Westoe Brass Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (05 February 2023)

Classy performance by South Tyneside band in swan song for musical director

All was happy in the Chew valley last night as Westoe Brass Band gave its live and streamed audience another great concert from Boarshurst Band Club. For the regulars who braved the cold conditions on foot, the warmest of receptions could be found, to the tunes of Cole Porter, Paul Lovatt-Cooper and Lionel Richie to name a few.

Diggle Community Brass: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (27 November 2022)

Splendid Boarshurst debut for newly formed band

The height of the COVID pandemic was problematic for musicians of any kind of genre. Brass bands were particularly hardest hit, being as social distancing prevented full band rehearsals and concerts. Many of our existing brass bands had to temporarily downsize or use zoom for virtual concerts.

Revealed: Northern England’s Slowest Inter-City Train Route

The North of England’s slowest inter-city train route may surprise you

Once upon a time, 33 years ago, a famous female singer made a real comeback with the song If I Can Turn Back Time. Though 1987’s I Found Someone marked her return to the singles charts, it was the former song that made a greater impact. By 1991, thanks to the film Mermaids, her cover of The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss), she reached the top spot.

During Cher’s rise up the singles chart, Britain’s railways was in a state of transition. British Rail swapped Robert Reid for Robert Reid (in other words, Robert Basil Reid for Bob Reid). The InterCity sector started operated without a subsidy from HM Treasury. Regional Railways became a swish new identity for BR’s Provincial Sector. Locally, Stalybridge station’s buffet bar was under threat of closure with rumours of it becoming a florist; the Stockport to Stalybridge service was cut to three return journeys a day – still an improvement on the Saturdays Only return journey we see today.

Milnrow Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club, 23rd October 2022

Magnificent Milnrow amaze audience in tightly produced concert

With UK inflation rates at double figures again, it is harder to get a proper bargain these days. For top bands at rock bottom prices, you could have looked no further than last night’s concert with The Mighty Rams of Harmony Street. Courtesy of Milnrow Band, both live and streamed audiences were treated to a great concert.

Meltham and Meltham Mills Band: Sunday Brass at Boarshurst Band Club (16th October 2022)

Marvellous Meltham Mills makes magical music matters in Sunday spectacular

It has been quite a long time since Meltham and Meltham Mills Band had a Sunday Brass Night at Boarshurst. It may be fair, if a little impolite even, to say our last review was chiselled onto stone tablets.

Hebden Bridge Brass Band: Sunday Brass at Boarshurst Band Club (9th October 2022)

Class act from Binns and Co.

It is said “you can please some of the people all of the time” and “all of the people some of the time”. This is true not only in politics (with the Abraham Lincoln quote, actually attributed to John Lydgate), but also in live performance.

Skelmanthorpe Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (19 September 2022)

Fantastic concert well worth the three year wait

Let’s take a trip into our time machine to the 9th September 2019:

“We hope Skelmanthorpe Band’s next concert at Boarshurst will be in 2020 rather than 2021. With a most enjoyable programme and great delivery from Martin Heartfield, it was well worth waiting for.”

Thanks to COVID, it was three years and eight days since Skelmanthorpe Band’s last concert at Boarshurst Band Club. Was it worth the wait?

Pride Brass: Another Special Sunday Brass Night at the Boarshurst Band Club (04 September 2022)

Vibrant programme makes for cheerful start to new season at Mecca of Brass Banding

In a time where every single colour seems to fade to Farrow and Ball grey, Pride Brass brought a welcome splash of colour to Boarshurst Band Club for two entertaining hours. They opened the new season with an enjoyable concert with a selection of brass banding classics and some poppier numbers.

For anybody new to brass banding, Pride Brass is a scratch band of LGBTQ+ players and LGBTQ+ ally players. Many of which are in First Section and Championship Section bands across the UK. As with their first ever public performance as Pride Brass, their Musical Director is Matt Ryan. He has a rich pedigree, making a success of Flixton Band.

Besses Boys Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (17 July 2022)

Joyous finale to concert season at Boarshurst for James Holt and Co.

Besses Boys Band rounded off the 2021 – 22 season of Boarshurst concerts in style with a most likeable programme. Without being too demanding nor light hearted without being too light hearted, the programme included two great solos and an original piece. One that only had its second ever public performance.

In Pictures: Tameside Pride 2022

Glorious weather makes for successful post-lockdown Pride event

After two years of virtual events due to COVID, Tameside Pride returned to Cheethams Park today. Running from 12 midday till 5pm, it was a joyous afternoon with fairground rides, stalls and live music. There was also an appearance from Greater Manchester Police’s Police Community Support Officers.