Brass Queens

Sponsored by Mack Storage

About:  Brass Queens is a female-led, New York-based brass band that has been dominating the brass band scene since 2019.
Finding that they shared similar frustrations about the emerging brass band scene in New York City, co-founders Alex Harris and Ally Chapel came together to form a group dedicated to showcasing the talents of female musicians in a landscape that was dominated by male musicians and bandleaders. After debuting in March 2019, Brass Queens grew to be a fixture in the local music scene and was dubbed “the hardest working band in town” by their peers. The Queens gained a dedicated following through outdoor performances on the streets of Brooklyn and playing pop-up events in their community through the pandemic. Now, a core value of the band is to play for as many audiences as possible to increase the visibility of female musicians.
Recent highlights include Carnegie Hall, New York City Pride, and multiple performances with the living icon, David Byrne. The band tours regularly across the country and internationally, headlining club shows and appearing on festival stages such as the Telluride Jazz Festival, Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival, MusikFest, and Floyd Fest. They have also made multiple appearances at Northlands Music Festival, Exit Zero Jazz Festival, and will return by popular demand to headline the Duck Jazz Festival in North Carolina. Brass Queens has played major events like The Met Gala and for notable clients including New Balance, Chanel, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., Bombas, Perrier, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. They have also performed on national television on Good Morning America, at legendary New York venues like The Capitol Theater (opening for The Meters) and Town Hall (David Byrne’s “Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things!” Variety Show), with multiple shows at Blue Note Jazz Club, and Brooklyn Bowl. They are also the 2023 winners of We Love NYC’s Rider’s Choice Award, after the people of New York voted the Queens as their favorite of the MTA’s Music Under New York’s roster of subway performers.
The band has developed a signature style that sits right at the intersection of the Big Apple and the Big Easy. Their sound is deeply inspired by and pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition while injecting the upbeat, multifaceted energy of their New York home into each performance. The result is a nonstop party: a Brass Queens show will have you singing along to classic pop hits, dancing your heart out to reggaeton, and feeling like you’ve been transported to Frenchman Street. In February 2021, Brass Queens released their debut EP Royal Street, which takes listeners on a six-song journey beginning in the heart of New York City with a cover of Cameo’s Candy, down to Royal St. with their take on a New Orleans traditional, Little Liza Jane. In November 2023, the band released their first full-length album titled Black & Gold, which is an ode to the Brass Queen’s incredible early fanbase who supported the band from the virtual performances and socially-distanced street corners during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the crowded clubs and packed venues of today. Less than a year later, Brass Queens released their second full-length album and their first album of all-original music titled Hot Tub Sessions Vol. I.