Elland Silver Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (12 December 2018)

Superb Silver in party mood with excellent concert

With Christmas drawing near and our brass banding movement’s need to get back to brass with gusto, Elland Silver Band gave us a concert that ticked all these boxes. Apart from having a rich assortment of Christmas pieces, its programme had a nice number of light-hearted popular works and four great solos. All of which played to perfection and lovingly curated by Jonathan Beatty. With their usual Musical Director Daniel Brooks otherwise engaged, they called upon the former Fairey and Dinnington conductor.

Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club, 05 December 2021

McElligott eloquence and solo excellence behind exceptional Christmas concert

Opening the first of three December concerts featuring Championship Section Bands was Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band. In the last year, they finished fourth in this year’s Brass In Concert – the first one to see a live audience since 2019.

Skelmersdale Prize Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club, 21 November 2021

Skem Band’s second visit to Boarshurst Band Club another success

It is hard to imagine it was nearly three years since Skelmersdale Prize Band last played at Boarshurst Band Club. At the time, they were a fledgling fourth section band brimming with potential. That was also when its present musical director Ben Coulson made his Boarshurst debut. Back then they gave us a solid concert with a programme that would test one or two third section bands.

Boarshurst Silver Band’s Remembrance Day Concert (14 November 2021)

Fantastic Remembrance Day concert for Boarshurst Silver Band with new musical director

2021’s Remembrance Sunday will be a special one in more ways than one for Boarshurst Silver Band. Firstly, alongside many brass bands across the UK, the first such concert for two years. For Boarshurst Silver Band, it also marked the arrival of their new Musical Director, Jamie Prophet.

Greenfield Band: Sunday Night at the Boarshurst Band Club (07 November 2021)

Another sweet sixteen pieces from The Happiest Band in Saddleworth

Three years on from their previous concert at Boarshurst Band Club, Greenfield Band set out on their mission to be The Happiest Band in Saddleworth. By 9.35 pm, they succeeded with an enjoyable programme of popular music, brass banding classics and cheesy tunes.

Tintwistle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (31 October 2021)

Tintwistle’s comeback special makes for splendid concert

With the weather, there was a sense of deja vu for this year’s concert with Tintwistle Band. On the eve of Glasgow’s COP26 summit, the heavens opened big style in Saddleworth and Glossop. On their previous visit to Boarshurst Band Club in 2019, pretty similar stormy weather to yesterday’s concert.

Over two years after Andrew Mallon’s Boarshurst debut, Tintwistle Band’s Boarshurst concert was their first indoor one since the first lockdown. For Andrew and the band, it was great to be back to the old routine. If the weather gods smiled on them, they might have been rewarded with a few more concertgoers.

Ashton-under-Lyne Brass Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club, 10 October 2021

Audience profit from highly enjoyable concert

Boarshurst Band Club’s journey back to brass gave us another enjoyable concert. This time with a brass band that was formed four years before last week’s band. As with last week’s concert, there was a welcome airing of one or two classic pieces. Though with half the number of solos as last week’s concert, a case of ‘quality not quantity’.

The Diggle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (03 October 2021)

First concert at Boarshurst since March 2020 impresses audience with bona fide classics for all the family

Yesterday’s first concert at Boarshurst Band Club since the first lockdown was most entertaining and cathartic in equal measure. In one respect, it was great to see a return to normality at The Brass Band Mecca of the North. On the other hand, it made us slightly bleary eyed over the friends we have lost in the brass band movement since the pandemic began.

You Know You’re Pining for Brass Band Music When…

The middle Saturday in May means Spring Festival day

Since the pandemic began last March, any form of normality was put on hold. Pub pints became dependent on the weather (till the 17th May at least). Theatres and cinemas went dark; concert halls, likewise.

Brass Banding Goes Pop: EM60’s 2020 Advent Calendar: 26. Mr Blue Sky

ELO’s most famous work in brass band form

• Piece: Mr Blue Sky;
• Composer: Jeff Lynne;
• Arranger: Christopher Wormald.

“More…” You want more… For this year’s Brass Banding Advent Calendar, we finish off our virtual concert with an ELO song from 1977. One that is as well known by toddlers as it is with grandparents and great grandparents.