Later…with Jools Holland returns to Alexandra Palace Theatre in North London for a show packed full of live music and chat.
This week, Jools welcomes Irish singer Róisín Murphy back to the show to perform a couple of tracks from her new album, Hit Parade. The album is a collaboration with German producer DJ Koze and Róisín Murphy’s first to break into the Top 10.
Also returning to the show is London producer and songwriter, Nitin Sawhney, who performs a track he wrote with I Am Roze, a singer from Louisiana. The song features on his new LP entitled Identity. Jools also chats to Nitin about the record and some of the other guests who feature on it, including Lady Blackbird, Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Gary Lineker.
Plus, three artists make their Later… debut. The first is the chart-topping, award-winning singer-songwriter Tom Walker, who performs a couple of songs, including his latest single, Burn. Burn is taken from Tom’s upcoming second album, due to be released in 2024, which follows his 2019 breakthrough that featured the global hit Leave A Light On.
The second debut comes from South East London drummer Yussef Dayes, who already has two Top 10 albums to his name. He has previously collaborated with the likes of Tom Misch and Kamaal Williams, but now steps forward to perform the title track of his first solo record, Black Classical Music. It’s an album that promises to take the listener on a “highly groovy and ultimately fulfilling ride through the peaks and valleys inside Dayes’ musical brain”.
Next, Leeds band English Teacher perform their track, The World’s Biggest Paving Slab, which has been heard all over the radio. English Teacher have been tipped as one of this year’s breakout bands, described as “a vital voice from the heart of UK guitar music”.
Completing the line-up, Jools chats to Madness frontman Suggs about the band’s first new album in seven years called Theatre of the Absurd presents C’est La Vie. It sees Madness reunited, re-energised and reinvigorated, resulting in their most harmonious recording experience to date.
The show also celebrates 75 years since the arrival of the Windrush generation, showing a specially made short film. The film tells the story of Michael ‘Bammi’ Rose – a Jamaican musician who first came to the UK in 1962 and who has been a member of many influential groups since the early 70s, including Cymande, Aswad and Jazz Jamaica. He also remains a member of Jools’ Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.
Previous episodes of this series of Later…with Jools Holland, currently available on BBC iPlayer, include appearances from Allison Russell, Antony Szmierek, BC Camplight, Cat Power, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, Frankie Archer, Izo FitzRoy, Johnny Marr, Jorja Smith, METTE, OMD, Romy, Sampha, Say She She, Skindred, Take That, The Last Dinner Party, The National, The Streets, Willie J. Healey and Wreckless Eric.
The final episode will feature Annie Macmanus & Nick Grimshaw Billy Bragg, Bombay Bicycle Club, Cleo Sol, CMAT, Corinne Bailey Rae and Sekou.
Later… with Jools Holland begins its new series tonight at 9.55 pm on BBC Two
