Ronnie Scott’s will mark the 100th anniversary of its founder’s birth with a series of special events in London in January 2027, including an intimate members’ celebration at the Soho jazz club and a major concert at the Barbican.
Born in East London on 28 January 1927, Ronnie Scott became one of the leading figures in British jazz as a tenor saxophonist, bandleader and advocate for musicians. He co-founded Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club with fellow saxophonist Pete King in 1959, creating a venue that would become an important part of London’s music history.
Centenary celebrations begin at Ronnie Scott’s
The centenary programme begins on Wednesday 27 January 2027 with an exclusive party at Ronnie Scott’s in Soho.
The event will be limited to 100 members and will feature a live band alongside surprise guest appearances, giving attendees an intimate way to begin the centenary celebrations.
Scott’s influence on British jazz extended well beyond his own performances. After opening the club with King, he helped establish a space where international jazz legends and emerging musicians could perform in London.
Over the decades, the venue has hosted artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Nina Simone, alongside more recent acts such as Robert Glasper, Ezra Collective and Jacob Collier.
Barbican concert brings generations together
The main centenary event takes place on Thursday 28 January at the Barbican.
Ronnie Scott’s 100th Birthday: A Celebration In Concert is presented in association with Serious and will be led by Artistic Director James Pearson and the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars.
The one-off concert brings together musicians from different generations of the British and international jazz scenes.
The confirmed lineup includes Art Themen, John Etheridge, Orphy Robinson, Camilla George, Daniel Casimir, Mark Kavuma and Joe Webb.
They will be joined by special guests Mica Paris, Curtis Stigers and Omar Puente, with more artists still to be announced.
Celebrating Ronnie Scott’s musical legacy
The Barbican concert will combine live performances with rare historic film and archive footage, offering a look at both Scott’s career as a musician and the history of the club he helped create.
From its beginnings as a basement venue in Soho, Ronnie Scott’s grew into an internationally recognised jazz institution, with generations of musicians passing through its stage.
The centenary programme will celebrate Scott’s contribution to British jazz while also highlighting the musicians and community that have shaped the venue throughout more than six decades.
