In 2011 the groundbreaking Broadway production, FELA! arrived at London’s

National Theatre. Telling the life story of the Nigerian icon Fela Kuti, the

show was embraced by London crowds and completed a sell out run with rave

reviews. At the heart of the story was an onstage band that pumped out Fela’s

music with an authenticity and class that was essential to the show’s success.

This was the birth of The Fontanelles. The natural step was to keep the flame

burning once the curtain fell for the last time at The National as the band were

asked to perform countless shows in their own right.

Fela’s music was a musical launch pad and common for a group of players

whose experience and influences spread far and wide. In the spirit of Fela , the

band have forged their own identity with original music that takes in influences

from the Nigerian master to dub , Ethio funk , jazz , film scores and beyond

Collectively the band have played with the likes of Tony Allen , Africa Express,

Plan B , Soothsayers, Johnny Clarke, Courtney Pine and Adele, John Legend,

Tom Jones, Keziah Jones, Soothsayers, Jazz Jamaica, McCoy Tyner, Barry

White, Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA, Massive Attack , Keziah Jones, Grace

Jones, The Mighty Diamonds, Bob Andy, Joss Stone to name but a few.