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ALEX CARR

@actheduchess

6.5K

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2945

following

•Head of Music @kokocamden
•Jazz Programmer @cheltfestivals
•Founder @amplifysounds

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🎉Huge congrats to our partner @blackmusiccoalition and all their Excellence Honourees 2026!

🔥Super proud to see previous POWER UP Participants Alex Carr, Eric Hunter and Kemi Davies in the list!

📰Head over to @musicweekinsta for the full story!

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On The @voices_radio Breakfast Show this morning I was joined by @actheduchess the new Head of Music at the iconic @kokocamden 📻

We spoke about Alex’s role, her journey in the music industry & how the first 4 months have been.

I also played music from:

@the_illusions_band
@nubiyantwist
@indiashan_
@camille.munn
@wearemakez
@gabrieleposo
@crackazat
@alexander_flood
@damswindle
@allysha_joy
@atjazzofficial

Listen back on Mixcloud if ya missed it!

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A yearly homecoming I always look forward to: European Jazz Conference ♥️

440 delegates from 38 countries, 14 showcase concerts, and countless inspiring conversations, brainstorming sessions and talks.

This year’s theme, “Who We Are, What We Stand For,” was a good reminder to pause for a moment and reconnect with what brought us here in the first place, in this crazily beautiful jazz world.

Until next year! 💫

Vegan scrambled egg 🌱

Lots of vegan options at the conference dinner, including desserts — is it my birthday or what

Exploring @kompaktrecords world, thanks to @harunizer

Long time no see since 2014, right?

Mechatronics

🫧🫧

💫💫

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💫 Last week, we’ve all met in Cologne for the European Jazz Conference, a few intense days of concerts, meetings and discussions. During the General Assembly, I was also re-elected as President of Europe Jazz Network and first of all, I want to thank everyone for your trust 🙏

I can’t hide that I was travelling to Cologne with a heavy head, with many thoughts about the situation in our sector, which is becoming more and more difficult. We all experience moments of doubt, frustration and resignation, myself included.

Like so many of us, I needed hope, motivation and a bit of a kick to keep going.

And I came back from Cologne stronger. Reaussured that I’m surrounded by allies and friends. In the end, what often keeps us going is our passion for music and the community around us.

I also came back convinced that we need to continue because there’s simply too much at stake. I’m not fooling myself that we can save the world. But I do believe we can keep creating spaces where people can regain a sense of meaning, peace and purpose, united by the values of understanding and respect. Spaces that give us strength to face the challenges of our times. 
💫 So what we absolutely need to do is to keep supporting artists, working with our communities, creating and defending these rare spaces where respectful dialogue is still possible. And we need to keep doing it well. 
✨ It was a good one. It was a much-needed one. Thank you ✨
 🙏Once again, a big shout to everyone who contributed to this year’s conference: our hosts (@cologne_jazzweek & @janningt , @stadtgarten_koeln & Kornelia, @monheimtriennale & Reiner), @europejazznet EJN staff (@ciskye77 @gbt64 @discoste ), our EJN Board and the Programming Committee (@annamaijasa Steve Mead @actheduchess @mariarylandermusic @galbanyproduccions @maxvonpretz @__raluca.b @mark_van_schaick Photos by @_niclasweber_ 🙏

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WCW 🖤 | ALEX CARR @ACtheDuchess
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Women making moves. Women shaping culture. Women opening doors. 👏🏿✨
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Alex Carr has been appointed Head of Music at @KOKOcamden after an incredible career championing emerging and underrepresented talent.
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She founded @AmplifySounds, worked across Birmingham’s Town Hall & Symphony Hall, programmed contemporary music at the Southbank Centre and continues to work with Cheltenham Jazz Festival. She’s also a broadcaster and the first Black person elected to the board of the European Jazz Network.
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And I LOVE that her work is about more than putting on shows… it’s about who gets heard, who gets opportunities and who gets to shape the music industry.
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Alex, keep going! 🎶🖤
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Representation matters. And so does who gets to programme the culture.
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#WCW #AlexCarr #RepresentationMatters #BlackExcellence

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Who is #blipboi ? Here is a bit of my story so far... #artistprofile #storytime #ripon #northyorkshire

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A major moment for Black British representation in music. Alexandria Carr (@actheduchess) has been appointed Head of Music at KOKO as the iconic Camden venue celebrates its 125th anniversary.

Alexandria’s career has been defined by a commitment to access, representation and community. In 2020, she founded the multi award winning @amplifysounds in Birmingham to champion emerging artists from the Midlands, with a particular focus on women and Black and brown music creators. In its first two years alone, the platform helped more than 80 musicians access live performance opportunities.

She later joined B:Music’s Town Hall and Symphony Hall, where she worked to make its jazz programming more representative across race, gender and age, before moving to London’s Southbank Centre as Contemporary Music Programmer.

Her impact extends beyond the UK. Alexandria became the first Black person elected to the board of the European Jazz Network, where she advocates for greater social inclusion and diversity across the European jazz sector.

And she has already been making her mark at KOKO. In her first three months, Alexandria brought Erykah Badu to the venue for a surprise DJ set, co curated music for KOKO’s Chanel collaboration and delivered a free day festival in partnership with Jazz Re:freshed.

Speaking about the new role, Alexandria described taking the reins at one of London’s most iconic venues during its 125th year as “an incredible privilege.” Her vision is to expand what artists can create at KOKO beyond the traditional live show.

From creating @amplifysounds in Birmingham to helping shape the future of one of London’s most historic music venues, Alexandria’s journey is a powerful reminder of why representation in leadership matters.

Congratulations @actheduchess. This is Black British excellence. 👏🏾🖤

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Don’t wait to be whole.::.Just go 🤍

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📢 Join Our Board of Trustees 📢

Sound Roots is seeking to expand its Board of Trustees to bring a wider range of skills and experience to the organisation.

As @aceagrams's leading organisations creating career pathways into folk, roots and acoustic music, we deliver a wide range of initiatives that nurture artists, connect industry professionals and grow audiences.

These include our flagship events, @manchesterfolk Festival and @englishfolkexpo, as well as artist mentoring, The Folk Album of the Year Award, The Official Folk Albums Chart and more.

If you have a connection to, or a working understanding of, folk music in England and would like to help us nurture a vibrant, inclusive music community for everyone, we would love to hear from you.

We are especially interested in hearing from applicants with expertise in partnerships and networks, music sector knowledge and insight, international development and finance.

We are also particularly keen to receive applications from people from the global majority, LGBTQIA+ people, disabled people, neurodivergent people, working-class people and people with caring responsibilities.

📩 Apply via the Sound Roots website or the @englishfolkexpo bio
📅 Application deadline: Midnight on Sunday 27 September
📷 Photo credit: Fanny Lumsden photographed by @chunkyphoto

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Super honoured to have chaired the Transatlantic Grooves panel at the @bricklanejazzfestival yesterday with greats @garycrosby94 @_emmalwarren_ @sowetokinch and @brian__jackson , who I also happened to interview for @satpaper in Australia ahead of Brian’s May tour there with @yasiinbey .. and he’s playing @villageunderground tonight! 🙌🎶👏🪐🎹

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