Encontro Massed Band Extravaganza

We are thrilled to be presenting two exciting collaborations in George Square to open the 2019 edition of The Encontro Street Band Festival!

1.30pm

The Encontro Pick-Up Band brings together individual players from all across the UK (and a handful from further afield too) - building a rabble rousing pop-up band for one weekend only! Led by artists Mika De Oliveira of ART BRASIL and Marcus Britton of OiMusica, this is an Encontro Festival first! 

2pm

This will be swiftly followed by our 2019 Encontro Massed Band - an awe-inspiring collaboration which unites players from all of this year's invited bands! That's 250 players from 16 different bands and 6 countries, coming together to form one mighty ensemble.

The massed band offers an exciting platform for artists of different backgrounds and specialisms to come together and create something truly unique. This year's theme is the carnival music of Cuba, and we are delighted to present a piece created collaboratively by Christian Weaver of La Timbala, Roddy Dickson of SambaYaBamba and Richard Starry Urchin of Brass, Aye?.

Massed horns, drums, singers and a good dash of adrenaline!

We are grateful to Creative Scotland for funding support in creating the above collaborations.