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We are delighted to welcome one of our favourite bands to The Jam Jar for the first time this October - Soothsayers! The show coincides with the release of โFly Higherโ, their 12th studio album, marking 25 years since their first release in 2000. ๐ฅ๐ฅFly Higher fuses afrobeat, soul jazz, and deep dub grooves, delivering uplifting, addictive melodies through powerful chorus vocals, punchy horn hooks, and hypnotic basslines. The sound is warm, organic, and unmistakably Soothsayers โ a unique blend that honours their influences without ever falling into clichรฉ or predictability. The new album will be released on Wah Wah 45s in September 2025 . Listen out for single releases during Spring and Summer 2025.
Soothsayers make vibrant, socially conscious music with a groove-driven sound that resonates across cultures and generations. ๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฅ
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐
๐ฆ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ต๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
+ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ
& ๐ฎ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐
๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ต ๐ข๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ณ.๐ฏ๐ฌ๐ฝ๐บ
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ, ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐น
Soothsayers are set to celebrate their ๐ 25th anniversary ๐ in 2025. Known for their unique blend of Afrobeat, dub, reggae, and jazz, the band has been a vital force in the UKโs global music scene since their formation in 2000. Over the last two decades, Soothsayers have been known for delivering vibrant, socially conscious music with a groove-driven sound that resonates across cultures and generations.
Formed by saxophonist Idris Rahman and trumpeter Robin Hopcraft, Soothsayers has created a sound that is both timeless and forward-thinking. Their live performances are an immersive experience, drawing crowds into a powerful musical journey through African rhythms, dub textures, and jazz improvisations.
The secret of Soothsayersโ longevity is down to the bandโs evolution, keeping them relevant in changing times. Top-quality songwriting that exudes a joy of music and life that lyrically reflects on social problems and political pitfalls.
Live performances are where the band take their organic unique and universally uplifting afro - dub sound to the next level combining high quality musicianship with a lyrical message, warm sonics and irresistible dance grooves.
๐ฆ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ต๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น๐, ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด:
๐ 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, JazzFM and more. ๐ฅ๐ฅ
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.
Soothsayersโ 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, Ill Considered , Bob Andy , Morcheeba , Anoushka Shankar, โFelaโ 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 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.
โOne of the finest slices of a Anglo Caribbean fusion since The Specials in their prime......artfully mixing in funk and Afrobeat to their deep dubโ - ๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ฃ
โloving that old school analogue soundโ - ๐ฟ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ, ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐พ 6 ๐๐ช๐จ๐๐
โI like almost everything Soothsayers produce and this is no exceptionโ - ๐ฟ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐๐ฃ, ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐พ ๐๐๐๐๐ค 1๐ญ๐ฉ๐ง๐
Entry requirements: 18+
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Jam Jar Bristol, 12 Eugene Street, Bristol, BS5 0TN, United Kingdom
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