The Tomra Band from Norway is in the final stages of an innovative collaboration with Norwegian rock band Wired and British composer Dave Collins.

To open their banding year later this month, the band has invited local guest musicians from outside the brass scene to join them on stage to be conducted by MD Nick Ost.

Rock band

In the first half, Tomra will play a traditional brass band programme — from ‘Labour & Love’ to music by Grieg. However, the second half will feature the music of Wired, a leading rock band formed by guitarist and songwriter Trond Salthammer.

The band’s critically acclaimed first album, ‘Sunshine Drive’ was released in 2011 and since then they have built up a huge following, which is sure to gain new fans with the joint performances of their best known hits, ‘Sunshine Drive’ and ‘Tut Ank Amon’, in new arrangements by Dave Collins.

Increase profile

Tomra Band Manager, Stijn Berbé told 4BR: "The concert is being staged to increase our profile in our own community.

We hope to attract listeners who haven´t heard a brass band before and vice versa. The party atmosphere attracts those who will never attend a band concert, but in that way they will become familiar with Tomra Brass."

We hope to attract listeners who haven´t heard a brass band before and vice versa. The party atmosphere attracts those who will never attend a band concert, but in that way they will become familiar with Tomra BrassTomra Brass

Fantastic

Composer Dave Collins added: "It’s been fantastic to be invited to work on this project with Tomra Band and Wired.

It is very refreshing to see new approaches to banding and I hope to see initiatives like this appearing more in our banding scene in the UK."