical movement Touching Bass.

 From north-west London, Dawn weaves nostalgic grooves with celestial vocals, set against the crackle of her parents' record collections. She attributes her upbringing in the Pentecostal church as her spiritual education in funk and gospel expression, and her rich melodies and distinctive arrangements have made her a luminary for both old-school and new-school R&B enthusiasts. She first gained attention with her breakout single ‘Move’ on Gilles Peterson’s 13th Brownswood Bubblers, while her debut EP At First Light (Akashik Records, 2019) landed the No.1 spot on Jamz Supernova’s Top EPs of 2019 on BBC Radio 1Xtra.

Support comes from London-based keyboardist, singer and songwriter Madeleine, whose blend of jazz and neo-soul has seen her collaborate with the likes of Arlo Parks, Chloe Bodur and Poppy Ajudha.

Produced by the Barbican and Touching Bass
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