Perhaps Contraption is a multi-award winning, progressive brass band from London.
Part choir, part chamber orchestra, part avant rock troupe, they create a truly unique musical experience; melding elements of jazz, punk, art pop and post-minimalism.
Perhaps Contraption’s unique sound is something like John Adams meeting Frank Zappa and Sufjan Stevens in an avant-rock collision; staggering through a fairground – beautiful and astonishing. Replete with irregular but irresistible rhythms, big choral harmonies and triumphant horns.
Their intense, exuberant shows won the Haizetara International Street Music competition (Spain) in 2014 and 2015, the judge’s prize at Cirque et Fanfare Festival (France) and Help Musicians Emerging Excellence Award in 2013.
The performance has been nominated for an Offie Award in the IDEA (Innovative / Devised / Experiential / Atypical) category, has received critical acclaim and numerous sell out houses.
They have performed at places as diverse as Glastonbury Festival, The EFG London Jazz Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, Bestival, Sudtirol Jazz Festival (Italy) London Roundhouse, The Royal Academy of Arts, Wilderness, Southbank Centre, Cross Linx (The Netherlands) Latitude, Artisti in Piazza (Italy), Buskers Bern (Switzerland), numerous Honk! Festivals (USA) and major tours in Europe with Amanda Palmer.
“Completely extraordinary” – Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music
“High-energy progressive brass” – The Guardian
“Experimental brass band madness…likely to be seen swaggering and subverting their way through the cream of Europe’s festivals” – Max Reinhardt, BBC Radio 3
“Perhaps Contraption are nothing if not wholly unique. With kinetic creativity as their Modus Operandi, the eight-piece troupe team rampant percussion and a flamboyant horn section with multiple-part vocal harmonies” – Artrocker
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