Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

Jools Holland brings his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra to Waterfront Hall, Belfast, on 9 June 2026. Pianist, bandleader and co-founder of Squeeze, he has shaped a sound rooted in blues, swing and early rock’n’roll, with a clear taste for boogie-woogie. On stage, the piano sets the pace while a tight horn section and a driving rhythm team push the groove. The Orchestra works like a big band: punchy riffs, solos that trade places, and arrangements that move from jump-blues heat to slower, soulful turns. Holland blends his own pieces with classic standards and nods to New Orleans, letting the melodies breathe and the rhythm snap. The set leans on musicians listening to each other, cueing breaks and dynamics on the fly, and finding a balance between dancefloor energy and detailed playing. If you know albums like Small World Big Band, you’ll hear their spirit live, expanded by a stage sound that leaves space for brass, voices and Holland’s quick, percussive right hand.