The award winning
music hub for Newham
Newham Acoustic: Free Concert Series, 17-21 June
2 June 2024
Experience a week of classical, jazz and folk music with Newham Music and BTL Jazz.
From 17-21 June, enjoy a series of free concerts at Newham Music Hub: Westfield Stratford City at 1-1.45pm and 4-4.45pm daily. Bring your lunch or a coffee and drop in – no booking required.
We’ll finish off the week on Make Music Day with a 7pm performance by Finnish singer-songwriter Kerttu.
The Artists
The concert series opens with dynamic and innovative violinist Benet McLean – one of the most highly regarded contemporary musicians in British jazz.
Boubakiki brings an eclectic musical mix – from atmospheric, serene textures to upbeat earworms, drawing influence from jazz, folk, classical and non-Western musical traditions.
Zayn Mohammed presents an intimate concert of heart-felt solo performances, on rarely heard instruments such as the North-Indian plucked lute – the Sarode, the Central-Asian Lute – the Ud, and the Turkish reed-flute – the Ney.
Newham Music’s new baby grand piano will be showcased by soloists Zoe Carole – Associate Musical Director for SIX The Musical – and Robert Mitchell, the award-winning multi-faceted creator, pianist, keyboardist, composer, improviser, writer and poet.
Performing a duet, we welcome London-based classically trained soprano, Melody Compton, and Principal Harp player of the Chineke! Orchestra, Ruby Aspinall.
GoChan are a dynamic musical duo comprising Ericka Go, a powerhouse vocalist from the Philippines, and Nathan Chan, an Australian multi-instrumentalist, who blend elements of Soul, R&B, and Folk with their Gospel roots.
Divyanand Caird is a London based Indian Classical Musician of the Karnatak (Carnatic) Music genre specialising in the Saraswati Vina (South Indian Lute).
On 21 June, we celebrate Make Music Day. To begin, Bezique perform a variety of acoustic jazz and café music from around the world. Their repertoire includes music by Django Reinhardt, Richard Galliano, Bireli Lagrene, and others, as well as original compositions.
We’ll hear Finnish singer-songwriter Kerttu, alongside the mandolin and violin. To close the series, Kerttu returns – with her powerful yet delicate voice and charming guitar work.
At a Glance
Monday 17 June
1pm Benet McLean – jazz violin trio
4pm Boubakiki – saxophone and handpan duo
Tuesday 18 June
1pm Zayn Mohammed – solo Turkish instruments
4pm Zoe Carole – solo piano
Wednesday 19 June
1pm Robert Mitchell – solo Acoustic piano
4pm Divyanand Caird – Saraswati Vina
Thursday 20 June
1pm Melody Compton & Ruby Aspinall – opera singing and harp duet
4pm GoChan – Soul, R&B, and Folk with Gospel roots
Friday 21 June
1pm Bezique – Nu-Gypsy Acoustic Jazz
4pm Kerttu – Finnish singer-songwriter
7pm Kerttu – Finnish singer-songwriter
Cancelled: 7pm Jenny Parra – Colombian folk vocalist and guitarist
