UBUNYE (album launch)
SOOTHSAYERS (album launch)
NOÉMI JAZZMINE 

Leeds' longtime world music/global beats promoter DJ Lubi brings another great show to Brudenell Social Club with three bands/artists from different parts of the UK (Leeds, London, Nottingham), making unique soulful global/world fusion where African music meets jazz, soul, dub and reggae.

Ubunye (loosely translated as ‘Oneness’ or ‘Unity’) is the conception of keyboard player and lead songwriter David Evans, who first collaborated with baritone singer Xolani Mbatha at a festival that he was running in Leeds. Having put together a successful project for the festival, the working relationship between Evans and Mbatha flourished, eventually resulting in the recruitment of their most talented colleagues. The new exciting Ubunye line up consists of the renowned jazz drummer Steve Hanley, distinguished Leeds musicians Nik Svarc (guitar) and Sam Dutton (bass), as well as singers Xolani Mbatha and Nokuthula Zondi, who as a trio (along with Evans on backing vocals), perfectly compliment each other and provide a robust sonic force that is as soulful as it is compelling. Joining the band on their new album "Tell Me The Truth Or Don't Tell me Anything" are the incredible horn section of London afrofusion/reggae/dub band Soothsayers - Idris Rahman and Robin Hopcraft, plus legendary percussionist Dave Hassell, horn players Emma Johnson (tenor sax) and Aaron Wood (trumpet), Norwegian experimental cellist Maja Bugge and poet Michelle Scally Clarke.

The pounding rhythms of Africa blended with the explosive energy of a live band. This vibrant group of Zulu performers combined with seasoned musicians from the UK mix ancient tradition with contemporary flare. Ubunye delivers a soulful, goose bump inducing performance of original pieces cleverly fused with South African songs. It is a fantastic multi-cultural experience. Ubunye won the best UK jazz ensemble award at the prestigious Parliamentary Jazz awards 2023 and now the vibrant Afro-jazz band Ubunye will release their second album "Tell Me The Truth Or Don't Tell Me Anything" in autumn 2025.  Featuring two powerful vocalists from South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal region combined with a dynamic rhythm section and an array of guest artists, Ubunye’s music is a unique blend of contemporary jazz, Afro-pop and traditional ‘Isigqui’ Zulu music.

With their brass players guesting on the new Ubunye album, it seemed like the perfect call to get London afrofusion/reggae/dub band Soothsayers to come and play a set at the show. As 2025 is their 25th year in the music game, and they drop their own new album "Fly Higher" in September, an even better reason to have them finally make their Leeds debut. Singles from the new album have already received extensive radio play, revealing compositions packed full of groove and melody that demonstrates that Soothsayers' passion for creating uplifting and meaningful music burns as strong as ever.

Live performances are where the band take their organic, unique and universally uplifting afro, jazz and dub infused sound to the next level combining high quality musicianship with a lyrical message, warm sonics and irresistible dance grooves. Soothsayers have performed at an impressive list of festivals, venues and theatres including:
Rototom Festival (Spain), WOMAD , The North Sea Jazz Festival, Dhaka World Music Festival, London Jazz Festival, Glastonbury, Barbados World Music Festival.

Live radio sessions include BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio London, BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service, Jazz FM and more.

A reputation as a great live band and innovative studio producers has led to collaborations with top quality artists including a host of world famous Jamaicans like Johnny Clarke, Cornel Campbell, Michael Prophet, Little Roy as well as great work with UK based artists Mad Professor, Dennis Bovell, Earl 16 and Manasseh. Soothsayers’ band leaders Idris Rahman and Robin Hopcraft have also lent their skills to an array of other projects including Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA, Arun Ghosh, Aswad, Anoushka Shankar, “Fela” The Musical and the National Theatre and many more.

Soothsayers are deeply involved in education and community action and in 2016 started a new project called Youthsayers engaging young musicians in Brixton, South London. This highly successful project has performed at such prestigious venues and events as The Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, Freedom Sounds Festival - Cologne Germany, The Place Dance Theatre, Africa In The Square, Youth Music Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

Finally, opening the night is multi-genre, upcoming artist and singer Noémi Jazzmine. Born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo but now living in Nottingham, her genre-blending songwriting fuses Congolese Rumba/Soukous with R&B, Jazz and Gospel music – all while interchanging languages of English, Lingala, and French. Although she’s only been involved with the Leeds music scene for the past 12 months, being based in Nottingham, she’s already performed at local venues the Vinyl Whistle, The Domino Club, and Hyde Park Book Club. In May 2025, she played the closing set at Leeds Jazz Festival's open air Welcome To Leeds stage. With a young band of familiar Leeds faces, led by guitarist Pedraum Agahi, they had the whole crowd dancing to the very end. A future UK star of afrofusion, get down early to catch her live.