Bristol

Big

Band

Society

Bristol Big Band Society

Bristol Beacon

Old Market Assembly

O2 Academy

Pizza Express Soho

Wills Memorial Building

Mr Wolfs

Strange brew

Anson Rooms

SWX

The Fleece

Goldney Hall

The Canteen

About us

The Big Band Society consists of The Bristol Hornstars, our auditioned group, and Bristol University Jazz Orchestra (BUJO), our non-auditioned ensemble. We perform swing, funk, Latin and pop numbers at regular gigs all over Bristol and beyond, and also provide skilled players with paid opportunities through frequent small group gigs.

Our two incredible bands feature the most talented musicians in the university, and we regularly play gigs throughout the city. We are available for hire to all student societies, external organisations and private groups – if you know someone who needs a big band to bring the party vibes, reach out! Follow us on insta @bigbandsoc (or scroll down) for updates on upcoming gigs.

View Band Members

Joining info

Upcoming gigs

Sorry, it looks like there aren’t any upcoming gigs available to view right now. Follow us on social media or check back later for updates!

Listen

Recorded live by Jonathon Scott and his team of second-year music students from the Victoria Rooms in early 2020 “I Feel for You” is the first official single released by the Bristol Hornstars since their creation in 2008. Arranged by C Mulvenna from the 1984 version by Chaka Khan, this refreshing Big Band take features funky horn licks, powerful harmonizing vocals, and a top drawer sax solo from Jordan White.

“Tremendous brassy reworking of the Chaka Kahn classic. Makes me want to put on my disco shoes, shirt and pants and hit the dancefloor as soon as possible!” – Chris Arnold (BBC Uploads Track of the Week)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tk84LxNKes

They’re Ace… they are supreme at what they do, they’re just so good!
— Claire Cavanagh, BBC Radio Bristol
Energetic and exciting performance of a range of different styles of music that had the crowd singing along and dancing throughout the set!
— Kate Bilton, JFS
Both bands have gigged at the Cori Tap for well over a decade. Consistently great musicianship; they always attract a great crowd – and good times are had by all!
— Jan, the Cori Tap

Committee

Previous positions

Hire us

Love what you hear? Let’s make it happen! We recommend giving our guide to hire a quick read before scrolling down and getting in touch to discuss your requirements! See below for FAQs.

Alternatively, get in touch with us using the following email addresses:

Booking requests: bookings@bigbandsoc.co.uk

General enquiries: contact@bigbandsoc.co.uk

What services do you offer?

You’re able to view all our packages on our ‘How to Hire Guide’ – Please click here to view.

How much floor space will you need?

The bands are very versatile when fitting into venues however we do recommend these measurements as a guide to our size.
Hornstars: 16ft wide x 12ft deep (5m x 4m)
BUJO: 25ft wide x 16ft deep (8m x 5m)
Small ensemble (4 Players): 8ft wide x 10ft deep (2.5m x 3m)

What equipment do I need to provide?
You will not need to provide any equipment; we will supply all our own equipment for your private booking. All we ask is that we are near plug sockets.

Do you take song requests?
We sadly do not take requests as our set-lists are decided at the beginning of the academic year.

Do you have an example of the music you play?

Please click below for Spotify playlists containing setlists from previous years:
Hornstars Setlist
BUJO Setlist

Do you play at events for charity?

We do play events for charity, events such as these are taken on a case-by-case basis, so please get in touch and we can see what we can arrange.

What type of events can you be hired for?

We can be hired for any private event such as: Student Formals, Weddings, Formal Functions and many more…

Still curious? Drop us a message and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

Site by Ali Barton.

Spotify

Instagram

Facebook