23 June CHAKA KHAN with NU CIVILISATION ORCHESTRA, Southbank Centre, LONDON

For the finale of this year’s Meltdown festival at the Southbank Centre, London, Chaka Khan celebrates 50 years of a pioneering career, bringing her incredible voice and global influence to this concert alongside Nu Civilisation Orchestra.

ClassiKhan is the tenth studio album by Chaka Khan, featuring the London Symphony Orchestra. Released in 2004, Khan covers well-loved jazz and swing standards, such as Stormy Weather and Round Midnight, as well as classics from a range of other genres, such as Broadway show-tune Hey Big Spender from Sweet Charity and many more.

Tickets go on sale on Friday 15 March at 10am.

28 June ARTHUR VEROCAI with NU CIVILISATION ORCHESTRA, Barbican, LONDON

NCO accompanies Brazilian legend Arthur Verocai performs his seminal 1972 album for the first time in the UK.

Abandoning a traditional path to dedicate himself entirely to music, Arthur Verocai‘s unique career started with inspiration from the musical landscape of Rio de Janeiro. 

Blending together samba, jazz and bossa Arthur Verocai (1972) only gained commercial success after he was sampled by rappers like MF Doom, Ludacris and Little Brother. As his original LP became a prized collectors item the album was reissued and launched him on to the Brazilian music scene. Since then he has arranged for artists such as Marcelo Jeneci, Ana Carolina, Danilo Caymmi, Hiatus Kaiyote and many more.

His latest work includes No Voo do Urubu (2016),  and a collaboration with Tyler the Creator for Paris Fashion Week in 2022 and embarked on his first international tour in 2023. 

This event is a co-production between the Barbican and Touching Bass, the South London based musical movement/curatorial platform.