Jalen Ngonda

On 2 November 2026 at Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow, Jalen Ngonda brings his finely honed blend of classic soul and modern songwriting to the stage. Raised between Silver Spring, Maryland and the UK, he cut his teeth in small clubs before settling in Liverpool to study at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. That road shaped a live approach built on tight, concise songs, steady grooves and a voice placed front and centre, with arrangements that nod to 1960s soul without feeling stuck in the past.

Signed to New York label Daptone Records, Ngonda released a run of singles followed by the 2023 album Come Around and Love Me, which captures the balance he pursues in concert: slow-burn ballads alongside more uptempo tracks that lean on the rhythm section. Expect an instrumentation that stays simple and effective — drums, bass, guitar, keys — with the occasional lift from horns or strings, always in service of the melody. Moving between London, Liverpool and European tours, Ngonda brings a set that revisits soul’s codes with clarity and restraint, letting the songs do the work in a room made for them.