Reprising their end of season blow-out and sell-out gig of 2025, Tony Orrell Big Top are back!

Jazz Propelled by Two Drummers - we're really pleased to welcome Tony Orrell's powerhouse of a band back to the club. Big Top have been a favourite at the Bristol Music Club since they made their debut back in 2017. With the incomparable Jake McMurchie up front on tenor, Dan Moore on synths and keyboards, Riaan Vosloo on bass and then the mind-boggling percussive duo of Matt Brown and Tony Orrell on drums and percussion. 

A band of big names from the Bristol scene, this promises to be an electrifying and high energy concert, a big Top gig is an extraordinary journey through the music of William Parker, Duke Ellington, Johnny Dyani, Keith Tippett, Ornette Coleman and superb original compositions by Riaan Vosloo. Not to be missed.

Press: Tony Benjamin Bristol 24/7

So what of the music? This reviewer would hail it as one of the best gigs of the year, an amazing modern jazz big band that combined very imaginative arrangements – principally from bass player/MC Riaan Vosloo and multi-reed maestro Ross Hughes – with brilliant players who could bring their distinctive personalities to whatever was thrown at them. Comparisons (favourable!) were made with the seminal Loose Tubes collective, early Mike Westbrook big bands, the Sun Ra Arkestra … all ensembles that could provide a continuous stream of delicious moments thanks to the collective talents they contained.