Tintwistle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (12 March 2023)

First class concert with well thought out programme

In their first concert since the Regional Finals, Tintwistle Band gave its audience a most enjoyable concert at The Mecca of Brass Banding. One with an excellent, well rounded programme with nailed-on classics and a couple of surprises.

Since Andrew Mallon became Musical Director of Tintwistle Band, the band has never failed to deliver a traditional yet engaging concert programme. Whilst being traditional, each concert has offered the listener something new for their ears.

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.

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.

Tintwistle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (27 October 2019)

Another fine Boarshurst début, and another superb concert

In the last few days, the weather gods haven’t exactly been on our side. There was reports of flooding in Derbyshire, Cheshire and the Midlands. Last night on Greenbridge Lane, there was no need to sail to Boarshurst Band Club in a Mirror dinghy. Nor a way of sailing from Chew Brook to Bottoms Reservoir without going via Stockport.

Making sure everything was shipshape for Tintwistle Band last night was Andrew Mallon, their Musical Director. As with Hebden Bridge’s concert last week, another pacy yet tight programme with something for everyone. Like Gareth last night, he was knowledgeable, precise, and humorous.

Tintwistle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (October 2017)

Second visit of 2017 makes for a similarly vibrant concert

Eloquence and entertainment was in abundance at Tintwistle Band’s second visit of 2017 to the Boarshurst Band Club. Last night, Sarah Groarke-Booth opted for a mix of the old and the new in her programme. As well as including some pieces that could have been written in hieroglyphics instead of bass or treble clefs, there was some nifty new pieces. This made for an enjoyable concert on the whole.

Tintwistle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (February 2017)

Another sparkling display from Tintwistle Band

What can be said about any concert under the tutelage of Sarah Groarke-Booth other than its sleek programme? On a freezing February night, some hardy souls (this reviewer included) braved the zero celsius temperatures for the warm reception of an iconic brass banding venue. Warming the otherwise frozen audience was another sound Tintwistle performance.

Tintwistle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club

Concert programme leads audience to a merry dance

What else could we have said about Tintwistle Band’s concert last night, other than its vivaciousness? Its panache? Its mix of tango, waltz, and a nice brew to round off proceedings? Sunday night’s concert with Sarah Groarke-Booth as musical director brought a touch of class and a subtle self-effacing nature at the same time. Like the Teddy Bear’s Picnic, there was something for everyone (gluten free and paleo diet options were also available).