Nottingham-based British–Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko returns to Kings Place with a new EP, Dead Bird Dream – a collection of deeply felt modern folk songs that trace a journey through heartache, diaspora and self-acceptance at a time when ideas of belonging and British identity feel constantly in flux. Known for performances that are described as both deeply moving and quietly life-affirming, Matsiko has built a reputation for turning vulnerability into strength, using voice and guitar to hold a room in complete stillness. His songs sit somewhere between modern folk, soul and confessional songwriting, inviting the listener into an intensely personal, but recognisably shared, emotional landscape.
Dead Bird Dream continues the themes that have run through his work to date: the experience of navigating multiple identities, the emotional weight of migration and the ongoing task of finding home within oneself. Matsiko’s fragile yet powerful vocals, intricate guitar textures and searching lyrics give shape to experiences that are often left unspoken. Having drawn high praise from influential broadcasters and DJs across radio and streaming, his work has gradually moved from cult favourite to widely recognised force within contemporary British songwriting.
This Kings Place appearance builds on the momentum of his widely acclaimed debut album The King Of Misery, a hauntingly beautiful project that explored depression, bipolar disorder and the possibility of hope within those realities. That album introduced many listeners to Matsiko’s ability to handle heavy themes with tenderness and clarity, never sensationalising mental health, but instead offering a gentle, honest portrayal of its complexities. Live, those songs gain an added depth: his unhurried delivery, pin-drop dynamics and quiet humour on stage create a sense of shared space, where difficult feelings can be acknowledged and held rather than pushed aside.
Matsiko’s recent collaborations with artists such as GoGo Penguin and Werkha have further broadened his sonic palette, bringing his voice into conversation with jazz, electronic and contemporary neo-soul textures. Yet at the centre of everything remains a direct connection between performer and audience: one person, a guitar and a set of songs that feel like letters written in confidence. His work has attracted attention from music magazines, podcasts and live sessions – from Maida Vale studios to high-profile festival slots – steadily building a community of listeners for whom his music has become a source of recognition and comfort.
Opening the evening is False Idah, the project of Jay Brown. Blending elements of indie folk and grunge, False Idah explores the parts of ourselves we are still learning to accept: the unprocessed grief, the unresolved longing and the quieter, more tender corners of the inner child. The songs move between hushed confession and slow-burning intensity, using stripped-back melodies and raw, honest lyrics to create an atmosphere of reflection and emotional honesty. Rather than offering easy resolutions, False Idah invites listeners to sit with their own stories and to recognise vulnerability as a shared, human experience.
Rooted in the idea that we are all travelling towards a “True Idah” – a fuller, more integrated version of ourselves – this project places personal growth at the heart of its songwriting. Each song becomes an invitation to notice what we feel, acknowledge what we may have avoided and celebrate the ongoing, unfinished journey of becoming. Live, that ethos is reflected in a performance style that is intimate rather than showy, drawing the audience in and encouraging a sense of collective listening.
Together, Daudi Matsiko and False Idah offer an evening of modern folk that is both emotionally delicate and quietly radical: music that speaks honestly about pain and struggle while still insisting on the possibility of connection, healing and hope. For audiences interested in contemporary Black British songwriting, diasporic stories and deeply human, acoustically driven performance, this concert promises to be a standout moment in the 2026 calendar.
This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval
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