King Zepha [Soul/Blues/Rocksteady]

About this event

“Seriously funky” – James Morrison, Top Brass, BBC Radio 2

“Breathtaking” – Craig Charles, Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show, BBC 6 Music

Singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Sam Thornton, better known as King Zepha, is touring with his all-star band this summer, to celebrate the release of his new album. His original music features wailing horns, thunderous double bass, global rhythms and stunning 3-part vocal harmonies, and draws influence from jazz, blues, soul, mambo, ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub.

He is joined by Will Osborne on trombone, Chris Lloyd on keyboards, Adam Richards on double bass and Will Blankley on drums. The band have toured extensively for the last 10 years, including memorable performances at Glastonbury, Boomtown Fair, Freedom Sounds Festival in Germany and Gentse Feesten in Belgium.

The band will be performing a selection of songs from their new album, “The Return Of King Zepha”, which is due for release on 3 June 2026 and will be available to purchase on LP and CD at this concert. It features 11 original compositions, and a reworking of the Sammy Davis Jr. classic “I’m A Brass Band”.

Their last release, 2019’s “King Zepha’s Northern Sound”, was championed on the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show on BBC Radio 6 Music. The legendary reggae producer Dennis Bovell referred to it as his “favourite album” on his Dub On Air show on Soho Radio. More recently King Zepha’s music has been described as “seriously funky”, by the jazz trumpet virtuoso James Morrison, on his BBC Radio 2 Top Brass show.

Line up:
King Zepha – vocals, tenor sax & guitar
Will Osborne – trombone
Chris Lloyd – vocals & keyboards
Adam Richard – vocals, double bass & bass guitar
Will Blankley – drums.