Freshlyground

Freshlyground open a new chapter of Afro-jazz, township pop and rhythm-led soul, built for a live setting that breathes and moves. The Cape Town collective made its mark with the singalong pulse of Doo Be Doo and a global turn alongside Shakira on Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), and they carry that rhythmic spark into a tighter, more fluid show.

On stage, marabi-leaning piano, Afro-pop melodies and jazz horns set the frame, while flutes and guitars weave in and out of a rhythm section that keeps shifting shape. It’s a sound that favours momentum and arrangement over spectacle, with grooves that turn on a dime and melodies that stay close to the dancefloor.

At the centre, Mbali Makhoba leads with a clear, grounded presence, sharpening the band’s focus without sanding off its edges. The result is interplay more than solos, hooks that lift straight from the pocket, and songs that land with direct, unforced energy.

Freshlyground play Jazz Cafe in London on 30 July 2026.