A Brief History
Street Heat is the second oldest established samba school in the South West (after Bristol).
Based in Exeter, Devon, it was created originally in Exmouth in 1991 as a voluntary
community group. Since then it has brought to over 200 people of all ages and backgrounds
- from absolute beginners to actual musicians! - the opportunity to experience the energy of
this music and to learn to perform it.
We have become a popular and successful band, playing many different venues:
carnivals (London - Notting Hill, Nice, Berlin, Jersey - Battle of Flowers and events
all over the South and South West of England), fêtes and festivals, as well as indoor
gigs (lofty halls are best, but we'll do pubs and clubs if the audience can stand the sound
level!). One of our favourite gigs (for the awesome atmosphere) is busking in Sidmouth
during the International Folk Festival - usually on the Wednesday night.
The band has also appeared on national and local TV on half a dozen occasions
(including 'the Big Breakfast' and 'the Generation Game' in 1996, supporting dancers from
a Devon secondary school).
We have worked with schools and youth groups on many occasions - providing workshops on
drumming (and dance in association with a professional teacher), though weekday events
are rarely possible now as most of our members are in full-time employment.
Street Heat routinely perform for charities and for a number of years the band has
contributed to the Francisco Rojas School in Arequipa, Peru. We will normally do charity
gigs for expenses only (ie travel costs).