Last Saturday (07 March), over 120 brass band players, plus families and spectators descended on Uppermill Civic Hall for what was Saddleworth’s biggest night in the brass banding calendar. Like previous Mass Brass nights, the four bands gave us yet another great concert.
Continue reading “Mass Brass IV: The Review (Uppermill Civic Hall, 07 March 2020)”
Once upon a time, in a part of Saddleworth far far away, an enterprising brass band hit upon the idea of a concert featuring themselves and three other brass bands. Three others from the Saddleworth area, from Junction 22 of the M62 right down to Well I’Th’ Hole Road, thought it was a good idea.
Come the 2017th year of our Lord, the initial concert was a success. So much so there was another the year after. Then another. And another one… The one-off event spawned a monster and – like a certain Science Fiction film franchise – could spring several spin-offs and sequels.
Was the first Mass Brass event really three concerts ago? This year sees the fourth Mass Brass concert. As well as Boarshurst Silver Band, there are (as usual) three other bands from the Saddleworth area.
Continue reading “Mass Brass IV: Saddleworth’s Brass Banding Bonanza Goes Forth”
With only days to go till the North West Regional Championships, 78 bands across the region treated live audiences and adjudicators to a sneak preview of their test piece. At various school halls and band clubs, the preview evenings and afternoons have been as much a part of each band’s calendar as the main event.
In the brass banding world, this weekend was dominated by Philip Harper’s successful defence of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain Championship Section title. According to reports from the Royal Albert Hall national final, The Cory Band were unstoppable.
Similarly unstoppable, 199 miles north of Kensington Gore, was a Saddleworth youth band. Last night, Dobcross Youth Band proved to a full house at Boarshurst Band Club why they trumped their senior peers from the same village, at Blackpool Winter Gardens.
Continue reading “Dobcross Youth Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (13 October 2019)”
At Saddleworth Civic Hall, brass banding nights seldom get any bigger than the annual Mass Brass concert in Uppermill. Apart from any of Saddleworth’s bands hiring The Roly Polys as a support act, only the sight of 120 brass banders at twenty to ten could trump that. All four bands gave a good performance with a 30 minute set.
Continue reading “Mass Brass 3: Saddleworth’s Brass Banding Bonanza”
Blackpool’s Winter Gardens proved to be a happy hunting ground for some of Saddleworth’s brass bands. With thousands of brass band players and spectators descending on the iconic venue, the North West Regionals have a vibrant atmosphere of its own. For three of Saddleworth’s bands, the 2019 contest was one to remember.
Continue reading “A Saddleworth Sweep in the North West Regional Championships”
“I heard them on my wireless back in ’92/Roy Newsome’s programme blasting Punchinello too…*”
In 1979, Buggles topped the charts with Video Killed The Radio Star. On the 01 August 1981, it was the first song to be played on the original MTV music channel. Back then, brass bands had extensive radio coverage on local and national BBC radio stations. With the loss of Listen To The Band, this is no longer the case.
Over at Boarshurst Band Club, today’s video stars – thanks to the wonders of internet streaming – may include the full XXXIII that make up a brass band. In addition to a good turnout at the venue, last night’s concert was seen by more than 18,000 viewers. Over 6,000 of which saw the concert in its entirety – more than the Latics’ average gate at Boundary Park.
Continue reading “Dobcross Youth Band: A Special Sunday Brass Night at the Boarshurst Band Club”
Lovers of brass band music should get themselves down to Saddleworth on Saturday or Sunday – or at least spend the whole weekend in any of the villages. Firstly, the Uppermill Civic Hall will play host to four Saddleworth brass band in a special concert on the Saturday. Secondly, Hammonds Saltaire Band will be playing at the Boarshurst Band Club the following Sunday. Anyone wishing to see both concerts will be in for a good time. Continue reading “Saddleworth’s Super Weekend of Brass Banding”
Having the honour of opening this year’s programme of concerts at Boarshurst Band Club was a fairly well known local band. One a short bus or taxi ride from the venue, and one of the finest youth bands in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Continue reading “Dobcross Youth Band: Sunday Afternoon Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club”
East of the M60 