UK jazz greats Sons of Kemet have announced that their 2022 tour will be their last, and after that they'll be "closing this chapter of the band’s life for the foreseeable future." Their full statement reads:
This year will be the last chance to see us in the form to which you’ve grown accustomed. After 10 years we have decided that from the end of our scheduled 2022 shows we will be closing this chapter of the band’s life for the foreseeable future. We’re excited to play our remaining gigs for you and to make this summer a fitting send off.
Their lengthy tour schedule includes shows all over the world, including a UK show tonight (6/2), through late August. They'll play a free SummerStage show at NYC's Central Park on July 31 with fellow jazz futurist Makaya McCraven, as well as experimental pop artist L'Rain and DJ Lindsey. Doors for that open at 5, the music starts at 6, and again, it's totally free, no RSVP required. All dates are listed below.
Sons of Kemet leader Shabaka Hutchings released his debut solo EP as Shabaka last month, while drummer Tom Skinner has been busy playing in the new Radiohead offshoot The Smile. Tuba player Theon Cross has also been busy with his solo career, and released his new album Intra-I last year. Sons of Kemet's last album was 2021's Black to the Future, which you can read about on our list of the best albums of 2021.
Sons of Kemet -- 2022 Tour Dates 06/02 – Tower of London, UK @ Peckham Rye Park 06/03 – Bergen, Norway @ Nattjazz 06/06 – Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera a la Ciutat 06/16-19 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival 06/27 – Brussels, Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique 07/02 – Gdynia, Poland @ Open’er Festiva 2022 07/03 – Glynde, UK @ Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2022 07/06 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso 07/15 – Pori, Finland @ KIRJURINLUOTO 07/17 – Paris, France @ Parc Floral de Paris 07/21 – Segrate, Italy @ Circolo Magnolia (Estivo) 07/22 – Florence, Italy @ Anfiteatro delle Cascine Ernesto De Pascale 07/23 – Centro Sociale, Italy @ Palco aperto del Teatro Sociale 07/24 – Fano, Italy @ Fano Jazz 2022 07/30 – Newport, RI @ Newport Jazz Festival 2022 07/31 – New York, NY @ Capital One City Parks Foundation Summerstage 08/02 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed 08/03 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater 08/04 – Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon 2022 08/07 – Hamburg, Germany @ Kampnagel 08/10 – Bari, Italy @ Locus Festival Locorotondo, Italy 2022 08/12 – Göteborg, Sweden @ Way Out West 2022 08/13 – Oslo, Norway @ Øyafestivalen 2022 08/14 – Edinburgh, UK @ Leith Theatre 08/17 – Hamburg, Germany @ Elbphilharmonie 08/21 – Hasselt, Belgium @ Pukkelpop Festival 2022