We draw our influences from the Caribbean, Brazil, Africa and New Orleans. Our achievements include: performances at Notting Hill Carnival, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, London Jazz Festival; performing for Nelson Mandela who called us “enchanting”; representing the UK at Beijing Olympic Festival and leading Team GB in the 2012 Olympic Victory Parade; Collaborating with Mercury Prize Winners Ezra Collective at Glastonbury and The Royal Albert Hall; starring on BBC 1 Xtra and BBC Radio 3; recording our debut album Legacy and performing our own second-line in New Orleans.
Kinetika Bloco has existed since 2000 and was established as a charity in June 2010. We are a Creative Learning partner at Southbank Centre and an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.
Our Team
At Kinetika Bloco we have an amazing team that works hard to help us create our unique sound, dance and costume. We are passionate about growing our own leaders and 75% of our team are alumni of Kinetika Bloco.
We have a team of management staff and freelance creatives who work together to lead the family!
Office Team
Tamzyn French
Tamzyn has managed Kinetika Bloco since 2004. As CEO she is responsible for the overall direction and strategy of the organisation, taking on fundraising, finance, team management, collaboration project and leads the Senior Summer School.
Email: [email protected]
Shayanna Dyer-Harris
Shayanna has been in Kinetika Bloco since its inception! She manages our education work and performances alongside the Junior Summer School, Southbank Sessions and the Leadership Programme. She also keeps her hand in teaching DrumSquad every now and then!
Email: [email protected]
Aneira Jenkins
Aneira joined Kinetika Bloco in 2012 as a saxophonist after completing her music degree at LCCM and came on staff in 2021. She now manages development, fundraising and operations whilst also project managing Tulse Hill Bloco and projects with a mental health and wellbeing focus.
Email: [email protected]
Khush Quiney
Khush joined Kinetika Bloco in 2015 playing alto saxophone before joining the team in 2022. She manages our website, branding, social media, communications and engagement with young people on our Youth Board, Leadership Programme and other Bloco activities.
Email: [email protected]
Creative Team
Mat Fox RIP
Mat was our founder and Musical Director from 2000 until he passed away in 2014. He was the inspiration that developed our style and culture, and he is in our hearts and our groove forever.
Alana Curtis
Alana joined Kinetika Bloco in 2009 as a drummer and worked her way up to leader. She is a professional freelance musician and has her own band “Intimate Friends”.
Andre Johnson
Andre joined us in 2013 and leads on many of our regular school workshops. He gained a music degree from SOAS in 2018, is a dab hand on Tabla and a variety of Brazilian percussion. And could also lead the dance section if he wanted!
Andy Grappy
Andy is one of the UK’s most loved Tuba players, he performs regularly with the London Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Jamaica. He is Head of Southwark Music Service Saturday centre and has also been with Kinetika Bloco since we began.
Carolyn Ebanks
Carolyn has worked with us since 2003 as an artist helping to create our costumes. Her skills span the spectrum from digital arts to silversmithing. She also teaches in schools in London.
Claude Deppa
Claude came to London from Cape Town in 1975 and is one of the finest jazz trumpet players in the country. He has been with us since the beginning and also plays with Grand Union Orchestra amongst others. Claude Deppa – Wikipedia
Iola Weir
Iola has been making us all look beautiful with her costumes since 2002. She is a skilled costume and puppet designer working with many carnival companies to bring creations to life.
Keiran Pearson
KP joined us as a participant in 2013 and graduated from the Institute of Contemporary Music in 2016. He has toured nationally in theatre and bands and runs some of our school workshops.
Kyle “Sir” McInnis
Kyle (aka Sir!) joined us as a participant in 2005 and served on the Board in our early days as a charity. He has a master’s in education and is Head of Performing Arts in a secondary school. Kyle plays Tuba and tours and performs in various bands.
Leon Hazlewood
Leon trained at the London Studio Centre and was one of the original jazz tap dancers in Riverdance! He has been leading our dance section with a phenomenal amount of energy since 2010.
Lesley-Ann Halls
Lesley-Ann has been designing our costumes since 2010. Born and raised in the culturally rich country of Trinidad and Tobago, her exposure and love of carnival is visible in her design. She always makes us look and feel special.
Mark Kavuma
Mark joined Kinetika Bloco in 2005 as a young trumpeter. He is one of London’s greatest jazz musicians, touring internationally and setting up the brilliant Banger Factory. Recently he established Banger Factory Record Label and recorded and released our debut album. Mark Kavuma
Marlon Hibbert
Marlon has been in the Kinetika Bloco family since 2012. He is founder and MD of Endurance and recently graduated the Jazz Course at Guildhall on Steel Pan. He teaches in schools and plays pan professionally. Marlon Hibbert Steelpan Soloist | London (marlonrhibbert.com)
Millie John
Millie joined Kinetika Bloco in secondary school and just completed an Internship with us. We now employ her to lead Steel Pans working in schools, on Tulse Hill Bloco and our Southbank Sessions. She loves it when you use her full name.
Misha Fox
Misha has been involved with Kinetika Bloco since the beginning! And now he leads our brass section and recently has been working on our social action projects in schools. Wherever he is working in Kinetika Bloco you can be sure everyone is having fun!
Richie Seivwright
Richie joined Kinetika Bloco at secondary school and has returned recently to help lead the Brass section and some school workshops. Richie is an amazing trombone player and singer, touring internationally and collaborating widely.
Richard “Fresh-Richi” Haynes
Richi joined us in 2003 as a young drummer, then trombonist and now he takes our photos! He also supports us with volunteering and fundraising through his professional role and insane generosity!
Ruben Fox
Following in his father’s footsteps Ruben helps to lead Kinetika Bloco and works between London and New York, playing Tenor Saxophone with Mwenso and The Shakes, Banger Factory and many others. Introducing Ruben Fox | Ruben Fox (bandcamp.com)
Sam “Blue” Agard
Sam started drumming in 1987 and hasn’t stopped since! He has toured as a drummer with Paloma Faith, Pro Green and Plan B whilst also educating young people across London, leading our Bateria since 2004.
Scarlett Stewart
Scarlett is a music graduate and multi-instrumentalist – singing, playing keys, saxophone and steel pan. She works with us now as a workshop leader helping mostly in social action projects. She always brings her special energy to our projects.
“Uncle” Wade Austin
“Uncle Wade” joined the family in 2014 to lead our Pan section. He is director of Steel Pan Fusion a super pan fusion band that takes steel pan to the world. He is a passionate advocate for the Pan and he is our loudest team member! Steel Pan Fusion
Our Trustees
Nicholai La Barrie
Nicholai is a theatre and film director, Artistic Associate at Lyric Hammersmith, and has been a MOBO Fellow. He has worked with us since 2006 back on Ti- Jean and His Brothers!
“I am so honoured to be Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees of Kinetika Bloco, it is unique in its ability to create a community and a family of some of the most talented young musicians in South London. I am so proud of the work we do.”
Katherine Goulding
Katherine is Head of Learning and Development at Citadel in New York. She has been on the Board since 2014, lending her expertise to the Leadership Programme as a facilitator since then. She is passionate about equipping and inspiring the next generation of young leaders.
Catherine Boyd
Catherine is the Arts and Events Manager for Tower Hamlets Council and has worked in the sector for over 20 years. Catherine is committed to making culture available to everyone. In 2001, whilst working for the Thames Festival, she helped us to set up our first ever summer school at the Bargehouse and in 2014 joined our board.
Yolanda Mercy
Yolanda is Kinetika Bloco alumni having been a dancer with us back in the mid 2000’s. She is a London based writer and performer for stage, screen and audio working worldwide. She was named Artist to Watch by the British Council and her writing has featured in the Huffington Post. She joined the Board in 2021.
Tikhoze Banda
Tikhoze is a payment strategist with experience in supporting merchants currently working at Spotify. Through siblings who have been in Kinetika Bloco she has seen firsthand the empowerment we can provide young people and is proud to join the Board to help us continue this. She also facilitates around CV and interview skills on the Leadership Programme.
Laura Murden
Laura has been supporting Kinetika Bloco for almost 10 years helping us with marketing and fundraising and now facilitating on the Leadership Programme. She joined the Board in 2021 and brings skills from the commercial business world having worked for a variety of tech and music companies from Roli to Tom Tom.
Kathryn Ogunbona
Kathy (FCCA) is a financial controller and qualified accountant. She has been a Trustee for many years and continues to steer Bloco in the right direction. She lends her financial skills to the team as well as facilitating on the Leadership Programme and helping the next generation think about their finances.
Helen Firminger
Helen joined as a Trustee in 2021. She is a parent to one of our Bloco young people and brings this wisdom and experience to the Board. She is an ecologist and a professional consultant fundraiser for charities and local authorities, also bringing her skills in this area.
Our Family
Join Us
Join Kinetika Bloco and become part of London's vibrant youth music community. Unleash your musical talent, forge lifelong friendships, and contribute to the unique British Carnival sound that defines our city.
Support Us
Stand with us as we inspire the next generation of musicians. Your contribution helps us to nurture talent, foster creativity, and build a stronger, harmonious community.
Book Us
From festivals and school workshops to corporate events, our talented youth performers bring a touch of Carnival sound to every occasion. Book Kinetika Bloco and let the rhythm of London resonate with your audience.
Exclusive Events
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