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.
Perhaps Contraption 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 touring in Europe in support of Amanda Palmer.
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.
They were Artists-in-residence on Snape Maltings prestigious ‘Open Space’ programme during 2017-19, the ensemble created a new theatrical experience called Nearly Human, which won the 2019 LET (Les Enfants Terribles) award for new theatre, and premiered as part of the Pleasance Futures Programme at Edinburgh Fringe 19.
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.
Nominated for IDEA award
OFFIE Award - Edinburgh Festival
To perform at Pleasance Futures - Edinburgh Festival 2019
LET Award for New Theatre
Artists in Residence (2017-19)
Snape Maltings Open Space
2013- (we have since emerged to excellence)
Help Musicians Emerging Excellence Award
Judges Prize
Cirque et Fanfare Festival (France)
Winner (2015)
Haizetara International Street Music competition (Spain)
Winner (2014)
Haizetara International Street Music competition (Spain)
“High-energy progressive brass”
The Guardian
“A beguiling, euphoric blast of energy.”
The Scotsman
“Both baffling and endearing. Perhaps Contraption are intriguing and capable of creating music of such original intensity”
Prog Magazine
“Big and exuberant, feels like the Pixies meets The Squirrel Nut Zippers”
Spindle Magazine
“beautiful strangeness”
The Music Journal.com
“an epic, brass fuelled slice of odd-pop”
Joyzine
“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
“Bizarre sonic experiments in mind-twisting melodies”
thisiscabaret.com
“A joyous soundclash of choral harmonies and polished brass”
Trebuchet Magazine
“Perhaps Contraption have the rare joy of being unbelievably talented, but also collaboratively telepathic. You feel at once as though you’re watching something meticulously crafted and beautifully chaotic”
Musical Theatre Review
“The band has a strict musical discipline and untrammelled punky energy, somewhere between the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and British ska band Madness”
LondonJazzNews.com
“A wave of euphoria sweeps you up and takes you for the ride. There are not so many bands willing to experiment and be as brave as this anymore. In an era of commercial mundanity where too many play it safe, Mud Belief shows a band taking risks”
Clunk Magazine
“A musical monster: exuberant, multivocal, bewitching and disturbing all at the same time. The twisted brass sounds like Steve Reich and Andy Warhol with a Bulgarian women’s choir between them, staggering through Oktoberfest – beautiful and dead drunk.”
Buskers Bern Festival, Switzerland
“The band has a strict musical discipline and untrammelled punky energy, somewhere between the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and British ska band Madness”
LondonJazzNews.com
“Perhaps Contraption’s approach is innovative and euphoric, bewitching and overwhelming, polished and experimental. They instil a brand new appreciation for life.”
Broadway World
“a complete joy, brimming with energy and circus bravura.”
Just So Festival
Joyzine
“an epic, brass fuelled slice of odd-pop”
“beautiful strangeness”
TheMusicJournal.com
Spindle Magazine
“Big and exuberant, feels like the Pixies meets The Squirrel Nut Zippers”
“A joyous soundclash of choral harmonies and polished brass”
Trebuchet Magazine
ThisIsCabaret.com
“Bizarre sonic experiments in mind-twisting melodies”
“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”
Art Rocker
“Perhaps Contraption are a truly innovative, beguiling and quite frankly sometimes bewildering DIY band”
Loud Horizon
The Guardian
“High-energy progressive brass”
“A musical monster: exuberant, multivocal, bewitching & disturbing all at the same time. The twisted brass sounds like Steve Reich & Andy Warhol with a Bulgarian women’s choir between them, staggering through Oktoberfest – beautiful & dead drunk.”
Buskers Bern Festival, Switzerland
“A wave of euphoria sweeps you up and takes you for the ride. There are not so many bands willing to experiment and be as brave as this anymore. In an era of commercial mundanity where too many play it safe, Mud Belief shows a band taking risks”
Clunk Magazine
“Perhaps Contraption’s approach is innovative and euphoric, bewitching and overwhelming, polished and experimental. They instil a brand new appreciation for life.”
Broadway World
“The band has a strict musical discipline and untrammelled punky energy, somewhere between the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and British ska band Madness”
LondonJazzNews.com
“Perhaps Contraption have the rare joy of being unbelievably talented, but also collaboratively telepathic. You feel at once as though you’re watching something meticulously crafted and beautifully chaotic”
Musical Theatre Review
“Both baffling and endearing. Perhaps Contraption are intriguing and capable of creating music of such original intensity”
Prog Magazine
The Scotsman
“A beguiling, euphoric blast of energy.”
