Brick Lane Jazz Festival 2026
Posted on 6th May 2026 by John Rosie
Taking the Archive out of the Cupboard and into the Community
Bringing the National Jazz Archive to the heart of East London, our team was thrilled to serve as a Cultural Partner at the recent Brick Lane Jazz Festival.
From 24–26 April 2026, we joined forces with London’s thriving underground music community at the historic Old Truman Brewery. It was a fantastic opportunity for our volunteers to step out from our base at Loughton Library and engage directly with the next generation of jazz fans, artists, and industry professionals in one of the city's most vibrant cultural hubs.
Our presence was headlined by a special exhibition of iconic album artwork, presented in association with Jazzwise Magazine. Located on the ground floor of F Block, the display featured highlights from the “100 Jazz Albums That Shook The World” collection, allowing festival-goers to explore the visual history of the genre between sets. Seeing the connection between legendary archival records and the modern, genre-blurring performances taking place across the festival’s ten stages was a powerful reminder of jazz's enduring legacy.
Adjacent to our exhibition, we hosted a bustling pop-up version of the Jazz Hub Pre-Loved Store. Staffed by our dedicated volunteers, the shop was a treasure trove for collectors, offering a curated selection of rare vintage vinyl, CDs, and essential jazz books. It was a joy to see young enthusiasts and veteran crate-diggers alike discovering hidden gems, with all proceeds directly supporting our ongoing mission to preserve the art and heritage of British jazz.
This collaboration marked a significant step in our commitment to "taking the Archive out of the cupboard and into the community," as noted by our CEO, Mark Kass. By participating in the festival’s new conference element alongside partners like Tomorrow's Warriors, we were able to share our historical resources with those actively shaping the future of the UK scene.
We want to thank everyone who visited our stand and look forward to seeing you at our next event, 21st Century Miles Davis Celebrating 100 years of Miles Davis, on 26th May 2026