Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

Pianist and bandleader Jools Holland brings his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra to Bradford Live on 18 December 2026. Since co-founding Squeeze in the late 70s, Holland has built a life at the piano, rooted in boogie-woogie, blues, swing and early rock’n’roll. His Orchestra extends that language with a big-band feel: tight horn lines, walking bass, crisp drums and arrangements shaped for groove and interplay. On stage, his quick-fire phrasing and rolling left hand steer the set, moving from jump-blues shuffles to swing, from New Orleans colours to British R&B staples, with room for solos and call-and-response vocals.

Beyond touring he hosts Later… with Jools Holland, but it’s in concert that this repertoire breathes, revisiting personal favourites, collaborations and his own tunes in a full ensemble sound. Expect a live show anchored by piano-led energy, brass accents and rhythm section bite — the hallmarks of Holland’s approach — as the Orchestra runs through blues, swing and rock’n’roll with the ease of a band that lives on stage at Bradford Live.