SMOOSH! // PARAORCHESTRA

A rip-roaring parade from Paraorchestra // Friday 10 July 2026 // 2pm & 6:30pm // Tredworth High Street, Gloucester // Free – everyone welcome

Image Credit: Paul Blakemore

What is it?

Taking to the streets of Gloucester, SMOOSH! brings a high energy wind and brass band to Tredworth in a celebration of music, movement, and community. The joy-packed parade features a selection of pop bangers and karaoke classics – with tunes from Fatboy Slim and Basement Jaxx, to Kate Bush and Adele.

A core of Paraorchestra musicians – accompanied by dancers, and alongside members of the local community – will form a mobile human jukebox that invites you out onto the street to dance and sing along in a magnificent communal ‘mass-aoke’.

When?

  • Friday 10 July 2026
  • 2pm & 6:30pm
  • The performance will last approximately 45 minutes

Where?

  • The parade will travel along Tredworth High Street
  • It will begin at St James C of E Junior School, Upton Street, Gloucester, GL1 4JU (entrance opposite St James City Farm and the Fair Shares community allotment) What3Words: ///drums.hood.raft
  • The performance will finish outside Tredworth Junior School

Money

This event is Free – just show up. Everyone welcome!

Access

  • The full route will be wheelchair accessible
  • Dedicated access staff will be available throughout the event to support anyone who may need assistance
  • We recommend arriving by public transport where possible, as parking in the area is predominantly on-street parking on residential streets.
  • If you have any questions please email Jess, info@strikealight.org.uk

more info

  • Promotional photography and filming will take place at this event. If you do not wish to be featured in our content, please let one of the Strike A Light staff members know on arrival.
  • This event is weather dependent and cannot go ahead in wet or very windy conditions. If we need to adjust timings or cancel the event, we’ll post updates on our social media channels and at the top of this page.

Who is it?

Paraorchestra – under the artistic direction of award-winning conductor Charles Hazlewood, the pioneering ensemble aims to disrupt and reinvent the orchestra. Bringing together professional disabled and non-disabled musicians, Paraorchestra create powerful music experiences that span genres and artforms.

Paraorchestra and Strike A Light are working with local communities to take part in the performance. Young people from St James C of E Junior School and Tredworth Junior School will join the parade alongside a local community choir.

Thanks and Credits

Smoosh! is created and performed by Paraorchestra and presented in Gloucester by Strike A Light. This project has been funded by Arts Council England and Barnwood Trust.

With big thanks to St James Church, St James C of E Junior School, Tredworth Junior School, Tredworth Residents Group and St James City Farm.