17 April 2025

De Beauvoir set to host vibrant jazz festival

We’re excited to be playing a part in De Beauvoir Town’s first ever jazz festival this summer, an event that promises to be a celebration of the beautiful built environment as well as great music!

Long standing De Beauvoir resident Payal Wadhwa is the founder and organiser of the event, which she describes as a citizen-led response to London’s cultural needs, with De Beauvoir Town as an ideal setting.

The festival, with an opening night on July 11 and a full day of music on July 12, is attracting internationally renowned jazz musicians and is set to be a family-friendly occasion with great hospitality, food and drink and a strong community element.

Payal says: “De Beauvoir Town offers the ideal setting for a neighbourhood jazz festival. Its pedestrianised streets create natural stages, while diverse architecture provides a picturesque backdrop.”

The festival is expected to bring a boost to local businesses and support social cohesion in the community, creating culture from the ground up rather than imposing it from above, in line with London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s vision for community powered arts revival.

Opening night on July 11 features vocalist Georgia Cécile at Hoxton Town Hall, just down the road from De Beauvoir Town. 

The following day sees the festival concentrated back in De Beauvoir with headline acts including trumpeter Mark Kavuma and his ensemble, The Banger Factory, woodwind players Giacomo Smith and Adrian Cox and local De Beauvoir musicians Irene Serra and Peter Werth among many others.

Rather than centre the festival around a single location, performances will take place across multiple venues throughout the neighbourhood – from pubs and cafés to churches and community centres, including De Beauvoir Block!

Spaces that rarely host musical events will be transformed into vibrant cultural venues, reducing environmental impact and celebrating De Beauvoir's pedestrian-friendly streets and low-traffic neighbourhood status.

The festival is being run with the support of Arts Council England, The Englefield Charitable Trust and organised in close collaboration with Hackney Council.

As a Community Interest Company tickets are priced with the aim of supporting the community and allowing as many people as possible to attend, with generous concessions. There are special rates for residents of the three estates in the neighbourhood - Lockner Estate, De Beauvoir Estate and Kingsgate Estate.

For details and to buy tickets, visit: www.debeauvoirjazzfestival.co.uk/tickets