“I lost control and went on a dance rampage… You guys blew my mind and body.” — George Straight

Five Alarm Funk is a horn-powered, percussion-fueled sonic and visual assault. Over 17 years of hard funking, with their first appearance at TD JazzFest in 2010, the band has burned up stages on four continents, released six studio albums, and received two JUNO Award nominations. And this ride isn’t about to slow down.

Five Alarm Funk released their 7th studio album, Big Smoke, in 2020. The 11 tracks get right to the roots of what Five Alarm Funk is all about: epic, intense arrangements, heavy groove, and a ton of fun. As drummer, vocalist, and band leader Tayo Branston puts it, “Big Smoke is the tighest, funkiest and most energized album we’ve ever created… We call it Punk Funk – it’s got the punch of heavy hitting dance music with the energy of a ruckus live concert.” The album features two collaborations, the first with the legendary Bootsy Collins, and the next, baritone saxophone phenom Leo P of Too Many Zooz.

For all the honing of their studio craft, the Five Alarm Funk’s epic live show is still what defines the band. The sweat-drenched concerts are infused with an intense spirit of fun that breaks down barriers between band and audience and moves both into a manic dance party. Wild costumes, props, and choreography compliment the seriously tight arrangements and genre-mashing grooves. That live show has taken Five Alarm Funk on dozens of tours, performing at hundreds of festivals around the world. Five Alarm Funk plans to keep the momentum going in 2024 with a highly-anticipated stop at TD Victoria International JazzFest. Gabe Boothroyd guitar, Oliver Gibson guitar, Tim Parent bass, Tom Towers congas, Brent Mah saxophone, Kent Wallace trumpet

Opening for this evening will be Grapefruit is Impossible