New York, long considered a rich melting pot of Blues, Jazz, Klezmer and Gypsy fusions and rhythms often originally from Eastern Europe, France and Spain, will for this Independence Day special, provide the backdrop. Featuring both spoken word and music, Joff Watkins keeps it hot on chromatic harmonica, multi-award-winning Polish violinist Kamila Bydlowska, more often found as concerto soloist, dazzles with her incredible agility and prowess and our local US ex-pat music-making actor Nathan Osgood impresses on guitar and vocals, both sung and spoken, the latter of which you might have come across in film, radio or the stage.

Born in Slupca, central Poland into a family of non-musicians, Kamila started to play the violin aged 7 and went on to study on a full scholarship at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, USA and at the Royal College of Music in London. Kamila made the first ever recordings of the Violin Concertos by the 20^th Century British composers William Wordsworth and Arnold Griller with Liepaja Symphony Orchestra (Latvia) released in 2019 and 2021. She has also recently recorded Bruch, Sibelius, Bartok as well as Szymanowski, Arnold, Ethel Smyth. She has appeared in venues and festivals in Europe, Asia and America.

Joff is one of the U.K.’s foremost harmonica players. He is known for his outstanding playing on both chromatic and diatonic harmonicas. He has played sessions for many artists, appeared on radio many times including BBC Radio 2,3,4 and 6 and performed in venues in the U.K. and Europe.  Joff has just released the album “Well Boss” with his band Jimmy Regal and the Royals.

Nathan is an Anglo American musician & actor. He plays a percussive style guitar with roots in bluegrass and jazz. As an actor he is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4.

There will be a cash bar at the church. Doors open 7pm. The church is a short walk from Rotherhithe Overground Station on the Windrush Line.

For disabled access, there is a ramp via the adjacent church hall. It would help us if you can contact us in advance should you need that.