Kaidi Akinnibi X Mackwood
EFG London Jazz Festival
| Kaidi Akinnibi | vocals & saxaphone |
|---|---|
| Jamal Wilson | keyboards |
| Klein Sserwadda | bass |
| Daniel Rogerson | guitar |
| Oscar Ogden | drums |
and
| Mackwood | percussion & samples |
|---|---|
| Laurence Wilkins | trumpet, finger drums & guitar |
| Alex Wilson | synth & keyboard |
In an exclusive double-headline show, longtime collaborators Kaidi Akinnibi & Mackwood join forces for an unmissable double bill as part of the 2026 EFG London Jazz Festival. Rapidly emerging as two of the most exciting voices in the new wave of UK jazz and beyond, Kings Place is proud to present two artists at the heart of the London jazz scene.
British South London-based singer, saxophonist, guitarist, and composer Kaidi Akinnibi is truly uncategorisable. In the midst of an ambitious mission to release seven albums in a single year, each project unveils a new dimension of his seemingly limitless eclecticism — moving fluidly through post-rock, indie, jazz, folk, electronic, and far beyond.
Mackwood has carved out a distinctive niche between progressive jazz, beatmaking and alternative dancefloor rhythms. His sound fuses the pedigree of UK and international jazz with London’s new generation of player-producers, continuing the UK’s celebrated tradition of boundary-breaking crossover.
This event will last approximately 2 hours, including the interval. This is a standing event.
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, your account needs to be updated with your Date of Birth. Please visit the account centre to add your Date of Birth and go to ‘Other Preferences’ to opt in to the Under 30s Scheme.
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 Kaidi Akinnibi
Growing up immersed in London’s rich creative music scene and nurtured by the Kinetika Bloco and Tomorrow’s Warriors / Jazz Warriors communities, Kaidi quickly developed a versatile musical voice rooted in expressive saxophone playing and emotionally rich songwriting.
Developing his sound amongst some of the frontrunners to emerge from The Windmill and in the resurgent jazz scene, Kaidi is far from a newcomer, renowned for his genre-blending creativity.
Kaidi pushes the boundaries that surround genre. His versatility has led to collaborations with post-punk disruptors Black Midi, Afrobeat icon Wizkid, boundary-pushing jazz leaders DoomCannon and Blue Lab Beats, and soul sensation Celeste on her chart-topping album Not Your Muse. He also helped shape the sound of Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes’ groundbreaking What Kinda Music.
Blending styles and reshaping the edges of modern music, in 2023, he released his first singles Real Enough and Devices, revealing his talents not only as a saxophonist but also as a vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist. His debut album Like in Dreams arrived in Spring 2025, further solidifying his presence on the UK music scene.
Kaidi has also been featured at major live events, including WOMAD and We Out Here Festival and is known for commanding performances at venues such as the 606 Club as part of the vibrant London jazz and contemporary music circuit.
His work continues to push boundaries — marrying cinematic soundscapes with deep emotional textures — making him one of the most promising young voices in British music today.
About Mackwood
Mackwood is a London-based drummer/producer building a distinct sound where contemporary UK jazz musicianship meets club-oriented electronic bass music.
With roots in jazz but a sound that bridges hip hop, electronic and bass culture, Mackwood’s music crosses scenes and audiences alike. Alongside appearances with international artists such as Javier Santiago, Don Glori and Blue Lab Beats, he is now stepping into the spotlight with his next body of work.
With festivals like Glastonbury 2025, SXSW Austin, Elgar Room at Royal Albert Hall and Bologna Jazz Festival, as well as five sold-out Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club late shows behind him, Mackwood brings a high-energy, dance-ready set that pulls jazz fans and bass heads into the same room.
The live show features trumpet, finger drumming, percussion, live samples, guitar, synth and keys all from three musicians playing unreleased music.
“Mackwood is UK Music’s best kept secret” – Clash Magazine
“…an exploratory spirit that traverses jazz, rap and beyond” – Rolling Stone UK