4BR has been informed that the 2011 Bolsover Festival of Brass is to become a two-day event
Popular
The increasingly popular Festival competition will take place on the weekend of 10th/11th September and will be staged at the Kissingate Leisure Centre in Shirebrook.
Curtain raiser
The curtain raiser to the Festival’s contest day on the Sunday will be a unique Charity Entertainment Contest on the Saturday, which will feature the brilliant all girls ‘Boobs & Brass’ up against four ‘re-union’ bands in the form of Jones & Crosslands, Ransomes, Rhodian and William Davis.
Musical talents
The event will see the bands pit their musical talents against each other to be crowned ‘Bolsover Festival of Brass Charity Entertainment Champions’ – although it is hoped that the ultimate winners will be Breast Cancer Research.
Bolsover District Council decided to run the unique event after chatting to soprano star Alan Wycherley who had an idea to run a contest that had no rules – only a commitment to the enjoyment of making music.
Great cause
After meeting up with Carole Crompton, Arts Development Officer for Bolsover District Council the basic outline was put in place – and then came the hard work of getting the former bands back together to support a great cause.
Carole told 4BR: "The idea has been a huge success — so much so that the venues had to be changed to accommodate the take up on the event. It is hoped to raise money for the charity through ticket sales and by producing a CD of the competition. If the event proves popular we would look to run the same format next year."
Amazing response
4BR has been informed that the response from the former giants of Midlands banding has been amazing, with former players from all over the globe already booking flights to get to the UK in time for a rehearsal or two to get old lips back into shape.
The idea has been a huge success — so much so that the venues had to be changed to accommodate the take up on the eventCarole Hirst
All over the world
Former William Davis trombonist Chris Thomas has been the man responsible for getting his old band back together – a task that has seen him link up with old friends from all over the world.
"I never knew the old band was spread so far and wide," he said. "It really will be like old times with our old MD Keith Wilkinson flying in from the USA to take us at the contest."
Old lips and yellow tunics
Chris hopes that by September a few old lips will be bashed back into shape too. "We want to try and put on some of the old items the band played at Brass in Concert, so we may need to be in practice."
As for the famous old uniforms though – it seems they may have been lost to posterity. "I don’t know how many of us would have fitted into them anyway nowadays, but I think we may try and create something to remind us of the old yellow tunics."
Re-union dinner
Following the contest there will be a re-union dinner for players and their families with the proceeds also going to the charity.
Want to support?
If you are a former player of any of the reunion bands and want to support the event, please contact:
William Davis: Chris Thomas at: christophersthomas@btinternet.com
Ransomes: Steve Thompson at: steve@sterling-hydrotech.co.uk
J & C and Heart of England Bands: Lesley Howarth at: howarthbrass@o2.co.uk
Rhodian Brass: Simon Willis at: simonrwillis@btinternet.com
or simonrwillis@gmail.com
