Tickets

Safiya Joscelyne and Nils Kavanagh

Intimate, evocative and expressive music – a great mix of originals and new takes on jazz standards

0	ASHBURTON: Arts Centre (info)
P	Wednesday 1st April, 2026
N	Door time: 7:00pm Start time: 7:30pm
.	All ages
C	Music - Jazz/latin

Event information

Vocalist Safiya Joscelyne and award-winning pianist Nils Kavanagh form a jazz duo performing originals, reimagined standards, and songs they love. Their music is intimate, evocative, and expressive, unfolding through improvised dialogue that feels like a beautifully organic conversation.

Graduates of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Safiya and Nils have been playing together since day one – developing a deep musical connection built on years of collaboration, trust, and listening.

Safiya grew up in Broadhempston and was at South Dartmoor School here in Ashburton, so she is especially pleased to perform for local audiences and reconnect through the music that has shaped her journey. As a teenager she took part in a workshop here at Ashburton arts Centre with Liane Carroll. It was clear then that she had a great talent – it's wonderful to see that this has been honed and developed and she's now emerging on to the British jazz scene as part of a new cohort of fabulous musicians.

Nils won the first Young Irish Jazz Musician of the Year competition in 2022, and in 2024 was one of four finalists in the BBC Young Jazz Musician 2024. You can hear more of his music at https://nilskavanagh.bandcamp.com/

Fresh from releasing his acclaimed debut album No Expectations, Nils brings his poetic storytelling and Irish-Scandinavian influences to the duo, while Safiya’s soulful voice and lyrical sensitivity make each performance a deeply personal experience. Together they create an introspective atmosphere, where audience attention becomes part of the poignant intimacy itself.

Ashburton Arts Centre
Always three prices – please pay what you can. Pay less, come to more! See Access, Tickets & Finding Us for more about why there are three ticket prices, plus other useful info about coming to events at Ashburton Arts Centre.

Level access from street – please contact us on boxoffice@ashburtonarts.org.uk if a wheelchair space is needed, or if you have any other special requirements.