Orkestra del Sol

Orkestra del Sol

Orkestra del Sol is a Scotland-based group that blends brass band energy with a wide range of international styles. Their music combines Balkan brass influences with samba, New Orleans street music, and rhythms from Turkey and the Middle East, performed with a fast, rock and roll drive.

The group cites Balkan brass figures such as Boban Markovic, Mahala Rai Banda and Fanfare Ciocarlia among its influences, alongside Calypso and Mento, The Specials, Tom Zé, Duke Ellington, Stephane Grapelli, Tom Waits, Elvis, Fats Waller, Bollywood, Sevdah and Dubstep. Their approach mixes these references into a sound that resists fixed genre labels.

Humour is also part of the act’s identity. The band uses comic, Python- and Gilliamesque-style album artwork and mounts theatrical live shows. Their musicianship is described as being presented with tongue-in-cheek humour, which forms a central part of their performance style.