Rivkala Returns to Pilgrim With Full Band Headline Show
Newcastle-based jazz and soul artist Rivkala headlines Pilgrim with her full band on 18 September, supported by Glasgow's Becca Sloan.
Rivkala at Pilgrim Newcastle gives one of the city’s most distinctive jazz and soul artists a full-band headline slot on Friday 18 September 2026. Doors are at 7.30pm, with Glasgow neo-soul and R&B artist Becca Sloan opening the night.
Why Rivkala at Pilgrim Newcastle matters
Rivkala is born in Manchester and based in Newcastle, and her current live work goes well beyond a conventional jazz set. Her six-piece band blends jazz, soul, funk and klezmer while the songs move through subjects including gender, wealth inequality and mental health. That mix of serious themes, sharp writing and theatrical presentation is what makes this Pilgrim date more interesting than a straightforward hometown headline.
The show also arrives with a strong run of live experience behind her. Rivkala’s official biography lists appearances connected to the BBC Proms, Manchester Jazz Festival, the MOBO fringe festival and the SXSW Roadshow. She has also supported Postmodern Jukebox at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, so the Pilgrim date places an artist used to bigger stages into a much tighter Newcastle room.
That should suit the way the material works. Rivkala’s performances are built around character as much as musicianship, with cabaret, storytelling and social commentary sitting alongside the grooves. Her current world includes the theatrical project Crushed Velvet and the recurring presence of her lamp, Lucille, giving the live show a visual identity as well as a musical one.
Becca Sloan adds another angle to the bill. Pilgrim identifies her as a Glasgow neo-soul and R&B artist, so the support slot keeps the night close to the same broad musical territory without simply duplicating the headline set.
Rivkala at Pilgrim Newcastle takes place on Friday 18 September, with doors at 7.30pm. The event is listed as 14+, with under-18s required to be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are £10 through Pilgrim’s official event listing.
As always, check Pilgrim and the artist channels before travelling in case timings or event details change.
