Lagos to Longbenton

Lagos to Longbenton are a Newcastle-based Afrobeat and jazz-fusion collective exploring the space between loose improvisation and tight, propulsive grooves. Their music draws strongly on the rhythmic language of Fela Kuti while leaving plenty of room for the individual players to push the arrangements in different directions.

The group’s live sound is built around movement: swinging percussion, repeated grooves and ensemble interplay give the music the feel of a dance band without making the performances rigid. That balance between structure and improvisation gives Lagos to Longbenton a distinctive place in Newcastle’s current live scene.

An October 2026 appearance at Pilgrim pairs the collective with Citrus for a local funk-fusion double bill, bringing two groove-led North East acts together in a setting that should suit the band’s energetic, rhythm-first approach particularly well.