Huddersfield and Ripponden Brass Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club

A jolly good summer show for Huddersfield and Ripponden Brass Band 

No traditional seaside holiday is complete without two things: a good fish and chip supper, or a decent summer show. A summer show with comedians, speciality acts, magicians, and singers. With a similar amount of variety to the listener was Huddersfield and Ripponden Brass Band’s programme. There was a neat variety of brass band marches, hymns, popular music, and film music. If you counted the raffle, last night’s speciality act and comedian.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, Summer 2018

More summertime tweaks

• Exactly what it says on the tin;
• MCT Travel gains 418 from M Travel;
• CityZap zapped.

The 409: one of a few First Greater Manchester services falling under the summertime timetables. This oldie, seen at Royton, was previously owned by First Bradford.

Once again the summertime changes are a quiet one for Oldham and Saddleworth bus passengers. Apart from the usual adjusted summer times, there has only been four notable service changes.

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.

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.

Coming Up For Air: Great Rural Adventures in Greater Manchester

East of the M60‘s selection of suitable rural and semi-rural jollies in Greater Manchester

The 21st June isn’t only noted for the Summer Solstice these days. It is also noted for Clean Air Day. Transport for Greater Manchester, alongside a number of local authorities across the UK, have raised awareness of this day. TfGM hasn’t only encouraged people to sign a pledge to use public transport on that day. There is a useful page on Clean Air Day from our friends in Piccadilly which is aimed Mr and Mrs Average.

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.

Skipstopageddon: Reading Between the Lines on Tameside’s Train Torment

How an incomplete timetable – and more besides – have caused chaos for Tameside and Saddleworth rail passengers

Everything looks good on paper. Last month we looked at how radical changes to our train timetables would have affected Tameside and Saddleworth passengers. Our overall verdict was that the timetable was unfinished. We said it should have been enhanced with the retention of an hourly all-stations service. We also suggested that Stalybridge should have been given a stop on Transpennine Express’ service from Liverpool Lime Street to Newcastle Central.