Yussef Dayes

South London-raised producer, composer and drummer Yussef Dayes brings emotion, intensity and a deeply rhythmic, spiritual energy to the stage. On 20 June 2026 at Royal Festival Hall, London, he leads from behind the kit with a fluid, physical and poly­rhythmic style that moves between jazz, soul, hip-hop and broken beat. Live, his playing anchors long-form grooves and sharp dynamics, opening space for improvisation and close interplay with his band.

His debut solo studio album, Black Classical Music, won an Ivor Novello and pushed him firmly into the spotlight, landing on 2023 year-end lists from Spotify, NPR Music, Rough Trade, BBC Radio 6 Music, the Boston Globe, PopMatters and AllMusic. The record’s cast says a lot about his orbit, with appearances from Masego, Chronixx, Jamilah Barry and Tom Misch. On stage, Dayes channels that same breadth, reshaping themes into extended conversations where precision meets feel.

After sold-out tours across the UK and beyond, and a viral A Colors Show performance that put a solo drummer front and centre, Dayes arrives in London with an electrifying live set. It’s a night built on pulse, texture and momentum, where the drums steer the music and the room moves with them.