Meze Mundo is a world music street band formed at the Sage Gateshead in 2005, and we are now a diverse group of instrumentalists from around Tyneside, Northumberland and Durham. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings, 7.00 – 9.00 at the Robert Stewart Memorial Church, Wingrove Road, Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne. LIke most street bands, the basis of our sound is brass and woodwind: alto and tenor saxophones, clarinets and trombone. We are distinctive in also featuring the lighter textures of flutes and violin, and a rhythm section which includes tenor banjo and percussion, with Sousaphone providing a solid bass. We have also at times featured soprano and baritone saxophones and accordion.

Our line-up makes us light on our feet, and we can play in all kinds of locations – indoors but mostly outdoors, and sometimes on the move, eg in parades. We wear band colours, and also feature movement to enhance performance. Band members need a basic grasp of their instrument. This includes, for melody instruments, the ability to read music, or pick up the parts by ear, and to memorise parts for performances. A willingness to improvise solos, and take part in performance moves could be helpful. We play mostly in a handful of flat keys suited to brass and woodwind, eg concert F, Bb, Eb. We are very friendly, and happy to help new members settle in. Our tunes are mostly simple and straightforward, and very varied, including Caribbean ska, Latin American, klezmer, Balkans, pop tunes, African township, New Orleans, jazz, and even one or two of our original compositions. Musicians who are interested in joining the band are invited to get in touch via the contact button on each page, or our “contact us” page.