Omar and Zara McFarlane: opening night gala show

Our festival kicks off with a jaw-dropping double-headline show featuring jazz vocal sensation Zara McFarlane and legendary singer Omar. Blurring the lines between jazz, reggae, nu-soul and soul, we'll be sharing in a memorable evening with 2 of the UK's finest voices.

About our artists

Omar Lye-Fook MBE is without doubt one of the greatest soul music talents the United Kingdom has produced in the last 40 years. The list of artists with whom he's collaborated is eye-watering... from Stevie Wonder, the late Leon Ware, Erykah Badu, and Common, through to Carleen Anderson, D’Angelo, and Soul II Soul’s Caron Wheeler. And that's not to mention Courtney Pine, Rodney P, Kele LeRoc, Natasha Watts and Estelle. Omar possesses a truly original and unique voice, alongside enviable musicianship and songwriting talent.

Multi-award winning singer-songwriter Zara McFarlane, is the UK’s Black British foremost jazz vocalist. Eloquent and provocative, her sound is distinguished by her melding of multiple influences from jazz, reggae, folk and nu-soul. She won a MOBO back in 2014 and since then has twice won Jazz FM's Vocalist of the Year.

We cannot wait to welcome Zara and Omar to our stage as we launch this year's Watford Jazz Junction.

Tickets (early bird-priced at £22.50 until 28 February and then £26) are available directly via the Watford Palace Theatre website. Or call the box office on 01923 225 671.

Line-ups (expected):

Omar

Omar Lye-Fook - Vocals/keys

Lennox Cameron - Keys

Gordon Mulrain - Bass

Westley Joseph - Drums

Tony Remy - Guitar

Jim Hunt - Sax

Shanti Jayasingha - Trumpet

Management for Omar: Lucia Fiore (Manager) & Monique 0'Neil (Assistant)

Zara

Zara McFarlane - Vocals

Renato Paris – Keys

Jihad Darwish – Bass

George Bird – Drums

Management for Zara: Harmonic Artists