Richard Bailey

Richard Bailey plays bass trombone in the Velvet Tones. He started playing the cornet at age 6, and played with the local brass band in Kent until the age of 18. He then joined the Kent Police band as a trombone player and subsequently joined Bodiam wind band. Following his move to Oxford for work in 2018 he joined the Velvet Tones and has never left.

Julian Hawes

Julian Hawes (Jules) plays tenor trombone. Jules came to the area in 1986 and made friends by joining the local brass band. He was brought up on Big Band music at home and through education. He is now playing Swing music as much as possible having played for  Big Bands like Swindon Dance Band, Blake’s Heaven, Radio Days, Cutting Edge and the Velvet Tones. Jules likes the atmosphere that performance brings to people having fun with Swing music and the joy it gives playing it.

Nick Brewer

Nick Brewer is an Electrical Systems Design Engineer currently based in Oxford. Initially a Tuba player, he used to play in Letchworth Garden City Brass Band before converting to the dark side on the Trombone when at university. Having been heavily involved in running the Exeter University big band, he’s finally making a foray into music within Oxford post-pandemic.

Nick joined the Velvet Tones in March 2023 as Trombone 3 and is excited to be involved as one of the newbies!

Nick’s favourite song in the VT pad is Orange Coloured Sky.