Soweto Kinch: Soundtrack to the Apocalypse
Thursday 13 November 2025 • 8pm
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Soweto Kinch orch Ben Palmer
Soundtrack to the Apocalypse
Ben Palmer conductor
Soweto Kinch saxophone & vocals
Louis Hamilton-Foad kit
Francis Mott vocals
Rick Simpson piano
Josh Vadiveloo bass
London Symphony Orchestra
Please note that this performance will be accompanied by visual images of military conflict (both historical and current), slavery, political rallies, protests and violence, which some audience members may find upsetting.
The concert will finish at approximately 9.25pm (timings subject to change). Please note that there will be no interval.
Tickets
£35 £26 £18
+ £4 booking fee per online/phone transaction
Wildcard Tickets
£12/£16 + booking fee as above
Check availability and book
Limited releases throughout the season. Guaranteed entry, but your seat is only allocated on the day. Full details
Other Discounts
Save when booking multiple concerts. Discounts also available for young people, students, groups, and Barbican Access Members. Full details
The Concert
The saxophonist, rapper and composer Soweto Kinch presents the final instalment of a trilogy of works in collaboration with the LSO, which began with The Black Peril in 2019 and White Juju in 2021, both as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival.
Having represented views of the past and present, Soundtrack to the Apocalypse pushes into speculative territory – a futuristic meditation on collapse and renewal. Apocalyptic visions collide with spiritual reflection and cutting-edge sonic experimentation. The piece features Kinch’s first use of the aerophone (electronic saxophone) and a hip hop-inspired sequence of short, high-impact tracks, mirroring the fractured, scroll-speed rhythm of contemporary life.
‘Despite the title, this isn’t about doom,’ Kinch explains. ‘The Greek root of ‘apocalypse’ means ‘to unveil’. This show is about revealing – not just what’s wrong, but what might still be possible.’
Pre-Concert
6.30-7pm Freestage, Level G
Members of the Create Perform ensemble perform their first exclusively jazz set, devised alongside students from Guildhall’s Orchestral Artistry and Jazz courses, LSO musicians and creative leader Mark Withers.
The group used a range of stimuli to make the pieces, some of which were initiated by the jazz students – using strong rhythmic patterns, riffs experimenting with open and closed sounds, extreme pitch restriction as well as an improvisation on Wild, Wild Mountain Thyme and exploration of a riff from Soweto Kinch himself.
Download the Large Print Programme
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Booking and Discounts
Box Office Information
Online at lso.co.uk or barbican.org.uk
By phone on +44 20 7870 2500 (Monday to Friday 12–5.30pm)
In person at the Barbican Centre (no booking fee)
Members of the Barbican’s Access Scheme can book wheelchair places priced at the lowest price for that event and book a free companion seat. Join the Barbican Access Scheme.
Contact the Barbican Box Office at tickets@barbican.org.uk.
Visit the Barbican website for conditions of sale.
All discounts are subject to availability and may not be combined.
Contact the Box Office at least 24 hours before the performance (two weeks for group bookings) to exchange your tickets for another LSO concert or Barbican credit voucher, valid for twelve months. A per-ticket administration fee applies.
The LSO reserves the right to change artists or programmes if necessary. In the unlikely event of a cancellation, all bookers will receive a refund.
Offers and Savings
Book 2 or 3 concerts, save 10%
Book 4 to 7 concerts, save 20%
Book 8 to 11 concerts, save 30%
Book 12 or more concerts, save 40%
Retain your discount for any later bookings within the season. Find out more about Multibuy Discounts.
£12 or £16 (£12 or £15 for Half Six Fix concerts), plus booking fee. Check availability using the Wildcard link in the Tickets section above. On the concert night, show your Wildcard order email at the Stalls box office to receive a valid ticket worth at least £18 (£15 for Half Six Fix). Not available for LSO Discovery Family Concerts or concerts at LSO St Luke’s. Find out more about Wildcards.
18 and under*: £6 tickets, plus booking fee. Book online, by phone or in person.
14–25s: Join Young Barbican for discounted tickets to selected concerts.
Full-time students: Join Student Pulse for £10 tickets to selected LSO concerts.
* Evening and Half Six Fix concerts are recommended for ages 12+
Save 20% to 30% and enjoy additional benefits. Find out more about group booking.
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Header Image © Soweto Kinch
