FROM OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: LET’S KEEP THE SUMMER GOING!

The Orchestre International du Vetex is a fabulous European street band and this Saturday, they’re coming to Bell Square. It’s the finale of Hounslow’s Summer of Culture festival and they’re going to kick up a party atmosphere.

What better way to wrap up the festival than with a street band! These bands are the sound of celebration from Brazil to New Orleans, from the Balkans to Delhi. Brass bands across the UK are part of this same tradition, from Cardiff to Saltire, from the Pennines to Omagh.

All these bands play music for everyone, music for the streets and public space. They’re there for parades, processions, weddings and funerals, for dancing, for protests, for display and for ceremony. These musicians take up their instruments to support the struggle against social injustice and to bring life and colour to the streets.

Orchestre International Du Vetex

Their history goes back to medieval times but over the last 25 years, there has been an explosion of street bands in Europe, and also in the US with a new wave of New Orleans bands.

Orchestre International du Vetex sprang up as part of this resurgence in Europe. The band has musicians from Belgium, France and the Balkans and this year, they celebrate their 20th birthday.

They play an electrifying combination of Latin-inspired Balkan music, mixed up with tarantella, polka or cumbia – all with a nice punky edge!

The sound of their trumpets, trombones, saxophones, accordion, sousaphone, bass drum and percussion will fill the town centre on Saturday 28 September at 8.00 pm.

Come and celebrate. There is still sunshine and joy in being together – let’s keep the summer going!