Empirical's pop-up jazz at Old Street station

UK jazz super group Empirical announce an exciting new project to take their music direct to Londoners from 22 – 27 February 2016.  The band will take over a retail unit in the centre of Old Street Underground Station and transform the space into a pop-up Jazz Lounge. Listeners are invited to visit the lounge for lunchtime and evening commute live sets, with late night sessions scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Early birds will also be able to catch an 8am mid-week performance.  All gigs will be free of charge.

Empirical are also inviting Hackney and Islington schools and community groups to sign up to free educational workshops during the Jazz Lounge, demonstrating the principles of jazz improvisation and giving younger audiences a chance to experience live jazz at more suitable times.

The band who comprise saxophonist Nathaniel Facey, drummer Shaney Forbes, vibraphonist Lewis Wright and Tom Farmer on bass believe that this radical approach of taking their music directly to Londoners in their daily lives will connect them to new audiences. They aim to take the pop-up Jazz Lounge concept nationwide in 2016/17, setting up in places not normally associated with jazz in major cities across the UK.  

The MOBO award winners launch their fifth album ‘Connection’ on 18th March at London’s King's Place, the follow up to their 2013 release ‘Tabula Rasa.’