Cosmic Sausages

Biography

With a repertoire of hundreds of songs, melodies and theme tunes, the Cosmic Sausages take their audience on a madcap musical tour of the world, meeting up with James Bond, Serge Gainsbourg, the Mafia, deranged cowboys, faith-healers, Cossacks and overacting pop stars along the way.

Appearing first as a gentle folk band and armed only with acoustic instruments, close harmonies and a shared vision of the surreal, the Cosmic Sausages ambush their audience with a sustained barrage of pop classics, mixing theatre, circus, slapstick, competitions, crowd participation and insane walkabout into their superb act.

The Cosmic Sausages were formed in 1990 and developed their show during an epic 5-month European tour taking in 12 countries and performing their street shows over 250 times.

They have returned to Europe frequently, appearing at numerous street theatre and music festivals in places such as Ferrara, Neuchatel, Bern, Castellaro and Davos, as well as winter tours of the ski resorts including Chamonix, St Moritz, Meribel, Lenzeheide, Val d’Isere and Chateau D’oex.

Back home in England, the Sausages perform extensively up and down the country. Appearing regularly at many festivals such as Glastonbury, they have also found themselves embedded in local folklore in many towns where they have become street performance legends!

The Cosmic Sausages have played hundreds of weddings and parties and performed at corporate events for some of the country’s largest companies.

They have played in a wide variety of locations from the large (Earls Court and Knebworth) to the small (garden fêtes are a specialty).

TELEVISION APPEARANCES
The Cosmic Sausages performed the song ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ with Monty Python legend Eric Idle in 2008 at a show for HRH Prince Charles, which was shown nationally on ITV1.

They have played live on Pick of the Fringe on HTV and are heavily featured in the Music Mavericks documentary by film director Alain Godet. Other television appearances include Newsround, a live appearance during National Music Day (BBC1) and several appearances on European television.

STREET THEATRE SHOWS
Many would argue that street shows are what they do best and where they are most at home. It is only later that they adapted their performances for different situations.

The street at its best is the most perfect theatre and it’s certainly where they have had their most memorable shows.

THE APERITIF SET
The band set the scene at any event by playing a selection of their most beautiful jigs and reels followed by some serenading of the guests in their own inimitable style. This is ideal at a champagne reception, pre-dinner drinks or in any situation where a less full-on presentation is desired or required.

The Cosmic Sausages have built up an amazing repertoire of tunes over the years. They often perform these before circulating the tables with the A La Carte Menu (see below) so it also has the effect of making the guests think they are something more passive before they become something else which is nice.

Normally the Aperitif starts with 30 mins or so of tunes, then followed by a more interactive serenading sequence that involves circulating around the guests. With a few simple fashion accessories thrown into the mix, some stunning photo opportunities are created and it all provides for a great atmosphere during a pre-dinner/champagne reception to set the mood and break the ice.

THE MENU
The band circulates around the tables or groups with the A La Carte Menu, which features hundreds of songs and melodies. The guests then choose a song (normally one song per table) from the list that includes every style of music in the world, one song from every country (almost!).

But, if there’s nothing on there that they like and they have a special song in mind, the band promises to attempt it no matter what it is: that’s the sort of consummate professionals they are.

There’s everything there from Bob the Builder to the Sex Pistols, there are sing-a-longs, theme tunes, pop, rock and disco, tunes for the young ones and tunes for the older ones. They really do try to cater for every conceivable taste.

Circulating with the menu works perfectly to animate any formal dinner, wedding breakfast or in front of a large number of guests where performing acoustically from a fixed point would be too quiet to be effective.

Going table to table also gives the band the chance to get to know each guest/table personally and have that close-up comic interaction with everyone there. This is how they generally perform at weddings and parties and other situations where a formalised theatrical show is not as appropriate.

WALKABOUT
The band prides itself on being able to play where no other band would dare. Being acoustic, they can do their comic act of following members of the public around, serenading them, gliding around effortlessly and joining in carnivals and parades. High streets and shopping centres are never the same again once the Cosmic Sausages have been in town!

With a repertoire of over 2,000 songs, they like to think they can cater to all musical tastes. They can hilariously follow people around, serenade old ladies with a bit of Vera Lynn or Chris de Burgh, play Bob The Builder to the kids, lullabies to the babies in prams and crank it up for whoever else might be in front of them.

Interaction is the name of the game and with the Cosmic Sausages roaming around a high street, there are always smiles and laughter in great supply.

WEDDINGS AND PARTIES
The band performs at a whole array of weddings, parties, funerals, Bar Mitzvahs, stadiums and garden fêtes.

They always tailor their act to fit each occasion and always have several options in the material they perform to make that special occasion extra memorable.

Weddings and parties are a specialty and by performing the way they do they make each and every event they perform at unique. They rarely perform their full show at a wedding or a party. More typically they would start the event with the Aperitif Set playing background music and serenading the guests as only the Cosmic Sausages can, followed by circulating around the tables or groups of guests with the A La Carte Menu.

Frequently at weddings and parties, a more relaxed style is preferred but they can launch into any part of their show if the moment demands it.

Cosmic Sausages are perfect for: Weddings, birthdays, anniversary celebrations, festivals, fêtes, parades, carnivals, receptions, corporate events, product launches, street theatre, ceremonies, private functions