On Friday 17 September, SMOOSH! brought a 70-piece wind and brass band and a troupe of dancers performing rip-roaring pop karaoke tunes on the move to the streets of Knowle West for a safe, inclusive, and celebratory mobile street party.
Created in partnership with Bristol beacon, and in their biggest commission to date, a core of 20 musicians from Paraorchestra were joined by up to 50 community wind and brass players and an army of professional and community adult and child dancers to perform a track list of songs by artists such as Fat Boy Slim, Kate Bush, Basement Jaxx, and Adele.
An antidote to over a year of lockdown restrictions and absence of live music, SMOOSH! invited residents and visitors out onto their doorsteps to dance and sing along in a magnificent, cacophonous, communal karaoke.
Watch the film and check out a selection of shots from this amazing day below.
“We haven’t seen so many people smiling for so long” – Tina, Knowle West
Credits
Composed by Emma-Jean Thackray
Directed by Charles Hazlewood
Choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves with Beth Hinton-Lever
In partnership with Bristol Beacon and Filwood Community Centre.
SMOOSH! has been made possible with funding from The Linbury Trust, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and the Culture Recovery Fund.