Serious

A firm favourite on the Festival scene last year Penguin Café is the latter-day reincarnation of the original Penguin Cafe Orchestra, founded in 1972 by Simon Jeffes.  “Twelve years on, Jeffes’ son, Arthur, is reviving the music and adding a little of his own with a nine-piece band featuring the unique mix of ukuleles, strings, percussion, electric bass and piano…….and the unlikely blend of African rhythm, folk fiddle and classical cadences works its whimsical magic....Their brand of gentle revelry will go down just fine.”  (The Times) 

Their quintessentially English sound is influenced by folk, bluegrass, avant garde classical music and pop, and has continuing cult status, especially for tunes such as ‘Telephone and Rubber Band’ or ‘Music for a Found Harmonium’. Penguin Café  led by Arthur Jeffes, boasts an eclectic line-up of instruments, ranging from violin, cello and piano, to ukulele, harmonium to penny whistles and guitars.  Providing a fresh take on the original sound, the band is an ever shifting collection of musicians and music, with Arthur adding new compositions to the repertoire as they go.

“Penguin Cafe provide a beautifully sympathetic interpretation of Simon Jeffes’ original vision. After Penguin Cafe glided their way effortlessly through two 45-minute-long sets and an encore, the only thing left for the audience to do was jump straight to their feet and cheer in utter appreciation......” (Manchester City Life).

Penguin Café are currently recording their first album after an international tour of summer festivals and they play the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall in early September.

Line-up:
Arthur Jeffes - Piano, Cuatros
Neil Codling - Piano, Uke
Tom Chichester-Clark - Cuatro, Guitar
Des Murphy – Ukelele
Rebecca Waterworth - Cello
Vincent Greene - Viola
Darren Berry -  Violin
Andrew Waterworth - Double Bass
Cass Browne - Percussion