We are delighted to welcome Donovan Haffner and his quintet to The Bear as part of our series promoting new jazz talent.

Donovan is one of the hottest saxophone players on the London scene and was recently nominated in the Best Newcomer category for the 2024 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. He came through the renowned London-based jazz education collective, Tomorrow’s Warriors, and has worked with notable musicians such as Shane Forbes and Jay Phelps.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Led by saxophonist Rob Mach, Jazz Jam welcomes musicians, vocalists, dancers, and music lovers who like to spend an afternoon listening to or creating great music, supported by DJ Mr Jazzy Vibes.

Doors 1pm / Music 2pm

Every Tuesday night in November, we will be trialling salsa and bachata classes led by locally-based instructors, Victoria Celac and Greg Santos. Together, they have over ten years’ experience in dance, and leading dance classes.

These classes are for people of all levels and abilities, and absolute beginners are welcome too. Each session will consist of a salsa class and bachata class, followed by social dancing. Come to learn, come to meet friends, but above all, come to have fun!

Doors 7pm / Class begins 7.15pm

Alice Armstrong is a singer-songwriter and entertainer from the UK, gaining traction like a runaway train on the British live music scene. She’s just won Contemporary Blues Artist of the Year at the UK Blues Awards, and, at the personal invite of Joe Bonamassa, played at his prestigious 'Keeping The Blues Alive' Mediterranean cruise in 2023.

Known for her impressive vocal range, unconventional lyrics, and enigmatic stage presence, Alice’s music busts the seams of traditional genres, creating a heady amalgamation of blues, soul, funk, rock, pop, and country. 

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Nat Steele brings his vibraphone-led quartet back to The Bear Club for the first time since his hugely successful UK tour with saxophonist Grant Stewart in 2020.

This time, the lineup features the talents of award-winning Canadian pianist Sean Fyfe, young rising star Lorenzo Morabito on double bass, and Mark Taylor on drums—who's been living and playing jazz in New York since the mid-1990s with musicians like George Coleman, Monty Alexander, Benny Green, and Ray Brown.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Drink & Draw is a space to share ideas, create art, and enjoy a drink or two! There are no rules, no boundaries—just a full-blown explosion of creative energy.

Hosted by local illustrator, comic book artist, and Bear manager, Karl Brown, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere guaranteed.

Doors 7.30pm

Join us at The Bear for a laid-back, music-filled Thursday night! Our doors are open for you to unwind and enjoy great company, drinks, and music in a relaxing atmosphere.

We’ll be offering a Happy Hour special, with 2-4-1 on all drinks from 6pm to 7pm. Then stick around for a night of good vibes and great music as we play some of our favourite tunes to get the weekend started!

Doors 6pm

Stars in the making and UK Blues Awards 2024 Emerging Act of The Year nominees; Connolly Hayes comprises six long-time friends playing a carefully curated blend of blues, rock, and soul, both nationwide and further afield.

The band has already built a stellar reputation for live performances with the blend of two of the most soulful voices around, guitar wizardry from both sides of the stage, and the grooviest rhythm section going.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Making a welcome return to The Bear Club, Jazz Dynamos is a five-piece band that takes well-known songs from the 70s and 80s and transforms them with a mix of jazz, bossa, and samba.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Happy Shark are back for another great night of comedy with an incredible line up!

With Flo & Joan, Finlay Christie, Ben Van der Velde (MC) + more TBA

Doors 7pm / Start time 8pm

Join us at The Bear for a laid-back, music-filled Thursday night! Our doors are open for you to unwind and enjoy great company, drinks, and music in a relaxing atmosphere.

We’ll be offering a Happy Hour special, with 2-4-1 on all drinks from 6pm to 7pm. Then stick around for a night of good vibes and great music as we play some of our favourite tunes to get the weekend started!

Doors 6pm

We welcome back Mark Kavuma, one of the most influential figures on the London jazz scene today. His music is a world where vibes, blues, and rhythm collide with gospel, soul, and spiritual jazz.

With over a decade of experience playing the trumpet and piano, Mark’s unique musical alchemy has the means to bring jazz back to the dance floor.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

We are delighted to welcome The Soul Music Collective back to The Bear, thanks to popular demand following their sold-out gig in August.

They celebrate soul music as a whole, particularly the music of artists such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. With over 40 songs in their repertoire, there will definitely be something for you to sing and dance along to.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Bringing his high-quality rhythm and blues to The Bear, Big Joe Louis is a dynamic performer and one of the busiest musicians in the UK.

Never one to follow the herd, he has built a strong and distinctive style over the years, writing deep, original, and powerfully personal true-life songs, and playing guitar in a style that’s all his own.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Loz Speyer returns to The Bear with his Inner Space project, following the release of their album Live in Leipzig.

This is the first release from this exciting new lineup, featuring the unique saxophone duo of Xhosa Cole and Dee Byrne, alongside Loz’s trumpet, the freewheeling groove of Gary Willcox on drums, and Larry Bartley on double bass.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

A warm welcome back to The Bear for Ruby and the Dukes, who gave us a real night to remember earlier this year. This London-based vintage band is a musical force, transporting audiences back to the golden era of the 1940s and 50s with their mix of RnB, rock 'n' roll, blues, rockabilly, and retro swing.

Ruby and the Dukes blend the classics of Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Etta James, and Bill Haley and the Comets with contemporary hits from artists like Imelda May, Stray Cats, and Postmodern Jukebox.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

The Thumping Tommys return for their annual Christmas romp at The Bear. This London-based folk / bluegrass / Americana band has toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe, captivating audiences with a heady brew of barn-storming, blues-infused Irish, American, and English folk music.

There'll be mulled wine, mince pies, and much to drink… expect to feel festive. It’ll get messy!

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

We begin the year at The Bear with some good rockin’ as Cody Lee returns with his Boogie Boys. Cody is a versatile piano player and vocalist, wise beyond his years of playing, drawing inspiration from the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Professor Longhair, and Albert Ammons.

Whether it's jazz, foot stomping boogie-woogie, down and dirty blues, piano pumping rock 'n' roll, or swing, you can expect a riveting show.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Pianist/singer Jonathan Gee (Pharoah Sanders/ Tony Kofi etc ) brings his all star band to The Bear Club combining three of his recent shows in one. He is featuring Denys Baptiste (McCoy Tyner/ Incognito/ Courtney Pine etc ) on saxophone, with Mikele Montolli on bass and Tristan Maillot on drums.

The first slice is from the “Beatles Reimagined” album of Lennon/McCartney songs transformed in a contemporary jazz manner. The second is from an 80’s project of rearranged Spandau Ballet, Kate Bush plus Wayne Shorter and Micheal Brecker from that era.

The third is original compositions which have featured on recent albums including his latest vocal album The Lions Revisited.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

A “bard of Essex” for a new generation, Scott Lavene is a born entertainer telling touching often bizarrely surreal stories about everyday life. Lavene has long populated a hallucinogenic world of his own creation with ne’er do wells, ragamuffins and eccentrics with songs about fading love, talking horses, the attraction or otherwise of superstardom and the soothing effect of drinking custard straight from the carton.

One not to miss.

Doors: 7pm ; Music 8pm

We welcome back Hollie and her band almost a year to the day after her last, sold out gig at The Bear.

Hollie is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist with an incredibly powerful voice, and her live shows consistently receive outstanding reviews. Backed by BBC Introducing, Hollie has opened for artists such as Suzanne Vega, KT Tunstall, Midge Ure, and Ralph McTell, and she is a regular performer at major festivals like Glastonbury and Black Deer.

Playing with a full backing band and performing with notable humour and candour, Hollie's audiences often find themselves tapping their feet and shedding a tear in the space of the same set.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Tomorrow's New Quartet is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most exciting jazz bands emerging from the British scene.

Taking inspiration from Chick Corea's 'Return To Forever' and Keith Jarrett's 'European Quartet', Tomorrow's New Quartet has been thrilling audiences all over the country with its engaging brand of modern jazz.

Led by drummer/composer Rod Oughton, the band features several young heavyweights from the next generation of British jazz, namely Deschanel Gordon on piano, Flo Moore on bass with special guest from The Netherlands, Ben van Gelder, one of the world’s finest saxophone players.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

BBC Introducing artist & backing singer to the stars, Tremaine Dawkins is performing with her band, appropriately-enough on Valentine’s Night, as part of her 'Something About Love' album release tour. 

This, her second release, is a beautifully, eclectic blend of jazz, soul & gospel music, centred around the theme of love. Her influences range from Stevie Wonder to Kate Bush & Sade but she has a sound all of her own . Join us for what should be an exhilarating yet intimate evening. 

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

His sold-out show at The Bear Club in May was legendary and goes down as one of the gigs of the year so we just had to get him back for more…

Greg Coulson is a British multi-talented musician and entertaining singer-songwriter whose work covers classic rock, quality pop, blues, funk and jazz.

A noted talent on both keyboards and guitar, Greg’s heart lies firmly within songwriting and draws inspiration from his heroes, Steely Dan, Randy Newman, Little Feat, Ray Charles, Booker T and Dr John. Greg's charismatic showmanship and engaging musical artistry will make for an evening to remember.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Clark Tracey returns to The Bear having sold out the place on his last visit. He has been at the forefront of British jazz for over 40 years since joining his distinguished father Stan Tracey's bands in 1978.

A five-time recipient of the 'Best Drummer' award at the British Jazz Awards, Clark has led his own groups since the early 1980s.

Clark will be joined on saxophone by not one but two renowned players - Art Themen and Simon Allen - and the quintet is completed by award-winning pianist Dave Newton and superb bass-player Andrew Cleyndert.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Combining Country & Western music with a fierce DIY attitude, Jenny Don’t and the Spurs have been pioneering their own path in the music world for over a dozen years. Known for their high-energy style and captivating stage presence, they've garnered a global following with their infectious enthusiasm and extensive discography.

With their exciting new album, Broken Hearted Blue, Jenny Don’t and the Spurs channel the essence of the American Northwest’s sounds while evoking the nostalgia of the Western frontier. From the outset, this album asserts itself as a standout in the country music scene, with its high-octane rockin' western delivery approach setting it apart from the herd.

Not one to be missed !

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

We’re really pleased to welcome this genre-blending indie folk band to The Bear Club for what promises to be an evening of beautiful, hypnotic music.

The Rabbitts’ unique and colourful sound is characterised by delicate harmonies and an intricately interwoven tapestry of mandolin, guitar, bass, and drums. It’s a pretty, delicate, warm sound (which has been described as “like a long hug on a summer’s day”!).

They are an ever evolving group who are constantly creating and rarely staying still.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.00pm

We’re thrilled to welcome Henry Spencer and his quartet to The Bear. Born and raised in Wiltshire, Spencer graduated from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He has since established himself as one of the leading up-and-coming trumpet players, composers and bandleaders on the London jazz scene today.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

Welcome back to Ma Polaine’s Great Decline, an award-winning band whose performance in May was one of the gigs of the year. The three-piece band were praised by Mojo Magazine for their unique blend of pop, folk, blues, and Americana. Ma Polaine’s music resonates as both comfortably familiar and refreshingly innovative, creating a truly engaging experience.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

James "Jay" Lewis is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has graced some of the largest stages across the world as part of three of the biggest bands to come out of Liverpool (well apart from you know who…)! Performing with cult indie band The La’s, playing bass for the band Cast and he’s currently the lead guitarist with The Zutons.

He plays solo on six and twelve-string guitar, harmonica and drums and his live shows are building him a growing reputation as a class performer in his own right.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.00pm

Polly Paulusma is an English singer-songwriter, touring recording artist, record producer, label founder and author. Straddling the acoustic, singer-songwriter, jazz-inflected indie-folk and trad folk genres, she has supported Bob Dylan, Jamie Cullum, Coldplay, Marianne Faithfull, The Divine Comedy and a host of other notable artists in her 21-year career.

Paulusma plays songs accompanied by Jon Thorne (Lamb, Yorkston Thorne Khan) on upright bass. The musical connection between Paulusma and Thorne is something to behold; combining bawdy humour and anecdotes with extraordinary songs that touch on love, loss, grief and philsophical enquiry. Paulusma and Thorne lead their audiences on a journey of laughter and tears.

Doors: 7pm. Music: 8.30 pm

This is a classic piano trio led by London-based Hungarian jazz pianist Mátyás Gayer who is emerging as one of the leaders of his generation. The award winning young musician is successfully forging his own distinctive style and musical voice out of the greatness of the jazz piano tradition.

Tonight Mátyás is joined by legends of the UK jazz scene and possibly the country’s finest rhythm section, bassist Dave Green and drummer Steve Brown.

Doors: 7pm. Music: 8.30 pm

We welcome award winning blues scene stalwart and guitar maestro Robin Bibi and his band to The Bear Club for the first time in their own right.

Over the last 25 years The Robin Bibi Band have earned their reputation as one of the tightest and most exiting, original and entertaining blues/rock bands in the UK playing all the major UK blues festivals and releasing a dozen albums.

Doors: 7pm. Music: 8.30 pm

Andy Davies is an award-winning Welsh trumpeter, (who also happens to be a comedian, script writer, voice over artist, actor and educator !).  He has hosted the famous Wednesday night Ronnie Scott's Upstairs Jam Session for 15 years and is one of the most accomplished and exciting jazz musicians in the UK.

Expect a wild night of top quality jazz featuring selected musicians from the regular Ronnie Scott’s house band.

Doors: 7pm. Music: 8.30 pm

Almost a year to the day since they last played for us, and what a show that was. With a string bass, a cranked guitar played through a hot valve amp, and a wailing harp, The Untouchables turned The Bear Club into a rockin' juke joint.

The band are champions of raw blues and swinging soul, with a sound based on the great artists who recorded for Chess Records in the 1950s.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

We welcome rising star jazz vocalist Emily Masser to The Bear Club for the first time with her own band. Emily is a young jazz singer and saxophonist from Wigan currently studying at London’s Guildhall School of Music, having attended Manchester’s famous Chetham’s School of Music. Emily was also given invaluable guidance in jazz by her father, the highly respected saxophonist Dean Masser who also joins tonight on sax.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

We’re proud to welcome the Pete Roth Trio to The Bear for what should be a very special evening.

The word ‘jazz’ implies musicians who listen and interact; people who never play it the same way twice. This trio has those qualities in abundance, but the group’s music is also something over, around, above and below jazz. What they play isn’t always going to “fit”, or be “nice” but it will be “great”.

Featuring tonight on drums is very special guest Bill Bruford. Internationally known as a rock musician with prog supergroups Yes and King Crimson, Bruford also has impeccable jazz credentials.

Doors: 7pm. Music: 8.30 pm

This one’s for fans of high energy rock & roll, blues rock and artists like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes/Black Country Communion, Slash and Myles Kennedy ! Ross Harding is an acclaimed blues rock musician from Johannesburg, currently based in the UK.

He is a songwriter and performer combing a rich, powerful voice with awesome guitar skills. An unapologetic rock & roll experience for audiences who love high energy music.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm

As a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021 & 2022 and 2024, Alex is one of the most in-demand and versatile saxophonists on the British jazz scene. 

Praised for her intelligent ear for harmony and a deep knowledge of repertoire across a broad spectrum of styles, Alex's sound is steeped in the tradition of bebop.

Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm