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 welcome new members. Find our more below.

Like most street bands, the basis of our sound is brass and woodwind: alto and tenor saxophones, clarinets and trombone. Our rhythm section includes banjo and percussion, with Sousaphone providing a solid bass.

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.

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.

We rehearse on Wednesday evenings, 7.00 – 9.00 at the Robert Stewart Memorial Church, Wingrove Road, Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Musicians who are interested in joining the band are invited to get in touch via our “contact us” page.

Other band members not featured in the main photo: