SHOW'S OVER

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Last Show: Thursday 13 ^th July 2023

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

With Congolese and Argentinian roots and as the niece of rumba giant Franco, Juanita Euka boasts a unique music palette, fusing her African and Latin heritage to become one of the mainstays in London’s vibrant live music scene. In 2011 Juanita joined Wara as the lead singer of the band, where she began working with bandleader Eliane Correa. Eliane also invited Juanita to front the Eli y la Evolución Cuban salsa band for a residency Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s in London’s Soho. Wara’s 2013 UK dates to support their politically charged ‘Leave To Remain’ album broke new ground musically, and included a packed launch date at London’s Jazz Café. In 2017, Juanita won the LUKAS award (Latin UK Awards) for Best Latin Vocalist Of The Year. Juanita also began working with open-minded Latin and Afro band Animanz for live shows and their ‘Exotic Other’ album, released on Tru Thoughts in 2018. She has since become an integral member of London Afrobeat Collective, touring across Europe and recording their 2019 album “HUMANS”.

In 2020, Juanita recorded her first solo track ‘Alma Seca’ which quickly led to a live appearance performing the song in series 3 of blockbuster TV series ‘Killing Eve’.

Landing a debut album deal with Strut Records, Juanita can now bring together all of the pieces of her musical outlook, drawing on elements of African and Latin styles, hip hop, soul and jazz, to create her own unique musical palette.

On the 25th of March 2022 Juanita Euka made her debut solo breakthrough and released her debut album ‘Mabanzo’ which means ‘Thoughts’ in Lingala. The album was recorded during lockdown in 2020, produced by guitarist & musical director Greg Sanders.

Major live appearances to date have included headline shows at the London Latin Jazz Festival at Pizza Express Soho, & opening for Elton John at the British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park.

In 2022 Juanita also presented her album with full-band live performances in Poland at Siesta Festival in Gdansk & the human rights and feminist festival ‘Les Creatives’ in Geneva, Switzerland.

In early 2023 Juanita recorded and live-streamed a full-band show at 5DB studios in West London.

Juanita is continuing to develop her solo career, she will perform in summer 2023 at Africa International Festival, Wurzburg in Germany & Tropical Pressure festival in Cornwall. Juanita will be releasing a collaborative EP with Animanz in May 2023, and touring with London Afrobeat Collective across Europe & the UK.

Band Line Up

Juanita Euka (vocals)
Greg Sanders (guitar)
Richie Sweet(drums)
Will Fry (percussion)
Alley Lloyd (bass)
Gareth Buckland (keys)
Ashild Bjorkeng Haugen (backing vocals)
Simone Miller (backing vocals)
Robin Porter (tenor sax)
Graeme Flowers (trumpet)