Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra touch down at Bristol Beacon, Bristol, on 11 December 2026. Pianist, bandleader and founding member of Squeeze, Holland has built a live identity rooted in boogie‑woogie, blues and early rock’n’roll. At the piano he drives the show with crisp right‑hand runs and a rolling left hand, while the Orchestra — rhythm section, reeds and a bright brass front — gives the music big‑band weight and colour.

On stage, the group shifts from jump‑blues shuffles to New Orleans swing, classic rhythm and blues and originals from Holland’s songbook. Arrangements lean on call‑and‑response riffs, compact solos and tight horn harmonies, keeping the set sharp and dance‑ready without losing space for the players to stretch. The piano stays at the centre, trading figures with saxes and trumpets, locking with the drums and sparking short breaks.

Away from the keys, Holland steers the band with brisk intros and segues, a bandstand style he has refined over years on the road and on screen with Later… with Jools Holland. The concert maps the links between blues, soul, swing and early rock’n’roll, arranged for a large ensemble built to deliver that sound live.