“The Rock Orchestra” most commonly refers to a British ensemble that performs orchestral arrangements of rock and metal music, known for a theatrical stage show featuring skeletal masks, candlelight, and large skull puppets. The orchestra performs covers of popular songs from the rock and metal genres. Its stage shows feature skeletal-themed attire and face masks. The ensemble often performs by candlelight. Their lineup includes classical instruments, such as violins and cellos.
The Rock Orchestra was created in 2020 by events impresario and producer Nathan Reed, with a vision of reimagining legendary Rock and Metal with all the grace and power of classical. Complemented by a stunning gothic visual world, The Rock Orchestra breathes beautifully dark energy into your favourite songs and presents them in a wholly unique way. The show’s creator, Nathan Reed, described the idea behind the show as a spin-off of a club he was involved with: “It really started as a spin-off event. We had been running the Festival of the Dead, which we describe as a carnival, come circus, come clubbing experience. But lockdown curtailed these big weekend events.“
Its stage show features giant headbanging skull puppets.The group incorporates electric instruments, effects pedals, and amplifiers, creating a powerful and unconventional sound. Although some may question the marriage of hard rock and classical music, the epic scope of both styles of music work brilliantly together. Some tracks, such as Led Zeppelin’s Stairway To Heaven and Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters, are tailor made for an orchestral re-telling, while others, such as White Stripe’s Seven Nation Army, are a more left field choice for a classical twist.
Comprised of seven women and five men, the band covered most musical instrument categories, with string, brass, woodwind and percussion represented. Dressed all in black with various bone-related shirts or leggings, glittery face masks allowed the focus to remain on the marriage of classical and rock music.
The group has toured in the UK and the US. The orchestra’s logistics involve an 18-ton truck, two tour buses, and a crew of 24, who prepare the ensemble’s live shows. With over 400 shows and half a million guests in only 4 years, The Rock Orchestra has quickly established itself as a mainstay for rock fans worldwide and calls itself home to a rotating collective of some the world’s most talented musicians and vocalists. Every show is a unique journey traversing the two greatest genres on Earth in a way you’ve never heard before.
