BD1 Brass: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (22 May 2022)

Second to none showing from fledgling band

Fans of a certain football club may argue that Manchester’s second club is their reserve side. They might say that Manchester’s third biggest club opened in May 1982 and closed for good in July 1997.

P-P-Pick Up a Puffin: The Joys of Inexpensive Imitation Foodstuffs

Feast of the M60 looks at knock-off foodstuffs

Imitation they say is the best form of flattery. On the other hand, it’s a flagrant breach of intellectual property laws. At present, English and Welsh copyright laws allow some leeway for the use of logos in the context of parody. Well, so long as you are not piggybacking onto a well known brand and trying to steal their thunder because you’ve adapted the Coca Cola logo.

Mossley Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (08 May 2022)

Lively programme with memorable solos makes for great night

For such a small place, Mossley has a place in brass banding history that is the envy of larger population centres. Last night’s band was the first winner of the British Open championship which started life in Belle Vue, Manchester. Back then, it was known as The Belle Vue Championship.

Middleton Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (01 May 2022)

Sterling service from Middleton Band with Jamie Cooper behind the podium

No matter where they are in the national rankings or which section they are, Middleton Band never fail to give a great concert. Since East of the M60 began reviewing concerts, each concert of theirs has had an enjoyable mix of light-hearted pieces and technical works. Their latest one at the start of May 2022 was no exception.

Four Weeks in the Life of Fun Time Friday

How and why Stuart and Kevin were no April Fools in Future Directions’ most celebrated streamed sessions

“We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”

– An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley (1894 – 1984)

John Boynton Priestley could have preempted the arrival of Kevin Phoenix’s song Stronger Together. His quote from An Inspector Calls is in simple form, our need to be one happy family. He may well be looking to our time on Earth, the planet that Professor Carl Sagan called “the pale blue dot”.

Tintwistle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (24 April 2022)

Mallon and Co.’s entertaining show sees better all band performance

The last 12 months after a ban on organised concerts have been pretty tough for many brass bands. In a normal non-pandemic year, a year is a long time in brass banding. Players can move to other bands or pursue non-musical interests.  Income pressures can affect bar takings and subs as well as gaps in personnel. With less to go round, this affects ticket sales and competition entries.

Oldham and Tameside Bus Service Changes Extra (24 April 2022)

Two more late additions to the Spring 2022 service changes

In the last 24 hours, we have learned of two more service changes affecting Oldham and Tameside bus routes.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, 24 April 2022

End of an era for two iconic bus routes with cuts to Chadderton bus route

How many black cats have the great travelling public of Oldham and Saddleworth run over to effect this spring’s set of changes? The latest set of service changes have seen Oldham and Rochdale at the sharpest end of the cutbacks.

Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, 24 April 2022

Mottram roadworks and operator revisions main factor behind service changes

More than not, the biggest changes to Tameside’s bus routes occur in springtime. For the last two decades, the biggest cuts and operator changes are made at around that time of year.

Elland Silver Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club, 10 April 2022

Classy Elland Silver Band shine in a most entertaining concert

Of late, the brass banding gods have been smiling on those who go to brass band concerts in the South Pennines. Saturday night saw a welcome return to Uppermill Civic Hall for Black Dyke Band. Glossop Old Band Room finished off their season with Hammonds Band the following afternoon.