Five Alarm Funk

Afro-Beat Grooves, Funk and Jazz.
A Frenzied Dance Party!

Five Alarm Funk is Vancouver’s own afro-funk orchestra. For more than four years the band has brought their relentless grooves to clubs and major festivals across Western Canada. Intense horn lines and percolating  afro-beat guitar combined with the interplay of four percussionists  create an unstoppable dance party.  On May 1st, 2008 the band released Voodoo Hairdoo, their second studio album. Five Alarm Funk will tour through summer 2008 to promote their new disc. 

The band’s wicked cross-rhythms and frenetic, costumed stage show appeals to jazz fans and clubs kids alike. Five Alarm Funk has carved out a word of mouth fan base from a series of crowd-pleasing performances at clubs, concert halls, and festivals throughout B.C.

Five Alarm Funk has built an enthusiastic fan base large enough to twice fill the Commodore with over 900 fans in 2007. Every performance is an unstoppable dnace party. The intense horn lines, percolating Afro-beat guitar and explosive percussion section are irresistable.

The 11-piece phenomenon has performed over 120 shows throughout Western Canada, sharing stages with such artists as Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Herbaliser, Sly & Robbie, Fishbone and Xavier Rudd. The groups first release, put out in March 2006, has sold over 2500 copies.

The band’s playful, high-energy live show is fueled by skin-tight arrangements and raw, sweat-drenched passion. From its founding as a six-piece in 2003, the young band has grown into one of the most exciting and unique groups in Canada.

Five Alarm Funk’s upcoming album, Voodoo Hairdoo, captures the boundless energy of their live show. It is a journey from fast funk and dance-crazed Latin to epic reggae and thunderous Afro-beat. The albums’ first single “Keep Me Up All Night” is a slap-bass driven, heavy funk workout reminisent of Earth Wind & Fire. The song features guest apperences by soul-singing powerhouses Tim Fuller and Dawn Pemberton, adding a new element to the band’s trademark instrumental grooves. 

Five Alarm Funk’s wacky costumes and stage antics guarantee a frenzied dance party, but the boys in the band can really play too. The group’s tenor saxophonist, Eli Bennett was recently chosen to perform at this year’s Grammy Awards as a member of a North American all-star band.. Five Alarm Funk can pack a dance floor, but they’ve got tons of jazz chops too. They’ve got it all. They’re the real deal. Check ‘em out!                                                             

FIVE ALARM FUNK IS:

Tayo Branston - Drums/Vocals 
Tom Towers – Congas                                Nimish Parekh - Trombone
Carl Julig - Timbales                                   Max Murphy - Baritone Sax
Justin Kennedy – Percussion                      Dameian – Alto/Tenor Sax
Neil Towers – Bass                                     Ryan Naso - Trumpet
Oliver Gibson - Guitar                                 Gabe Boothroyd - Guitar