The Big Smoke Family bring New Orleans funk to West Sussex

They were at the Petworth Fringe last year and were identified by the organisers as one of their most popular events.

Roy Pfeffer, drummer with the band, said: “We try to keep busy. Sometimes I wonder what defines a tour and really it is getting on a bus and doing dates back-to-back and we're not really quite doing that. In a way we tour from January to January as and when, but what is normal now really? But I would say that we do 50 to 60 gigs a year. We try to do something most weekends or sometimes we might have a run of gigs.

“The band have been going for quite a while. It has had a few incarnations. There was a lovely place near where I used to live in Hackney 15 years ago where they put on all sorts of things and I remember walking in one day and thinking that it seemed a little bit subdued so I said ‘What you need here is some New Orleans funk!’ and the guy said ‘OK, Wednesday two weeks’ time!’ and I didn't even have a band.

"But London's got a pretty good scene for musicians and we managed to put something together and that was really the start of the band.

“I am the drummer in the band.

"And I was always a fan of The Meters (an American funk band formed in 1965 in New Orleans), and they are one of the most famous New Orleans funk bands. And I've just always found that the music was something that allows us to straddle two things really. It allows us to be both communicative which is what I like about our gigs, but also very creative.

"Unlike bands that play more mainstream stuff you can come to our gigs and no two gigs would be the same and it's just really great fun and as the drummer, it is great to be able to really express yourself.

"We straddle both of those aims, to be exciting and creative and different every night with plenty of room for people to express themselves.

“New Orleans is where all black music comes from. If you trace back hip hop or whatever, it all goes back to there.

"It was the only place in America where African American people were allowed to play once a week but it was also a place where there was this huge tradition of military brass bands and it was the great mixing place for African traditions and European traditions and that's where jazz began. It is really that mishmash between the two.”

But Roy makes the point they are a band that encompasses New Orleans funk but also moves on beyond: “A lot of my drumming is very New Orleans inspired but it is also very 2022.”

The show starts at 8pm. Doors and bar open 7.30pm. Date is October 15 and tickets available via www.empirehall.org.uk

Also coming up at the venue (October 29, 7.30pm) is Chaps Choir who will also be offering a singing workshop in the afternoon.

Chaps Choir is a large male singing gang from London. Their voices have filled the Royal Festival Hall, The Union Chapel and other major London venues and UK festivals.