Festival Weekend 2023
29th Sept – 1st Oct| FREE
Taunton – Goodland Gardens and around the town
The streets of Taunton will be full of joyful noise at the end of September when The Sound of the Streets Festival brings the town to life.
The festival will bring some extraordinary bands to the town, and give people the chance to join in. There will be family workshops, chances to try out body percussion and samba, sing and join a massive street band. The festival will have music and a marquee in Goodland Gardens and bands playing all around the town.
Bands performing at the festival include the award winning and theatrical Perhaps Contraption – the Guardian called them, “High-energy progressive brass” and The Scotsman; “A beguiling, euphoric blast of energy”. Bristol’s very pink Ambling Band have been entertaining people on the streets of the UK and Europe for over 40 years, bringing joy and tears to those who watch them. Also coming down the street are Cardiff’s brass Massive Wonderbrass, Bristol samba collective Ilu Axé and the funky street sounds of the Brass Junkies.
The Sound of the Streets ‘house Band’ Tongues of Fire blow up a musical storm of brass, reeds and percussion and are run by festival organiser and Taunton’s own veteran Street musician Tim Hill. There will be local groups like the anarchic Frome Street Bandits, Skin Tight Samba and Taunton’s own funky brass collective The Little Big Horns and community band The Big Noise Street Band. Local school and youth bands like The Sound Invaders and The Big Friendly Street Band will also be performing. Local legend Chris Grabham will be leading a singing session (The Big Sing) too.
Tim says: “This vibrant and life- affirming music is something we all need and we want to see people dancing, singing and joining in. Street bands are a great way to make music and we are running an education weekend for anyone interested in street drumming and an opportunity for all young players of brass, wind and drums to come explore this exciting and inspiring sound – led by some of the leading music educators in the UK!”
Find the latest festival 2023 information here!
Blog Image: Perhaps Contraption Jan 2018, photo by Matt Jolly