Firm favourites at The Bear, Ubunye is a vibrant Afro jazz band featuring powerful vocalists from South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal region, combined with a dynamic rhythm section from Leeds. The exciting new lineup consists of keyboard player and lead songwriter David Evans, renowned jazz drummer Steve Hanley, distinguished musicians Nik Svarc and Sam Dutton-Taylor on guitar and bass, respectively, as well as singers Xolani Mbatha and Nokuthula Zondi, who, as a trio with David on backing vocals, perfectly complement each other and provide a robust sonic force that is as soulful as it is compelling. Together, they create a unique blend of contemporary jazz, Afropop, and traditional ‘Isigqui’ Zulu music. This inspirational fusion encapsulates the soul of South Africa and is swiftly winning the band a legion of fans across the UK and beyond. They have headlined at the Manchester and Lancaster jazz festivals and performed a sellout show at Soho’s Pizza Express Jazz Club. They also picked up a Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Ensemble in 2023.