BrassTastic

BrassTastic was a digital media platform created to modernise the way brass band music was presented and discussed online. Founded while Simon McCullough was studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, the project aimed to engage a younger generation of musicians by presenting brass music in a more contemporary, accessible and interactive format. The platform featured exclusive interviews, artist spotlights, industry news, and performance features from leading musicians and ensembles. One of the most popular features was the “BrassTastic Hot Seat”, a series of editorial interviews and artist features that provided insight into the lives and careers of performers across the brass and wider music industry. Through the platform, Simon secured access to artists and organisations connected with major UK orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), London Philharmonic Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic, Hallé Orchestra, RSNO, Manchester Camerata and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. BrassTastic also explored crossover projects between classical and contemporary music. The platform featured artists and ensembles including Hot 8 Brass Band, Lucky Chops, Youngblood Brass Band and Mnozil Brass, helping to bridge traditional brass audiences with modern performance styles. Content also highlighted collaborations and performances connected to internationally recognised artists such as Rudimental, Timmy Trumpet and Wynton Marsalis, reflecting the growing crossover between electronic music, jazz and brass performance. The project also ran promotional competitions and collaborations with organisations connected to Ministry of Sound, helping to expose brass music to wider audiences and contemporary music communities. BrassTastic additionally secured an exclusive technology collaboration with Pulse by Soundbrenner, supporting the platform’s distribution and digital engagement with musicians. The ethos behind BrassTastic was simple: to present brass music as exciting, modern and accessible, encouraging younger musicians to engage with the art form while celebrating both established performers and emerging talent. The platform ran from 2011 to 2017, establishing itself as a unique voice within the brass music community and a forward-thinking platform connecting tradition with innovation.