About the Band

  • Backhouse Brass is a six-piece brass band reimagining traditional chamber music with upbeat, funky arrangements of songs everyone loves. Formed in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the group began as a one-off act for a high school concert—but when the 2020 pandemic hit, they decided to get creative instead of giving up. With extra time to rehearse and arrange, they took their sound to the boardwalks of Cape Breton, energizing crowds with their high-octane performances and unique brass-driven sound.

    Now, the Canadian ensemble performs across festivals, bars, weddings, and any stage that can get the masses moving—while still finding time for their signature waterfront shows. They’ve since become a staple of Nova Scotia’s live music scene, appearing at events such as Blueberry Jam, Rankin’s Winter Warmers, Sydney Ribfest, The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival, Rock The Fiddle, and Levee On The Lake in Sackville, New Brunswick.

    In 2025, Backhouse Brass expanded into original music, releasing their debut single “Liquorice Sandwich” on all streaming platforms, with more original material on the way. They’ve also shared stages with renowned artists including Jim Cuddy, Joel Plaskett, Classified, Rankin MacInnis and The Broken Reeds, The Barra MacNeils, and Gordie Sampson.

    Their travels have taken them throughout Nova Scotia and beyond—from Sydney and Halifax to Antigonish, Wolfville, and Sackville. In May 2024, the band gained widespread media attention for performing five days of not-for-profit concerts at 15 Cape Breton Regional Centre for Education schools, giving back to the same music programs that shaped them and inspiring the next generation of musicians.

    Backhouse Brass continues to bring infectious energy and brass-fueled joy wherever they go—celebrating music, community, and the power of live performance.