“Craving a mash-up of early rave classics in frenetic, Balkan brass-band style? Finally, your prayers are answered. An inspired musical collision.” – The Times
“This is the most enjoyable, fun music that I know of”
– The Observer
“I’m excited about Hackney Colliery Band” – Gilles Peterson
“You were a big part of our closing ceremony, playing with wit, exuberance,musical dexterity and good humour…perfect for preparing a crowd of 80,000 to enjoy a ton of British music by arranging a ton of British music in your own unique style. Thanks so much.” - David Arnold, Musical Director, Olympic Closing Ceremony
“East London’s favourite horn section” – Time Out, May 2012
“Make sure you get with the HCB – and that’s coming from HBE!” – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Formed in 2008 out of a desire to play music that appealed to the feet as much as to the ears, the Hackney Colliery Band is east London’s unique take on the brass band.
Featuring trumpets, trombones, saxes, sousaphone and marching percussion, the band are totally acoustic and yet able to blow the roof off any room. Hackney Colliery Band’s members have hugely diverse musical backgrounds, ranging from work with cutting edge jazz groups to the Royal Opera House, and from Jarvis Cocker to major international orchestras.
This breadth of musical talent is clearly on display in their eclectic repertoire. Mining nuggets of funk, hip-hop and high-octane rock from the musical coalface and throwing in a few chunks of Balkan brass, ska and contemporary jazz for good measure, the Hackney Colliery Band’s setlist is as diverse as the London borough that gave them their name. Add the fact that the band stays true to its roots by bringing the tradition of mobile marching bands firmly into the 21st Century and you know that every gig’s sure to be unique.
Whether playing to a global audience of hundreds of millions at the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics or to a few hundred in a club,though, you can be certain of one thing: this is high-energy, good-time music that’ll make you want move your feet.
