Fanfarlo are a London-based indie/alternative rock band formed in 2006 by Simon Balthazar on vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, saxophone and clarinet. Other members included Cathy Lucas, Justin Finch, Leon Beckenham, Amos Memon (2006-2013) and Mark West (2006-2009). The band’s name comes from the Charles Baudelaire novella La Fanfarlo. Their style fuses elements of folk, indie rock and post-punk, using eclectic instrumentation including trumpet, violin, mandolin, musical saw, clarinet and saxophone. They started performing live in small UK indie clubs in 2006 and released 4 limited 7” singles on indie labels throughout 2006-2008.

Their debut album Reservoir was recorded in October/November 2008 at Tarquin Studios, Connecticut and was produced by Peter Katis (The National, Interpol). The album was released in February 2009 on the band’s own Raffle Bat label and later licensed to Atlantic imprint Canvasback, who issued it in the UK and US in October 2009. The song “Ghosts” from Reservoir was featured in episode 6, season 6 of Grey’s Anatomy. The track “Fire Escape” was featured in episode 4 of season 6 of the TV show House. “I’m A Pilot” has been featured in the NBC series Chuck on season 4, episode 24. The band has performed on Late Show with David Letterman and Last Call with Carson Daly.