Take a band that met as students and fast forward twelve years. You’ll see ups and downs, some new faces but always the same drive and curiosity. This is Beats & Pieces Big Band – a tight-knit bunch of 14 musicians with diverse individual careers and a shared history. The original compositions of bandleader and conductor Ben Cottrell, specifically written for these musicians, embrace modern textures and techniques while acknowledging and celebrating their large ensemble lineage. Expect a distinctive blend of rocking energy and precise dynamics, infectious floor-filling rhythms and widescreen arrangements, and generous individual freedom alongside tight collective interplay.

The band tours regularly across the UK, Europe and further afield, marking their 10th anniversary in 2018 with their debut North American tour. New music is on the way from the band – in January 2020 they recorded their third studio album with support from Help Musicians UK and MOBO Trust.

A driving force of the vibrant Manchester music scene and one of the most striking ensembles of its kind, the group continues to win new fans and friends across Europe and beyond. Beats & Pieces is not an average ‘big band’ – rather a band that’s big.