On 27 March 2015, Brass Knuckle Brass Band (BKBB) will launch their debut album Split Lip at Transit Bar. The show will feature a slew of guest appearances as part of BKBB’s set, including local emcees Citizen Kay, Hayds and Roshambo, as well as Bec Taylor, front-woman of Fun Machine and Glitoris.
“This album’s been a long time coming,” said trumpet player Cam Smith.
“A few years ago I talked some friends into doing a Wednesday night funk gig, promising it’d only be one-time thing. Luckily they seemed to forget that part, and we’ve been playing solidly ever since.”
Some of the band’s first bookings included playing background music at craft beer festivals and playing in between poetry slammers while blocking access to the Phoenix Pub toilets. More recently, BKBB has opened for funk heavyweights Charles Bradley and Fred Wesley, and played at Falls Festival and Woodford Folk Festival.
In 2013, BKBB collaborated with Citizen Kay on the single Raise a Glass, which became a Triple J favourite.
“Working on Raise a Glass gave us the idea to get in touch with some other great vocalists for our own record,” Smith said.
As well as the instrumental funk and New Orleans repertoire that BKBB is known for, Split Lip features collaborations with Sarsha Simone (formerly Roxy Ray of Dojo Cuts), Kira Puru (Kira Puru and the Bruise) and James Grim (Brothers Grim and the Blue Murders). The release also includes sousaphone-fuelled hip-hop cuts courtesy of Citizen Kay, Roshambo and Hayds.
“The Canberra launch will be pretty special,” sousaphone player David Abkiewicz said.
“Not just because it’s a hometown show, but it might be the only time we’ll get so many of the album’s featured artists together at once. Add in the awesome Bec Taylor and … look, you should probably just come.”
Split Lip will be released on CD, vinyl and online from 27 March 2015. Visit www.brassknucklebrassband.com for more information.
When: 27 March 2015
Time: 8pm ($5 entry)
Where: Transit Bar, Civic
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