Sun Ra Arkestra
Union Chapel, Islington, London.Unreserved Pew Seating
For all information relating to accessibility please visit the venue website here = https://unionchapel.org.uk/accessibility
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. We cannot issue refunds to under 16s who are not accompanied by an adult.
More information about Sun Ra Arkestra tickets
When Sun Ra passed away in 1993, the Arkestra did not fade into history. Saxophonist John Gilmore became the first to carry the mantle of leadership; while after his death, the torch was passed to Marshall Allen, who continues to steer the ensemble today - well beyond his 100th birthday. With the same spirit that defined its earliest years, the Arkestra still tours the globe: Seriousness and virtuosity exist side by side with humour; dance becomes ritual, and spirituality remains at the heart of it all.
Longtime bandleader Marshall Allen now shares the musical direction of the Arkestra with veteran saxophonist Knoel Scott. While Allen continues to lead the band in the United States, he is unable to travel overseas due to his remarkable advanced age (turning 102years on May 2026). Since 2021, Knoel Scott has been responsible for the musical direction of the Arkestra's international concerts.
The Arkestra continues to move forward as a true spirit band, maintaining a disciplined practice devoted to the study, exploration, and further development of Sun Ra's precepts. Under the guidance of Marshall Allen and Knoel Scott, the spirit of Sun Ra remains alive and vibrant in the current incarnation of the Sun Ra Arkestra, presenting a powerful blend of classic Sun Ra compositions and arrangements alongside Allen's own works, all deeply rooted in Sun Ra's visionary legacy.
Sun Ra Arkestra - the most-exciting jazz ensemble in the world return to Union Chapel in June 2026, presented by Dictionary Pudding Promotions
Legendary and visionary musician-composer Sun Ra founded his Arkestra in the 1950s. But this was never merely a 'backing band' - it was a fully-formed universe. With a constantly changing line-up - anchored by a few key figures yet defined by continual arrivals and departures - the Arkestra released more than fifty albums, each propelled by the same all-encompassing musical curiosity. Swing, free jazz, Afro jazz, cosmic jazz and electronica merged into one another, infused with experimentation, avant-garde thinking, new instruments and the rising philosophy of Afrofuturism.
When Sun Ra passed away in 1993, the Arkestra did not fade into history. Saxophonist John Gilmore became the first to carry the mantle of leadership; while after his death, the torch was passed to Marshall Allen, who continues to steer the ensemble today - well beyond his 100th birthday. With the same spirit that defined its earliest years, the Arkestra still tours the globe: Seriousness and virtuosity exist side by side with humour; dance becomes ritual, and spirituality remains at the heart of it all.