What happens when a familiar, everyday space becomes a stage for music, conversation, and community? That’s the idea behind Greasy Tunes, Spotify’s multi-week residency in Nairobi that brings Kenya’s listening culture off the playlist and into the real world.
Inspired by the original concept of transforming a classic “greasy spoon” cafe into a cultural hub, Spotify’s Greasy Tunes Nairobi is a 12-day program at Nairobi’s Heltz House, a community events space, with programming running July 15-26. More than anything, Greasy Tunes reminds us that music is best experienced together.
The lineup for Greasy Tunes was built around how Nairobi listens. Spotify data from June 2026 showed that listeners 18-24 are responsible for more than half of all streams in the city. With listening peaking in the evening, music is clearly a key part of how young Nairobians unwind and connect—and Greasy Tunes is designed to capture that vibe.
“Greasy Tunes brings the energy people experience on Spotify into a shared physical space,” said Agnes Opondo, Artist & Label Partnerships Lead for East Africa. “The program reflects how music already connects Nairobi’s young listeners, whether through food, conversation, creativity, or community.”
The first week, themed “Starters,” explored the intersection of sound and culture. The Greasy Tunes Café turned Heltz House into a daytime hub for work and connection, while the week’s events showed how music is part of the city’s social rituals. The week kicked off with a Kitchen Opening Party with The BAG, a leading Nairobi music and culture platform, setting the tone by celebrating the links between food, music, and community.
Karibu Night, hosted by Studio 18, a creative collective known for championing the local fashion and cultural scene, translated the sound of Spotify’s Made In Kenya playlist into a fashion showcase. The night included a live performance from BURUKLYN BOYZ, whose hip-hop and drill sound added another dimension to the Made In Kenya story.
The week flowed from fashion into conversation with live podcast recordings from Culture Club, Spotify’s editor-led podcast exploring African music and culture, featuring Kenyan songwriter and producer Eric Musyoka, and The 30 Percent Podcast. Live performances also took over Heltz House, including The Fisherman’s Experience and ADUMA Presents. The week closed with Smocha Sundays, which brought together gospel music, community, and a live football watch party, showing the many ways people gather around sound.
The second week, “Mains,” expands to focus on the way music fuels creative practice. It kicked off with Gufy’s Room: Poetry, Music & Storytelling, a live performance blending spoken word, music, and storytelling from Kenyan poet and filmmaker Gufy, and continued with a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process with a workshop where Kasi Flavour championed women in music, and a fan event with songwriter and rapper Nyashinski.
Experiences still to come include an EQUAL workshop and showcase with Ongeza Volume, a community platform spotlighting Kenya’s music ecosystem, and a comedy night with The Standup Collective. It all wraps up with the Strictly Soul: Closing Party at the end of the week.
The ongoing event makes one thing clear: for young Nairobians, music isn’t just something they stream. It’s a fundamental part of life and community in their city.
Explore the sounds of Nairobi with Spotify’s Made In Kenya, an Afropop-led editorial playlist celebrating the artists shaping Kenya’s sound.
