AJO – GËRSHETAT – EFG London Jazz Festival 2026
Kosovo-born, London-based singer-songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist AJO returns to the EFG London Jazz Festival with the launch of her long-awaited debut album, Gërshetat (“Braids”).
Following sold-out performances at the Royal Albert Hall, Rich Mix and the EFG London Jazz Festival, AJO has established herself as one of the leading contemporary voices bringing Albanian musical heritage to international audiences. With Gërshetat, she presents her most ambitious work to date – a collection of eleven songs that weave together the traditions, memories and stories of Albania and Kosovo through contemporary jazz, world music and original composition.
Inspired by the symbolism of braids passed down through generations of Albanian women, Gërshetat intertwines stories of love, motherhood, identity, freedom, resilience and belonging. The album brings together beloved traditional songs alongside AJO’s original compositions, creating a dialogue between ancestral memory and modern artistic expression.
The evening is presented by Arts Canteen in collaboration with Grand Junction, as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival 2026.
To match the story her voice is honey-sweet, punctuated by quick catches that suggest a cry of sorrow. Yet she can soar with the angels and continues to sing a story of hope, and life, as it is, full of low and high points.
Debbie Burke – American Jazz Author and Journalist
About
Band Members
Nikos Ziarkas – guitar
Thodoris Ziarkas – double bass
Andrea Ziarkas – drums
Aurel Qirijo – violin
Oliver Dover – clarinet
About AJO
AJO is a Kosovo-born, London-based singer-songwriter, composer and performer whose work bridges Albanian folk traditions with contemporary jazz and world music.
Known for her distinctive voice, emotional depth and powerful storytelling, AJO draws inspiration from the songs, histories and traditions of her homeland. Her music explores themes of motherhood, identity, memory, migration, resilience and feminine strength while celebrating the cultural heritage of Albania and Kosovo.
Her performances have captivated audiences at venues and festivals including the Royal Albert Hall, Rich Mix, EFG London Jazz Festival, Kesselhaus Berlin, Peja Jazz Festival, FemArt Festival, Kino Armata, Kino Lumbardhi and concert halls across Europe.
With the release of Gërshetat, AJO presents her most significant artistic statement to date – a celebration of cultural memory, feminine strength and the stories that connect generations across borders and time.
AJO – GËRSHETAT
Kosovo-born, London-based singer-songwriter and composer AJO returns to the EFG London Jazz Festival with the launch of her long-awaited debut album, Gërshetat (“Braids”).
A collection of eleven songs woven together from the musical traditions of Albania and Kosovo, Gërshetat is a journey through love, loss, motherhood, memory, resilience and freedom. Drawing from centuries-old folk songs alongside AJO’s original compositions, the album reimagines Albanian heritage through contemporary jazz, world music and cinematic storytelling.
The title Gërshetat reflects the central idea of the project: many strands woven into one. Like the braids worn by generations of Albanian women, each song carries its own story while forming part of a larger narrative about identity, belonging and cultural memory.
At the heart of the album stand four original compositions. Nëna is a tribute to motherhood and the women who carry life through sacrifice and unconditional love. 90’s recalls childhood memories of Kosovo during years of oppression and conflict, giving voice to experiences often left untold. Besa draws inspiration from one of the most sacred principles of Albanian culture – honour, trust and hospitality – while Burrnesha tells the story of a mountain girl who chooses freedom and self-determination over an imposed destiny.
Alongside these original works, traditional songs such as Qamile, Kur Më Del Në Derë, O Moj Bukuroshe, Jarnana, Dashurinë Që Kam Për Ty, Gërsheta and Mora Përpjetë Kalanë celebrate the richness of Albanian folk traditions. Their stories of longing, beauty, devotion and heartbreak are transformed through AJO’s distinctive arrangements, creating a dialogue between past and present.
Known for her expressive voice and emotionally charged performances, AJO has become one of the leading contemporary artists bringing Albanian musical heritage to international audiences. Following acclaimed performances at the Royal Albert Hall, previous appearances at the EFG London Jazz Festival, Rich Mix, Kesselhaus Berlin, Copenhagen and festivals across Europe, she continues to build a bridge between the Balkans and the wider world.
Launching at the EFG London Jazz Festival, Gërshetat represents a homecoming of stories carried across borders and generations – a celebration of Albanian cultural heritage reimagined for the world stage.
London Jazz Festival
The EFG London Jazz Festival is the capital’s biggest pan-city music festival, taking place annually in November, and long acclaimed for showcasing a heady mix of talent from around the globe. Widely acknowledged for delivering world-class artists and emerging stars, the Festival continues to take jazz to a massive audience, in one of UK’s landmark music events. The festival is produced by Serious, one of the UK’s leading producers and curators of live jazz, international and new music.