Marsden Jazz: The Exu Ticket

Friday 9 October 8pm @ The Tap

We're thrilled to have the brilliant Dave Kane + The Exu as our opening act of Marsden Jazz Festival! It's going to be an exceptional start to the weekend!

Digital ticket only. Pls retain your order confirmation.

Dave Kane actually set our socks on fire in the Zapato Jazz Tent before both with his Magic Ya Ya Band and The Exu, so we're delighted to welcome him back for 2026!

This time it's The Exu opening the weekend, bringing together Irish bassist Dave Kane, British saxophonist James Mainwaring and Norwegian drummer Emil Karlsen.

Drawing inspiration from Leeds' vibrant jazz and improvised music scene, as well as grunge, death metal, hip hop, bebop, the trio's sound fuses jazz and improvisation with infectious hooks and edgy rock elements. 

So join us for a brilliant, unpredictable and glorious start to the weekend!

The Exu takes its name and artistic approach from neo-expressionist New York artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and his painting "Exu". The name references the trickster psychopomp deity from the Yoruba religion, a patron of boundaries and travellers, invoked during crucial decision-making and responsible for guiding souls to the afterlife. Basquiat's Exu symbolises chaos and a disregard for codified rules and conventional behaviour.