Sámi yoik with Gabba
Songlines Encounters
Yoik master John André Eira from Guovdageaidnu, brings his ancestral legacy and original compositions to Gabba’s music, creating a sound that is both haunting and captivating. The band’s unique, innovative interplay comes from the fact that the musicians live together and play in multiple bands. Listeners can expect an authentic, youthful music experience.
Since their breakthrough in 2022, John André Eira and his band have established themselves as one of the leading voices in both Norwegian folk and Sámi music. Rooted in the rich joik traditions of Sámi while embracing contemporary influences, their music brings together powerful storytelling, striking musicianship and a strong sense of cultural identity.
The group has toured extensively throughout Norway while steadily building an international reputation, performing in India, Finland, Sweden, Canada, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Scotland. Alongside their live performances, they continue to develop new music that expands the possibilities of Sámi musical expression.
Their first album, GABBA, won the Norwegian Grammys for best folk music album.
This event will last for approximately 1 hour, with no interval.
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.
About Gabba
Gabba, which translates as “ivory-coated reindeer” in Sámi, is a Sámi band that seamlessly blends traditional joik with influences from Norwegian folk music, Americana and other global musical traditions. Their music reflects the culture, landscape and way of life of the Sámi people, creating vivid musical journeys inspired by the vast expanses of the Arctic region.
Drawing on both tradition and innovation, Gabba has emerged as one of the leading contemporary voices in Sámi music. Through rich vocal expression, evocative storytelling and a distinctive fusion of styles, the band connects ancestral traditions with a modern musical perspective.
Reviews
‘What makes this album stand out, however, are its added elements. Slide guitar, crashing drums and jazz brass collide with this ancient world, and the effect is both startling and memorable.’ Chris Wheatley, Songlines
‘Gabba’s debut album is one of the freshest of the year so far. Tundra blues – naturally!’ Torkjell Hovland, Ballade.no
‘Their music encompasses the expected Sámi moods of beauty, bleakness and longing. Eira’s vocals, so reminiscent of Native American chant, are captivating in their deceptive simplicity, and the a cappella numbers are wonderfully stirring.’ Chris Wheatley, ★★★★★ Songlines
The curation of Songlines Encounters is supported by the 1900 Building
