Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra

Jools Holland brings his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra to Cardiff International Arena, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff, on 20 December 2026. Pianist, songwriter and founding member of Squeeze, Holland has built a long-running project rooted in rhythm and blues, boogie-woogie and early rock’n’roll. His playing blends quick-fire right-hand lines with driving left-hand patterns, and he leads a big-band lineup where brass and rhythm section push the groove forward.

On stage, expect tight horn arrangements, rolling piano riffs and a set that moves between jump blues, swing shuffles and soulful ballads. The orchestra draws on the traditions that shaped Holland’s records, from Small World Big Band to his collaborations across pop, soul and blues, reworking classics alongside his own pieces. The focus is on live interplay: call-and-response with the horns, solos that lift the tempo, and a bandleader at the piano keeping everything locked to the dance-floor pulse.

A night built around the sound of a full R&B orchestra, this date showcases Holland’s taste for timeless grooves, a broad songbook and the energy of a big band in full flight.