Events

Every Valley, Public Service Broadcasting
EVI, Ebbw Vale Institute, South Wales

Early in the year, we were delighted to learn that our trumpeter, Jonny Abraham, was to officially join the band Public Service Broadcasting. Among several exciting projects for Jonny, this involved the recording of the band’s latest and critically acclaimed record, Every Valley, in January 2017.

The album documents the rise and fall of the Welsh coal mining industry and the Ebbw Vale Institute was chosen as an apt location to record.

Members of Riverside Brass were invited to take part in these sessions and can be heard on several tracks on the album. Indeed, Toby Street & Barnaby Philpott subsequently joined Jonny for selected performances from Public Service Broadcasting’s UK tour, a highlight of which was their sell out performance at London’s Hammersmith Apollo.

You can hire brass players for recording here.

Various engagements
London and the Home Counties

For the sorts of tunes we play at weddings and parties, see our Repertoire List. Whether classical music’s your tipple, or you love the sound of brass arrangements of pop songs, there’s a lot we can turn our valves to. And if we don’t have a tune, we’ll gladly arrange it. Contact us for more.

Upbeat carol residency
Venn Street Records, Clapham

Despite busy solo schedules, we once again reunited for our longest standing gig – playing carols to a packed bar of Christmas party revellers at Venn Street Records in Clapham.

It’s never too early to book for Christmas. Find out more about our festive brass music here.

The grand opening of “Mathematics: The Winton Gallery”
The Science Museum

It’s not every day you get asked to open an exhibition at one of the UK’s best loved museums. We gave a world première of “GUGNUNC”, a piece written for the group and percussion by composer Alistair Robertson, on the opening of this brand new permanent gallery at The Science Museum.

Business pitch event for Tata Communications
Coworth Park, Ascot, Berkshire

A first for the quintet saw us working together with business leaders from Tata Communications to put live music to their pitch. We hadn’t collaborated in this way before and we received a number of great comments about how it helped to give life to the ideas presented.

HSBC Summer Fête
HSBC Sports Club, Beckenham

An afternoon providing entertainment for HSBC’s family-friendly summer fête. A Toby Street arrangement of The Jungle Book was specially commissioned, going down a treat with the children there. Head over to our Repertoire List for more.

Various engagements
London, Gloucestershire & Monmouthshire

Much of the group’s “bread and butter” work comes from performing at weddings and parties. Here, we are able to play bespoke arrangements to suit your tastes or provide a surprise for an unsuspecting guest. Contact us to find out more.

Private wedding reception
Kachette, Shoreditch

Upbeat carol residency
Northcote, Old Street & Venn Street Records, Clapham

Although we offer light classical, jazz and popular music for weddings, many couples specifically request our Christmas tunes for December ceremonies and parties.

To find out more, head to our Christmas entertainment page.

BBC Good Food Festival
Hampton Court

We were invited to perform each day of the August Bank Holiday weekend at the BBC Good Food Festival at Hampton Court Palace. It was hungry but enjoyable work!

Corporate lunch event, Imagination Europe Ltd.
Bloomsbury, London

Dyfed Young Composers Residency
Schools across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion & Pembrokeshire

Possibly our focal event of 2015 saw us return to West Wales to complete the second part of our residency as the chosen ensemble for Young Music Makers of Dyfed. Having showcased what a brass quintet can do the previous year, we were stunned by the imaginative and talented students who each wrote amazing pieces for us. This culminated in a final performance of shortlisted compositions at Rhosygilwen in Pembrokeshire.

Various engagements
London, Buckinghamshire, Devon, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire & The Wirral

Although London based, Riverside Brass Quintet are available for booking across the UK, and so it proved in 2015. This was comprised 5 weddings and a funeral, as well as a series of garden parties on a Chelsea rooftop in June.

Carols in the courtyard
The Cotswolds

Fleet Choral Society
Elvetham Heath, Hampshire

Supporting The Buzztones’ Christmas Show, “Banterclause”
The Bedford theatre, Balham

Tommy Hilfiger: Christmas shopping entertainment
Regent Street, London

UCLH Christmas Concert
Fitzrovia, London

Upbeat carol residency
Venn Street and Northcote Records, Clapham

Once again, the group were firing on all cylinders come November & December, with our unique Christmas entertainment package at pubs, churches and shops in and around London.

Of particular note were the repeat invitations to perform again for University College London Hospital and Fleet Choral Society. The latter had a congregation of 250 playing musical chairs to our rendition of 12 Days of Christmas – a great, festive occasion.

John Lewis garden party
College Garden, Westminster Abbey

Percussion & brass fanfares
The Serpentine Gallery, London

Fasken Martineau LLP Christmas drinks reception
Hamilton Place, London

Emirates Christmas party
Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC

Dyfed Young Composers Residency
Various Locations across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion & Pembrokeshire

Although based in London, by 2014 Riverside Brass Quintet had performed a number of times in West Wales, from collaborations with The Dyfed Choir, to a Christmas performance at Rhosygilwen. This led us to be selected as Ensemble in Residence for the Dyfed Young Composers series 2014-15. The project saw us working with pupils and performing at schools across the 3 counties of West Wales, introducing them to music for brass quintet and encouraging them to write their own pieces for the group.

Various engagements
London, Hertfordshire & Surrey

We performed at 4 weddings and civil partnerships in 2014, spanning London and the Home Counties. To find out more about the music we offer for weddings, head to our Live Wedding Music page.

Christmas lights switch on
Wanstead, London

Recording session and filming
Michael McIntyre’s Very Christmassy Christmas Show

UCLH Christmas Concert
Fitzrovia, London

Upbeat carol residency
Venn Street and Northcote Records, Clapham

As well as our usual carols and drinks residency at Clapham’s Venn Street and Northcote Records bars, we were delighted to make our TV debut in 2014. We were selected to record a version of Rocking Around The Christmas Tree and White Christmas (both arranged by members of the group) for Michael McIntyre’s Very Christmassy Christmas Show which The BBC aired on the evening of Christmas Day. Not only did this involve a recording session where we sourced 5 extra players and percussion for a dectet, but required us to choreograph a routine while none other than Robbie Williams sang from a rooftop bar overlooking Covent Garden. To hear the recording of Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, head to our Christmas Entertainment page.

Royal Over-Seas League Competition
Over-Seas House, London

With 2 years’ professional experience behind us, we decided it was time to spread our wings and compete in a professional competition for the first time. As a result, we entered the prestigious Royal Over-Seas League Wind Ensemble Competition, where we thoroughly enjoyed playing a varied programme of Latin, contemporary and light music. We were successful in finishing up as semi-finalists.

A concert of coronation music with The Dyfed Choir
St Peter’s Church, Goodwick (Pembrokeshire)

We were delighted to build upon our connection with West Wales in this Spring concert. On our 3rd trip to Pembrokeshire, Riverside Brass Quintet accompanied The Dyfed Choir in an exciting Coronation Music-influenced programme, with some solo pieces added for good measure!

Performance for the Honourable Artillery Company sports event
The City of London

Corporate event
Cutty Sark, Greenwich

Music for ‘60 years at the Bar’ celebration
Cardiff Castle, Wales

Wedgewood Britain: music for corporate party
House of Lords, London

Saracens RFC & Heineken Cup matchday entertainment
Allianz Park, North London & Twickenham Stadium

Polo event
Jodhpur, India

Saturday 16th February marked our very first gig of this nature – providing matchday entertainment for Aviva Premiership rugby club, Saracens RFC. Following the success of the inaugural event, we were unveiled as their new in-house band for the 2012-13 season, providing up-tempo music for all home matches, as well as Heineken Cup matches at Twickenham. Believe it or not, this led a group consisting of Riverside Brass members and guests to journey into the heart of India to perform music at a prestigious Jodhpur polo match!

Various engagments
London

We performed at a number of weddings and civil partnerships in 2013. Please see our Reviews section to read more.

Christmas Collection unveiling
Louis Vuitton, Mayfair

Fleet Choral Society
Elvetham Heath, Hampshire

Upbeat carol residency
Venn Street and Northcote Records, Clapham

‘Proms in the Garden’
Newport Music Society, Pembrokeshire

This was an open-air concert at Cotham Lodge, Newport, Pembrokeshire. The plan was for Concert-goers to picnic outside while we performed a varied recital with links to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics. It was a mini ‘Proms in the Park’ style event and, despite the threatening weather, was much enjoyed!

‘Christmas Gala Concert’
Rhosygilwen, Pembrokeshire

Thanks to the success of our first summer outing in West Wales, we were invited to come up again during Christmas time, on this occasion for Rhosygilwen’s annual Christmas Gala Concert. Situated in the heart of Pembrokeshire, we braved torrential rain and flooding to journey from London for this exciting concert, where we shared the stage with the fabulous Tri Tenor vocal ensemble.

Olympic events for Eurostar
St Pancras International Station, London

Following on from our appearance at the 1 year to go event the previous year, we were itching to be a part of the London Olympic Games in 2012. We were asked back by Eurostar to spend two mornings at St Pancras International Station, playing fanfares for the departure of both Olympians and Paralympians from a really successful games. It was great to meet the French and Dutch teams and play them out with anthems and national songs!

Westminster Music Service, Education Recitals
Our Lady of Dolours Primary School
St Mary Magdalene Primary School

2012 marked the start of our educational workshops and recitals. This education project, in partnership with Westminster Music Service, introduced children to brass instruments and the ‘brass quintet’. It was a great experience and the feedback from the school and pupils was really positive. If you get a chance, do check out the lovely drawings that were done for us in the Reviews section.

Various engagements
London, Gloucestershire, Hampshire & Suffolk

We performed at a number of weddings during 2012, both during the service and providing music for receptions/wedding breakfast. We were particularly honoured to play at a 60th Wedding Anniversary and continued where we left off in 2011 with an array of birthday parties.

As well as our debut Christmas recital at Rhosygilwen, we were very busy throughout the festive season at the following engagements:

Christmas Market
Braintree, Essex

Christmas Market
Roehampton University, London

Festive Entertainment, Heathrow Xpress
Paddington Station, London

Teddington Choral Society
Teddington, Middlesex

Upbeat carol residency
Venn Street Records, Clapham

Schools Christmas Concert
Southwark Cathedral, London

Carols by Candlelight
Highgate, London

Christmas 2012 was a fantastic time for Riverside Brass Quintet. It was during the previous festive period that we made our debut performance at Venn Street Records. This inspired us to create a Christmas-based album of popular music, Riverside’s Yuletide, and it was our pleasure to feature it in these concerts at the end of 2012. We were very glad to be invited back to Southwark Cathedral and Venn Street Records but also to engage in new ventures across London, Essex and Pembrokeshire! It’s never too early to organise a Christmas Event – to find out more about our Christmas Entertainment Package, do contact us.

London Marathon post-race reception
Wellington Barracks, Westminster

Riverside Brass Quintet provided entertainment for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity marathon reception. The majority of the marathon runners were serving or former soldiers and we were delighted to be playing for them.

Lunchtime recitals:

St. George’s Church
Hanover Square, London

St. Stephen’s Church
Gloucester Road, London

Lincoln’s Inn Old Hall
Holborn, London

We were invited to give a number of recitals in 2011. These included two Independence Day recitals, music for the unveiling of a statue for the Ronald Reagan foundation and various programmes of light music for Lincoln’s Inn Old Hall.

Royal College of Music performances:

Britten Theatre & Concert Hall
Royal College of Music, London

Although the majority of Riverside Brass Quintet had graduated by this stage, we’ve always been keen to keep ties with the Royal College of Music. We were delighted to represent the RCM for its prestigious Open Day concert, take part in a Chamber Music Spotlight: 20th Century performance and honoured to present and host the annual Brass Ensemble Showcase.

Chopin statue unveiling
Festival Hall, Southbank

Dignitaries including HRH The Duke of Gloucester hosted a ceremony to unveil a statue of Chopin in the presence of HE The Polish Ambassador at the Royal Festival Hall. Riverside Brass Quintet were joined by members of Triumph Brass to play light entrance music as well as the British & Polish National Anthems for this prestigious event.

One-year to go Olympic event
Eurostar, St Pancras International Station

This was a really exciting morning at St Pancras International Station, where we played fanfares for the arrival of athletes from all over Europe. Presented by Lord Coe and members of the Olympic Committee, this was a ‘One Year To Go’ celebration for London 2012 in cooperation with Eurostar.

Various engagements
London and beyond

One reason for forming the group was to champion the flexibility and versatility of the brass ensemble, tailoring performances for any event. 2011 saw us apply this approach to weddings, building a repertoire that enabled us to play at ceremonies, receptions & wedding breakfasts. Elsewhere, we provided background music for a 50th birthday party.

Schools Christmas Concert
Southwark Cathedral, London

Corporate Christmas Party
Whitehall, London

Upbeat carol residency
Venn Street and Northcote Records, Clapham

People came from far and wide for a good old sing-song at our inaugural Venn Street Records Carols & Drinks event. We showcased our new Christmas arrangements as well as some more traditional fayre, bringing with us song sheets and leading the chorus with a professional singer! This led to the creation of our Christmas Entertainment Package, which has been rolled out to pubs, retail stores and hotels across London each and every year since.