A landmark moment in British contemporary music arrives this summer as Ivor Novello recipient and Platinum-selling composer Renell Shaw brings his award-winning masterpiece, The Windrush Suite, to the stage. On June 25, 2026, Kings Place will host the first-ever full live ensemble performance of the suite and its electrifying sequel, Echo in the Bones.
As a centerpiece of the venue’s Memory Unwrapped season, the concert serves as a multi-sensory tribute to the Windrush Generation. Shaw, whose heritage spans Jamaica and Dominica, has assembled a "roll-call" of twelve of the UK’s most distinguished musicians to bridge the worlds of jazz, classical, and contemporary sound.
The stage will feature an extraordinary lineup of talent directed by Shaw, including:
Legendary Pioneers: Grammy-winning saxophonist Jean Toussaint and multi-instrumentalist Orphy Robinson MBE.
Contemporary Visionaries: Classical crossover cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Rudimental trumpeter Mark Crown, and powerhouse vocalists Afronaut Zu and Rochelle Rose.
The performance combines music with storytelling, visuals, and archival recordings of pioneering Windrush voices. While The Windrush Suite explores the journey, struggle, and triumph of the original trailblazers, Echo in the Bones shifts the lens to their children, offering a moving portrait of Black British resistance and belonging.
The June premiere marks a vital chapter in Shaw’s year-long residency at Kings Place. The trilogy will conclude on October 9, 2026, with the world premiere of Remember Us Tomorrow. Commissioned by Kings Place for Black History Month, this final installment explores the identity of the fourth generation of Afro-Caribbean heritage in a hyper-connected yet divided world.
"These works are about memory, inheritance, and the stories that continue to shape who we are," says Shaw. "I hope audiences leave feeling moved, expanded, and more connected to the human depth within these works."
Tickets for this 140-minute journey into cultural preservation are available now. Beyond the concert hall, Shaw’s residency continues to impact the future of the industry through The Artist’s Room, a mentoring program designed to help young creators find their voice through personal heritage.
