The Carnival Band have been together for fifteen years, during which they have been dubbed 'Henry VIII's rock 'n roll band' and have taken the spirit of carnival to a variety of audiences from the classical, medieval and folk world to cathedrals, universities and village halls, as well as Radios 1,2,3 and Classic FM. Hoi Polloi is an album of the music of the common people, the people of the Cajun South, in "La Danse Carrée", the Ukraine, in "Dovbush Kozak" , and 1950's Cuba, in "Marta / San Remo". The concept of turning the world upside down is clear throughout as Latin brass sections are replaced with medieval shawms and Renaissance curtals and a Macedonian tune is given a reggae backing. Orginally released in 1999.