Joshua Idehen

British-Nigerian poet, vocalist and songwriter Joshua Idehen brings his blend of spoken word, contemporary jazz and club electronics to Arts Club, Liverpool on 12 November 2026. Known first with the trio Benin City, he has since moved across scenes and studios, collaborating with musicians from Sons of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming and Daedelus while carving out a solo path that puts voice and rhythm at the centre.

On stage, Idehen works like a storyteller and a bandleader, threading precise, percussive diction through supple synths, jazz-leaning arrangements and pulses that nod to house and broken beat. His texts mix everyday snapshots, social reflections and more intimate narratives, carried by a delivery that feels spoken yet musical, direct yet nuanced.

Recent releases sketch the contours of this live set: Learn To Swim (with Swedish producer Ludvig Parment) and the 2024 EP Mum Does The Washing explore the space between the poetry mic, the concert hall and the club floor without drawing hard lines between them. Special guests round out the bill, opening the night to new textures and dialogues around Idehen’s voice and grooves.