Raging Brass: A Celebration Through Sound

Walk into a room where Raging Brass is blowing their Afro-Caribbean jazz-reggae fusion, and you’ll be transported—filled with the tether of history, where language dissolves and only rhythm speaks. This 8-piece powerhouse, founded in 2014 after receiving a Maine Arts Commission grant, is led by trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader Marc Chillemi. Their sound draws from across the African diaspora and the Americas—Highlife, Soukous, Afrobeat, AfroCuban, Ska, Rocksteady, and Roots Reggae—all filtered through the unique, intuitive voices of some of Portland’s finest musicians.

The band’s music is a marvel of layered sound and spirited improvisation, bouncing between danceable beats and moments of unfiltered joy. You can see it on the players’ faces: they are having fun, lost in the moment, immersed in a sound greater than any one individual. Chillemi doesn’t just lead—he moves with the music, weaving through the horn section as the trombone slides and the saxophones meander along blue-scaled Latin lines. Each member brings their own heat: Rafael Keilt-Fryre on tuba (The Fogcutters/Sly Chi/Primo Cubano), drummer Sam Yawdik (Roots Rhythm & Dub), guitarist/vocalist Josh Routhier (Roots Rhythm & Dub, El Grande), trombonist Eric Ambrose, saxophonists Mike Ayotte and Kate Campbell – Strauss (tenor saxophone), and Chillemi himself on trumpet and vocals (Primo Cubano/MC Jazz Quintet).

But behind the joy is a current of grief. The band recently lost their original trombonist and beloved Maine music icon, Dave Noyes. His presence was a cornerstone of Raging Brass, and his passing has left a deep silence. Still, the band plays on, lifting their horns and hearts in tribute. As they pour their sound into each performance, they honor Noyes’ legacy—rising through the ache, carried by the very joy he helped to create.

Raging Brass has shared the stage with artists like the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and John Brown’s Body, but what sets them apart isn’t just their pedigree—it’s the sheer vitality of their live shows. It’s music for the body and the spirit, both grounded and ecstatic, grieving and celebratory, always moving forward, always dancing.

Vinegar Hill Music Theatre is an independently owned event space located at 53 Old Post Road in Arundel, ME. Our charming, historic barn and outdoor garden provide an ideal backdrop for an unforgettable, intimate evening! Learn more here.