Chineke! – Percussion of Sound
curated by Sacha Livern Johnson
Origins Unwrapped | Chineke!
| Chineke! Percussion |
|---|
Expected runtime:
| Doors | 7.30pm |
|---|---|
| Event starts | 8.00pm |
| Event ends | 9.20pm |
| Interval | (There is no interval for this performance.) |
Four Chineke! Percussionists showcase the remarkable breadth of percussion in a programme that travels from body percussion and West African drumming traditions to the rich melodic possibilities of marimba and vibraphone.
Centred on pioneering American voices including Steve Reich, Philip Glass and Florence Price, this vibrant concert combines rhythmic energy, virtuosity and colour.
From intricate patterns and hypnotic rhythms to thunderous drums and shimmering mallet sounds, this concert celebrates the extraordinary range and versatility of percussion.
Performed by four Chineke! Percussionists, the programme traces a journey from rhythm to melody, revealing how percussion has evolved across musical traditions and cultures. Steve Reich’s iconic Clapping Music strips music back to its most elemental form, while Drums of Winter by John Luther Adams harnesses rhythm to evoke vast natural landscapes. Traditional Senegalese drumming sits alongside contemporary works by Andy Akiho, Darian Thomas, Yaz Lancaster and Caroline Shaw, each expanding the expressive possibilities of percussion in distinctive ways.
At the heart of the programme is a celebration of American musical innovation, with works by Reich, Adams, Florence Price and Philip Glass showcasing the extraordinary influence of American composers on the percussion repertoire. Their music is joined by Emmanuel Séjourné’s virtuosic Akadinda Trio and Tim Collins’ jazz-inflected Buzzy John’s Blues, demonstrating the instrument family’s remarkable stylistic range.
Together, these works reveal percussion as one of music’s most dynamic and diverse forces: capable of driving rhythm, carrying melody, creating atmosphere and captivating audiences through sound alone.
Concessions & Under 30s tickets
Kings Place Concessions Tickets
We want to ensure that people who may be struggling financially to purchase a ticket can still enjoy visiting Kings Place. A limited number of tickets are allocated for certain events (if the ticket type does not show in the booking pathway, it means they are not available for this event or have all been sold). Concessions tickets are accessible for people on the following criteria (for more information visit our FAQs)
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Disability Benefit
- Income Support or Job Seekers allowance
- Students
£10 ‘Under 30s’ tickets
A limited number of £10 tickets are available for certain shows to attendees aged under 30. To access Under 30s tickets, update your account with your Date of Birth. Please visit the account centre to add your Date of Birth.
If £10 tickets are available, the ticket discount will apply automatically at checkout. If the discount does not apply, this means all ‘Under 30s’ tickets have sold out for the performance.
Please note that proof of age may be requested at the venue.
Plan your visit
Getting here
Kings Place is situated just a few minutes’ walk from King’s Cross and St Pancras stations, one of the most connected locations in London and now the biggest transport hub in Europe.
Our address is:
90 York Way, London, N1 9AG.
The Venue
Our performance spaces are situated on the lower ground floor. Hall One, Hall Two and St Pancras are located in level -2, reached by stairs, escalator and lift from the ground floor entrance level.
Event Times
Door times indicate auditorium entrance times only. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the Kings Place seating areas, gallery-level art, canal-side terrace, café, restaurant and bar throughout the day and evening.
- Our events begin promptly at the advertised start time. Typically, there is no support unless otherwise stated.
- We recommend arriving in good time before the performance. The Hall doors will open 30 minutes before the performance to allow time to take your seats, or to choose a space for standing shows.
- Latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance where possible
Access
We aim to make your visit to Kings Place as comfortable as possible. For more information about the accessibility of Kings Place, including details about our Access Scheme, please visit this page.
If you would like to discuss your access requirements with a member of our team, please get in touch with the Box Office team at info@kingsplace.co.uk.
Food & Drink
Rotunda Bar & Restaurant
Rotunda, situated on the ground floor of Kings Place, offers a unique dining and drinking experience alongside Regent’s Canal. The concert bar in the venue foyer will also be open for select events.
Green & Fortune Café
Recently re-furbished and now open with a new look, the Green & Fortune Café is open for selected concerts. Serving hot and cold food and drinks, including sandwiches, salads, soup, stew and a pie of the day, alongside a choice of cakes made by the on-site bakery team. See here for selected concert dates and standard opening hours.