Brass Monkey

April sees the beginning of the Brass Monkey season with some venues and festivals lined up over the coming months. A full list of dates can be seen in the Calendar so do click on the link and come and say hello!

Brass Monkey
Martin Carthy vocals, guitar, mandolin
John Kirkpatrick vocals, button accordion, anglo concertina, melodeon
Martin Brinsford mouth-organ, saxophone, percussion
Roger Williams bass trombone, tuba, euphonium
Paul Archibald trumpet
Shane Brennan trumpet

Brass Monkey's 2009 album ‘Head of Steam' heralded another chapter in the life of a band that has thrilled the live music scene in various incarnations since their debut in 1980.

Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick naturally lock into one another's playing with an ease and precision that can only come of playing together for over thirty years. Sharing the vocals, and sometimes singing together in unison, they bring the fruits of years of experience to this band with an explosive freshness that is clearly driven by the excitement they all feel by playing together.

The 2009 tour for Brass Monkey saw the exciting new introduction of trumpet player Paul Archibald whose classical training and love of folk music added another dimension to the much loved sound of the band which carries through to 2012. Roger Williams, who has already proved his insanity by tripping effortlessly through the fastest of tunes on the bass trombone, also brings along the euphonium to add a softer melodic touch to the gentler pieces. Martin Brinsford can add sweetness or punch on his mouth-organ as required, and amongst his numerous accomplishments on the various instruments of percussion, he can create more drive with the knuckle of one finger than most drummers can muster on a whole kit.

A new addition to the band for 2012 is a young and upcoming superstar on the trumpet, Shane Brennan. Shane's fantastic ability and easy going nature brings a 'youthful' quality to the group and he's a fellow well-worth hearing.

It's a rare treat to see six masters of their art combine with such open hearted enthusiasm.

www.brass-monkey.squarespace.com

"There is no doubt that Brass Monkey is one of the most important bands to appear in the world of folk music - top quality interpretations of English music - excellent." The Living Tradition