An unforgettable spectacle

Wherever this surprising and very humorous orchestra appears on their 4 meter-long tandem, they steal the hearts of the audience. Mouths fall open in astonishment and there is laughter in the air.

Catchy, cheerful music emanates from the six figures on the enormous bicycle. Suddenly the colossus stops, the musicians get off amid a lot of fuss and bother and they start on an unparalleled tattoo, a hilarious ballet act or an absurd slapstick act with acrobatic feats. They don’t hesitate to flummox the spectators and making fun of themselves is one of the ingredients. When the tandem finally leaves amid a whirl of commotion, the audience is in no doubt they have witnessed a unique spectacle.

The Dutch Bicycle Band “Fietsorkest” from Eindhoven (founded in 2002) plays in the following line-up: trumpet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, accordion, bass tuba, bass drum, cymbals and bicycle bell. The repertoire includes circus and film music (Nino Rota, Laurel & Hardy), klezmer, ragtime and jazz.

The bicycle orchestra steals the show at street theatre festivals, parades, open air parties, at official openings of roads and cycle paths and in shopping centres all over Europe (including Brussels, Antwerp, Salzburg, Paris, Metz, Barcelona, Malaga, Milan, Istanbul, Düsseldorf and Cologne.)

Playing time is by agreement, usually three sets of 40 minutes (in the space of 4 hours).