Everybody Loves Jazz…Kansas Smitty’s Bar, Hackney, East London.

Choi David
Aug 25, 2017 · 3 min read

I been going to my roommate Giacomo’s bar, Kansas Smitty’s, more often these past few weeks. It’s a great little basement club in Broadway Market in Hackney, and they’re a host to probably one of the best live jazz music in London. From time to time, Giacomo will bring his band, which also doubles as the house band, appropriately named Kansas Smitty’s, to host a night. This usually means the bar will be jammed pack with people all the way outside the door, and it’s a guarantee that you’d be shoulder to shoulder, sweating through your attire. Whether that’s your scene or not, Kansas Smitty’s is a ‘real’ jazz club in the sense that the people that come through come for the music. Its cozy, low ceiling basement, lit by candle lights is an atmosphere on its own, and their award winning specialty julep cocktails are a delight. Live music events are hosted by local musicians carefully curated by the Kansas Smitty’s team from Wednesday to Sunday, 5 days a week. Although big headliners will result in a sweaty jazzed filled sauna as described above, but low key nights are a casual hang sipping on cocktails with your friends in a cool basement with live music. If you’re in the neighbourhood, or visiting London looking for a sweet spot to hang and listen to live music, Kansas Smitty’s in Broadway Market will fulfill all of your expectations.

Below are some photos I managed to capture this month. I will continue to cover live music events happening at Kansas Smitty’s and other places around the world. (But mostly Kansas Smitty’s, since I get that freebie love from my roommate ;) ) On Monday, I’m traveling to Kazakhstan for work, where I will try to cover a few jazz gigs there as well. Anyway, stick around as I’ll be back to blogging covering music, art, and culture as I did back in Bedstuy, Brokelon.

Peace to the Middle East,

Dini out.

Joe Webb and Kourosh Kanani, Just Duet event at Kansas Smitty’s, August 4th, 2017
Giacomo Smith and Dave Archer, The Shed event at Kansas Smitty’s, August 3rd, 2017
Kansas Smitty’s House Band, Basement Tapes event, August 16th, 2017
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Choi David

Written by

A photographer in London. www.choidavid.com

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