Brass Monkey (band)

Brass Monkey were a English folk band from the 1980s. They were innovatice in their use of a brass section which was atypical for folk music.

The band consisted of Martin Carthy (vocals, guitar, mandolin), John Kirkpatrick (vocals, accordion, concertina), Howard Evans (trumpet), Roger Williams (trombone), Martin Brinsford (harmonica, percussion, saxophone). Carthy was a well established musician at their formation, having been a member of Steeleye Span as well as leading a successful solo career. Kirkpatrick also had played with Steeleye Span for a time, and worked with Carthy in The Albion House Band prior to the formation of Brass Monkey. In 1979 the two from a trio with Evans, and a couple years later with the addition of Williams and Brinsford they formed Brass Monkey. In 1984 Williams was replaced by Richard Cheetham. the band recoreded only two albums before breaking up in 1987: Brass Monkey and See How it Runs, both primarily consisting of traditional tunes.