Pemberton Old ‘B’ Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club

Pemberton Old ‘B’ Band’s memorable Boarshurst debut 

In recorded music, particularly 45 RPM singles, the ‘B’ side is a source of curiosity to the listener. Some people (thanks to cinema and educational streaming) think of ‘B’ as inferior. Or the middle carriage of a Greenfield train. In music there are some exceptions. The Model, a double ‘A’ side is better known than Computer Love, the ‘A’ side of Kraftwerk’s UK Number One single from 1982. In brass banding, the ‘B’ bands can surpass the senior bands in their virtuosity and technique.

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Music from the Big Screen: Boarshurst Silver Band’s Blockbusting Summer Concert

An Oscar-winning performance with an excellent mix of visuals, sumptuous whole band performances and great singing

The first Sunday in July has established itself in the brass banding calendar for two important dates. One of them is the Brighouse Hymn and March Contest won by Milnrow Band this year. Elland Silver Youth Band made a clean sweep in the youth prizes, and Wardle Academy Band picked up this year’s deportment prize.

Blackley Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club

Blackley Band’s scorcher of a concert at The Mecca of Brass Banding

In conditions more akin to barbecues than indoor brass band concerts, Blackley Band gave us all a wonderful concert last night. There was a vibrant mix of favourites, a bit of cheese, and a few unique compositions. In last night’s programme was the rarest of beasts: a quiet Paul Lovatt-Cooper composition.

Flixton Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (June 2018)

Superb programme marks a brass band on the up

The halfway point of what is one of the UK’s hottest months was marked with weather more akin to an early March. As usual, the warmest of receptions this Sunday was reserved for another brass band at The Mecca of Brass Banding. This time with Flixton Band – the highest ranking brass band within Trafford MBC boundaries. Throughout the best part of two hours and twenty minutes, they proved their worth in a highly entertaining concert.

Diggle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (June 2018)

Three sublime solo performances mark a splendid concert 

In the last year, there has been three concerts featuring Diggle Band at the Boarshurst Band Club. Each one including last night’s had three different conductors. Last June it was Sean Conway (who stood in for Steven Walsh, who was on holiday that Sunday); then in their December 2017 gig it was Steven Walsh. Last night was Diggle Band’s newest conductor, Melvin Tay.

Marsden Silver Prize Band: Sunday Brass at Boarshurst Band Club (June 2018)

Superb concert with varied programme, and a tribute to a legendary composer

As with last May’s concert, Alan Widdop’s Marsden Silver Prize Band gave us another wonderful night of brass band music. With the 74th anniversary of D-Day and Armed Forces Day falling this month, there was a slightly patriotic air to last night’s concert. There was a good mix of traditional pieces, ‘Yellow Music’, and popular works. In all, a most enjoyable two hours and ten minutes in a concert with ‘entertainment’ set to 512pt Helvetica Bold.

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

Whit Week rounded off in style by a superb concert

In Saddleworth, Whit Friday was marred by awful weather. Though Whit Week was blessed by warm weather, its most important day bucked the trend of sunny weather. The sunniest of receptions that week were marked by the arrival of Elland Silver Band to the Boarshurst Band Club.

Whit Friday 2018 Results: Saddleworth Contests

East of the M60’s classified check on the Oldham and Saddleworth Area Whit Friday Brass Band Contest Results.

Brighouse and Rastrick Band top of the tree 

In the Saddleworth contests, Brighouse and Rastrick Band came up trumps. This year they picked up Best Open prizes in all but three contests throughout the Saddleworth area.

Whit Friday 2018 Results: Tameside Contests

East of the M60’s classified check on Tameside’s Whit Friday Brass Band Contests

Once more, The Whit Friday Champions of Tameside: Foden’s Band.

With a soggy start to Whit Friday 2018, you could be forgiven for thinking that 7pm would have been as soggy as 7am in Mossley. During the early stages of this year’s contest there was some slight drizzle. Even so, the liquid sunshine didn’t fail to stop many bands from descending on Tameside’s 11 contest venues.

Foden’s maintain comfortable lead, though a photo finish at the Albion Hotel contest

Like last year, Foden’s Band continued their dominance of the Tameside contest venue. They picked up the top prizes in seven out of eleven venues.