Olympia Vitalis

• Gent Jazz
  Saturday 11•July•2026
  18:30•

Olympia Vitalis may not be a household name just yet — but her appearance at Gent Jazz is set to change that. Raised in London and heavily influenced by her time spent singing in gospel choirs from an early age, Olympia has developed a voice that is warm, powerful and strikingly versatile. With a natural sense of timing and idiosyncratic phrasing, Vitalis effortlessly embraces a wide emotional spectrum — from the raw vulnerability of Amy Winehouse, and the power of Aretha Franklin, to the edginess and narrative intensity of Nas and Kendrick Lamar.

With her debut EP People Watching, released last year, Vitalis has established herself as a sharp and perceptive songwriter, who draws on personal observations, while effortlessly opening herself up to the wider world around her. Her music feels intimate, yet never introverted. This has not gone unnoticed by the BBC, with airplay on Radio 1, a stand-out COLORS performance, and a rapidly growing reputation through her live performances. On stage, everything converges — her dynamic voice, her vivid storytelling and her undeniable sincerity. Or as Clash Music puts it: "There's a jazz-tinge to her modern soul palette, one that radiates with a sense of wisdom beyond her years."

Line-up

        Stephen Reid - Keys

        Nathan Dawkins - Bass

        Thomas Potter - Drums

        Olympia Vitalis - Vocal

For fans of: Cleo Sol, Lianne La Havas, Erykah Badu, Baby Rose