By CLTure
October 9, 2026
Leon Bridges has announced a 2027 tour following the release of his new album, Happiness Anytime, with a stop in Charlotte on July 16 at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre featuring London-based jazz and Afrobeat collective Kokoroko.
Bridges’ new album released in September was co-produced by J Lloyd and Lydia Kitto of British funk, soul, disco and electronic pop band Jungle, best known for their international hit “Back on 74.” The album marks a dance-floor-minded shift for the Grammy-winning soul singer, trading much of the mellow, soul for a more rhythmic blend of funk, neo-soul, Latin grooves, Afrobeat and retro R&B, driven by breezy, danceable rhythms.
According to the official press release, the stage production for the tour, billed as “Leon Bridges Presents Happiness Anytime,” will feature a vinyl DJ, horn section and backing vocalists. Inspired in part by the communal spirit of classic Jamaican dancehall culture, the performances will reflect the album’s emphasis on movement.
The Fort Worth, Texas, native has become one of the defining voices in modern soul, breaking through with his platinum-certified debut album, Coming Home. His follow-up, Good Thing, earned a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand,” and he has also released two collab EPs with psychedelic rock, funk and soul trio Khruangbin: Texas Sun (2020) and Texas Moon (2022).
Kokoroko, the Afrobeat, jazz, funk and soul collective, has emerged as a standout act in contemporary British jazz, gaining international attention with their 2018 track “Abusey Junction.” The group followed with their acclaimed self-titled EP in 2019 before releasing their debut album, Could We Be More, in 2022.
Praised for their fusion of traditional African rhythms and contemporary jazz, the collective has performed at Glastonbury, released their sophomore album, Tuff Times Never Last, in 2025, and appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk the same year.
Artist presale begins Tuesday, October 13 at 10 a.m., with tickets going on sale to the public Friday, October 16 at 10 a.m.
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