The Mercury-nominated drummer and composer behind Polar Bear, whose restless, genre-defying music has shaped British jazz for more than two decades.
Seb Rochford is one of British music's most inventive drummers, composers and producers. Born in Aberdeen, he first made his name leading Polar Bear, the boundary-blurring jazz group he formed in 2003, whose albums Held on the Tips of Fingers (2005) and In Each and Every One (2014) both earned Mercury Prize nominations. A founding member of Sons of Kemet, he has since become one of the most in-demand players around, lending his distinctive touch to work with Brian Eno, Grace Jones, Patti Smith and Damon Albarn's Africa Express.
In 2023 he released A Short Diary, an intimate ECM duo album with pianist Kit Downes, written in memory of his father, the Aberdeen poet Gerard Rochford. On Finding Ways he turns to the guitar, layering up to three at once alongside players including Adrian Utley of Portishead and Simon Tong of The Verve, for a raw, experimental sound mixed by Tchad Blake. Restless, emotional and hard to pin down, it's music that always feels vividly alive.
The event is taking place at Metronome Nottingham, Nottingham. See individual listings for full venue details.
Tickets go on sale on Tuesday 18th August 2026 at 10:00am.
Ticket prices may vary depending on venue and location. Full pricing details are available on each individual event page.
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