It’s that time of year where we start to think about the festive season and all it has to offer! Here at Kings Place we’re presenting annual favourites like Tim Edey’s Celtic Christmas and Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People to new offerings from powerhouse groups Mwenso and the Shakes and BIG Gospel Choir. Whatever your pick, these shows will be sure to warm your spirit and bring joy during this special time of year with family and friends.
‘Reimagining Christmas Through Black music’
Michael Mwenso's Ancestral Communal Listening Session
Join musician and Emmy Award-winning creator, artist Michael Mwenso as he explores how artists of colour have reimagined the holiday season through the lens of Black music. Michael creates a safe space in this joyful and spiritual immersive gathering and we invite you to come and experience a communal listening session featuring tracks by legendary artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, and Etta James. This event serves as a captivating introduction to Mwenso’s spectacular show A Funky Soulful Christmas on December 19th.
If you’re a ticket holder of A Funky Soulful Christmas with Michael Mwenso & The Shakes on Thu 19 Dec (click here to find out more & book tickets), you can join Michael Mwenso’s Ancestral Community Listening event on Sat 7 Dec for free.
‘As heartwarming as it is beguiling ’
A Winter Union
Five leading lights of the British roots music scene return to Kings Place for a seasonal treat. Expect soaring harmonies and exquisite musicianship through a repertoire of brand new, specially written songs, fresh arrangements of traditional carols and seasonal classics from both sides of the Atlantic.
‘… one of our most intelligent and erudite singer-songwriters.’
Charlie Dore Trio | The Man Who Built Christmas
‘I love that Christmas at Kings Place brings unique and surprising shows, especially through our folk strand. Charlie Dore, who debuted here in 2021, returns this time for a new live Christmas show. With such an illustrious career, it’s incredible that this is Charlie’s first Christmas adventure, having previously written for the likes of Tina Turner, Celine Dion and George Harrison. What a treat to hear this new show for the first time, from such a legend!’
Rosie Chapman,
Head of Artistic Planning
‘An endearingly shambolic, joyful lucky dip of a show.’
Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People & Family Matinee
‘We’ve been lucky enough to have Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People as part of our programme since 2018, and Christmas really wouldn’t be the same without it. From balloons, to on stage science experiments, the shows always bring some fun surprises for all, with some brilliant guests. This year, we’re joined by physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski, author Chris Lintott, comedian Josie Long, poet Rachel Long and many more. If you’d like to learn more about the history of Cosmic Shambles and Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People, you can watch their documentary here.’
Rebecca Millican,
Spoken Word Programme Manager
Family Matinee on Sat 14 Dec suitable for children age 10+
‘soul-stirring concert’
BIG Gospel Choir at Christmas
‘I can’t wait to feel the sheer joy in the room with the Big Gospel Choir on 18 December, with a soul-stirring concert to bring the true spirit of the season to life. The Choir’s soulful harmonies and uplifting gospel are sure to have you singing and dancing along as they perform some classic gospel anthems, festival favourites, and some gospel arrangements of songs that will truly touch your heart. This will definitely put you in the mood for Christmas! Unless, of course, you have a heart of stone.’
Robert Farhat
Contemporary Programme Manager
‘Tim Edey plays a host of different instruments to a standard us mere mortals can only dream of. Listen and weep.’
Tim Edey's Celtic Christmas
Tim Edey, one of the world’s finest guitarists and melodeon players, returns for his Celtic Christmas show at Kings Place, celebrating the various Christmas folk traditions from these islands, alongside music from his extensive repertoire.
His album A Celtic Christmas, represents his globetrotting influences: the beauty of The Wexford Carol, reflecting a decade spent around the world with The Chieftains, the passion and stunning musicality of ‘The Galician Carol’, learned from Spanish superstar Carlos Nunez during recording together at Mike Oldfield’s studio. There’s also the dance around the Christmas Tree fun of Ding Dong Merrily on High and time to sit by an open fire for the warmth of Tim’s take on Howard Blake’s classic The Snowman, plus the poignant surprise of his version of Fairytale of New York.
‘A Christmas choral concert with a modern twist!’
A Carolling Christmas with Kings Place Choir
A Christmas choral concert with a modern twist! Kings Place’s resident, 40 strong choir, together with the in-house choir of The Guardian present a mix of seasonal, choral and contemporary songs. All three choirs are led by composer and songwriter Naomi Hammerton. Join us for a dose of Christmas spirit!
‘I’ve been utterly captivated by his energy and mission to bring world-class black music to audiences to uplift, heal and empower individuals and communities’
A Funky Soulful Christmas with Michael Mwenso & The Shakes
‘Since meeting Michael Mwenso back in June this year, I’ve been utterly captivated by his energy and mission to bring world-class black music to audiences to uplift, heal and empower individuals and communities. Mwenso’s childhood was rooted in West Africa before moving to London as a teenager, where he met James Brown amongst many other legendary artists who became his mentors. In his late twenties, Mwenso was invited to New York City by famed jazz artist, Wynton Marsalis to helm the late night at Dizzy’s Club and curate at Jazz at Lincoln Center. I can’t encourage you enough to come along and see powerhouse group Mwenso and the Shakes in a celebration of Christmas classics alongside some of their own music.’
Sam McShane,
Artistic Director