Concert Projects
Below are details of the band's current concert projects
City of Bristol Brass Band is always keen to hear from and work with new artistic partners and venues
If you would like to contact the band in regard to any of the projects listed below, or to discuss a new partnership project of your own, please contact us here
City of Bristol Brass Band is always keen to hear from and work with new artistic partners and venues
If you would like to contact the band in regard to any of the projects listed below, or to discuss a new partnership project of your own, please contact us here
Lord of the Rings 2024 | 25
2024 | 25 marks the 70th anniversary of J. R. R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings. Throughout these anniversary years, City of Bristol Brass Band will be undertaking performances of music inspired by this literary classic
The performance consists of 2 x 45 minutes of music for audiences of all ages, and includes film music by Howard Shore from "The Fellowship of the Ring", "Gollum's Song" from "The Two Towers", and a suite of music from "The Return of the King". Additional repertoire includes "Hobbits" and "Gandalf" by Dutch composer Johan De Meij, Edward Gregson's monumental "An Age of Kings" and the premiere performances of Christopher Painter's "Mirkwood"
Performances are available by the 30 strong City of Bristol Brass Band alone, and also by the massed 60 strong ensemble of City of Bristol and South Wales' Lewis Merthyr Band
The performances also feature piano, plus optional harp, vocalist and male chorus
Performances to date by both bands include those scheduled at Brecon Cathedral and Medieval Festival on Sunday May 5th; at the prestigious Oriana Festival at St Elvan's, Cynon Valley on Saturday May 18th; and at Bristol Cathedral on September 28th. A further performance was undertaken at the Konzerthaus Ravensburg in Germany, together with the Stadtorchester Ravensburg in May
For further information on booking Lord of the Rings, please contact us here
The performance consists of 2 x 45 minutes of music for audiences of all ages, and includes film music by Howard Shore from "The Fellowship of the Ring", "Gollum's Song" from "The Two Towers", and a suite of music from "The Return of the King". Additional repertoire includes "Hobbits" and "Gandalf" by Dutch composer Johan De Meij, Edward Gregson's monumental "An Age of Kings" and the premiere performances of Christopher Painter's "Mirkwood"
Performances are available by the 30 strong City of Bristol Brass Band alone, and also by the massed 60 strong ensemble of City of Bristol and South Wales' Lewis Merthyr Band
The performances also feature piano, plus optional harp, vocalist and male chorus
Performances to date by both bands include those scheduled at Brecon Cathedral and Medieval Festival on Sunday May 5th; at the prestigious Oriana Festival at St Elvan's, Cynon Valley on Saturday May 18th; and at Bristol Cathedral on September 28th. A further performance was undertaken at the Konzerthaus Ravensburg in Germany, together with the Stadtorchester Ravensburg in May
For further information on booking Lord of the Rings, please contact us here
The Wrong Trousers Live
NEW for 2024 | 25, City of Bristol Brass Band are delighted to present our all-new family presentation "The Wrong Trousers Live"
Centred on a live performance, together with screening of Bristol-based Aardman Animations classic movie "The Wrong Trousers", this engaging one hour family performance also includes live music from a range of leading additional animation studios, including Pixar's "The Incredibles", Disney's "Sorceror's Apprentice" and "Encanto", Dreamworks' "How To Train Your Dragon" alongside the full score and movie screening of "The Wrong Trousers"
The first performance took place on Sunday July 14th at regular City of Bristol partner venue, the wonderful Curzon Cinema, Clevedon. The Wrong Trousers LIVE will be repeated at the Christmas Spiegeltent on Sunday November 30th
Bookings are available for additional performances throughout 2025 | 26
For full information and to book "The Wrong Trousers Live" for your venue, please contact us here
Centred on a live performance, together with screening of Bristol-based Aardman Animations classic movie "The Wrong Trousers", this engaging one hour family performance also includes live music from a range of leading additional animation studios, including Pixar's "The Incredibles", Disney's "Sorceror's Apprentice" and "Encanto", Dreamworks' "How To Train Your Dragon" alongside the full score and movie screening of "The Wrong Trousers"
The first performance took place on Sunday July 14th at regular City of Bristol partner venue, the wonderful Curzon Cinema, Clevedon. The Wrong Trousers LIVE will be repeated at the Christmas Spiegeltent on Sunday November 30th
Bookings are available for additional performances throughout 2025 | 26
For full information and to book "The Wrong Trousers Live" for your venue, please contact us here
The Planets 2025 | 26
Gustav Holst's large scale orchestral work "The Planets" is one of the most well known and popular orchestral suites of the 20th century. Completed in 1916, the suite was transcribed for brass by composer | arranger Stephen Roberts at the request of James Watson, then Artistic Director of the famous Black Dyke Band in 1995 | 96
In 2008, the transcribed suite became the central element of an exciting science and arts collaboration between City of Bristol MD Craig Roberts and prominent scientist and author Mark Brake. The orchestral original was first performed at London's Royal Albert Hall, at a playthrough under the baton of Sir Adrian Boult, in 1918. The brass project began with the desire for a performance of the work, in celebration of the 90th anniversary. For the 2008 performance Craig and Mark worked with RCT Cultural Services to create a unique presentation of the work, complete with full theatrical lighting, digital imagery and spoken presentations on each planet
The premiere performance took place at the 2008 Welsh Brass Arts Festival and featured harpist Catrin Finch, Serendipity Choir, Parc & Dare Band and the symphonic brass of the Stadtkapelle Nurtingen & Stadtorchester Ravensburg of Germany. Following the success of that first performance, additional engagements were later undertaken, in association with Hands On Science, at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff and in the Reardon Smith Theatre of the National Museum of Wales
This exciting live music and multimedia project is being revisited in preparation for the 110th anniversary of The Planets suite and 30th anniversary of the 1995 | 96 transcription in 2025 | 26. Performances are currently scheduled at the prestigious Oriana Festival at St Elvan's, Cynon Valley in June and at Bath Abbey on Saturday October 4th
For further information on booking The Planets with 60 piece brass band, two harps and hidden chorus at your venue in 2025 | 26, please contact us here
In 2008, the transcribed suite became the central element of an exciting science and arts collaboration between City of Bristol MD Craig Roberts and prominent scientist and author Mark Brake. The orchestral original was first performed at London's Royal Albert Hall, at a playthrough under the baton of Sir Adrian Boult, in 1918. The brass project began with the desire for a performance of the work, in celebration of the 90th anniversary. For the 2008 performance Craig and Mark worked with RCT Cultural Services to create a unique presentation of the work, complete with full theatrical lighting, digital imagery and spoken presentations on each planet
The premiere performance took place at the 2008 Welsh Brass Arts Festival and featured harpist Catrin Finch, Serendipity Choir, Parc & Dare Band and the symphonic brass of the Stadtkapelle Nurtingen & Stadtorchester Ravensburg of Germany. Following the success of that first performance, additional engagements were later undertaken, in association with Hands On Science, at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff and in the Reardon Smith Theatre of the National Museum of Wales
This exciting live music and multimedia project is being revisited in preparation for the 110th anniversary of The Planets suite and 30th anniversary of the 1995 | 96 transcription in 2025 | 26. Performances are currently scheduled at the prestigious Oriana Festival at St Elvan's, Cynon Valley in June and at Bath Abbey on Saturday October 4th
For further information on booking The Planets with 60 piece brass band, two harps and hidden chorus at your venue in 2025 | 26, please contact us here
A Night - or Day! - at the Movies
A Night - or Day! - at the Movies (title dependent on scheduling) is City of Bristol's presentation of music from film. The band has a broad repertoire of movie music, which includes blockbuster soundtracks, original arrangements and presentation of little known and lost film scores, and music for silent film
Performances can be genre specific, or include repertoire from all three spheres, and tailored to the programming requirements of the venue or event. Performances to date include the 111th Birthday Celebration of the Curzon Cinema, Clevedon
Repertoire options include:
Blockbuster Soundtracks
Programme includes
Batman (1990)
E.T. (1982)
The Hobbit (2012-2014)
How To Train Your Dragon (2010 | 2025)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
Spiderman (2002)
Star Wars (1977)
Lesser Known Film
Programme includes
Ladyhawke (1983)
Mercury Rising (1998)
Supergirl (1984)
Silent Classics to accompany live film screenings
Keaton: Haunted House (1921) 27 mins
Keaton: One Week (1920) 19 mins
Haggar: The Bather's Revenge (1904) 1 min
Haggar: The Desperate Poaching Affray (1903) 3 mins
Haggar: The Sheepstealer (1908) 9 mins
Haggar: The Life of Charles Peace (1905)
Family Film
Full features, with live screening
A Grand Day Out (1989) 24 mins
The Wrong Trousers (1993) 30 mins
The Snowman (1982) 26 mins
Additional Repertoire
Cartoon Music
Chicken Run
How To Train Your Dragon
The Incredibles
When She Loved Me (from Toy Story 2)
Performances can be genre specific, or include repertoire from all three spheres, and tailored to the programming requirements of the venue or event. Performances to date include the 111th Birthday Celebration of the Curzon Cinema, Clevedon
Repertoire options include:
Blockbuster Soundtracks
Programme includes
Batman (1990)
E.T. (1982)
The Hobbit (2012-2014)
How To Train Your Dragon (2010 | 2025)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
Spiderman (2002)
Star Wars (1977)
Lesser Known Film
Programme includes
Ladyhawke (1983)
Mercury Rising (1998)
Supergirl (1984)
Silent Classics to accompany live film screenings
Keaton: Haunted House (1921) 27 mins
Keaton: One Week (1920) 19 mins
Haggar: The Bather's Revenge (1904) 1 min
Haggar: The Desperate Poaching Affray (1903) 3 mins
Haggar: The Sheepstealer (1908) 9 mins
Haggar: The Life of Charles Peace (1905)
Family Film
Full features, with live screening
A Grand Day Out (1989) 24 mins
The Wrong Trousers (1993) 30 mins
The Snowman (1982) 26 mins
Additional Repertoire
Cartoon Music
Chicken Run
How To Train Your Dragon
The Incredibles
When She Loved Me (from Toy Story 2)
The Snowman Live
In addition to our wide range of annual Christmas events and carol performances, COBBB are delighted to offer our family Christmas performance "The Snowman Live!" each December
A one hour festive programme for all the family, "The Snowman Live" features City of Bristol Brass Band in popular Christmas music from "Frozen", "The Polar Express" plus the full score with LIVE screening of the British animated classic "The Snowman"
Performances have been undertaken to delighted sell-out audiences at St George's, Bristol; Trinity Academy; and the Curzon Cinema, Clevedon
The band look forward to presenting "The Snowman Live" again in December 2025 at the Curzon Cinema and at the prestigious Arnolfini Gallery. The show will return to St George's in 2026
For further information on booking The Snowman Live for weekends in 2025 | 26, please contact us here
A one hour festive programme for all the family, "The Snowman Live" features City of Bristol Brass Band in popular Christmas music from "Frozen", "The Polar Express" plus the full score with LIVE screening of the British animated classic "The Snowman"
Performances have been undertaken to delighted sell-out audiences at St George's, Bristol; Trinity Academy; and the Curzon Cinema, Clevedon
The band look forward to presenting "The Snowman Live" again in December 2025 at the Curzon Cinema and at the prestigious Arnolfini Gallery. The show will return to St George's in 2026
For further information on booking The Snowman Live for weekends in 2025 | 26, please contact us here
