A Carnival Band concert is a kaleidoscope of instrumental and vocal colour, crossing continents, travelling through time, and bending the rules. Between them the band’s musicians have a track record in folk, contemporary, classical, baroque, medieval and Arabic music. Moving effortlessly from one to another they add a sprinkling of rock, world music and theatricality for extra flavour. Their own songs draw on this rich palette, perfectly complementing the music of earlier centuries and other cultures and bringing their repertoire right up to date.From the vibrant blare of shawms, bagpipes and electric guitar to the seductive tones of Turkish clarinet and fiddle and the enchanting delicacy of the renaissance cittern, The Carnival Band mix and match their collection of over twenty instruments, adding vocal harmony to create an astonishing range of sounds.
The band is composed of Andy Watts (Shawm, recorder, bagpipes, curtal, clarinet, melodica, vocals), Giles Lewin (Violin, recorder, flute, shawm, bagpipes, vocals), Jub (Double bass, vocals) and Steno Vitale (Acoustic and electric guitars, Renaissance cittern, mandolin, vocals).
The band was founded in 1983 by Andy Watts and Giles Lewin, together with Bill Badley, after Watts had been the musical director of an open-air Medieval Players production of Rabelais Gargantua. The show featured actors, giant carnival characters, puppets, acrobatics, juggling and 16th-century music. The three founding members were musicians with the Medieval Players. Together with percussionist Charles Fullbrook the quartet made their debut on the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool canal at the Burnley Canalside Festival in 1984. Andrew ‘Jub’ Davis joined the band for a New Years’ concert in 1985 and, according to “this date marks the band’s real birthday”.
They have toured the UK appearing at festivals and giving concerts in venues ranging from village halls to London’s Cadogan Hall. Abroad they have ventured as far as Japan, with visits to Sudan and the Middle East for the British Council. Among their eleven CD’s are several with First Lady of folk, Maddy Prior. Recently they have recorded with an impressive roster of singers including Nancy Kerr, John Kirkpatrick and Vivien Ellis for a major project documenting the 100 most popular ballads of the 17th century.
From toddlers concerts to choirs for adults, their education and community work embraces all ages. Their engaging humour belies a consummate musicianship, a deep love of the music they perform and a passion to share it with as wide an audience as possible. ‘The Carnival Band – aka Henry VIII’s Rock ‘n Roll band – created glorious chaos at the Courtyard, delighting a full house in the process. (Hereford Times).
