Sunday 12th February
Draw: Pre-drawn for bands 1-3, then 10.00am
Start:10.30am

Adjudicators:
Garry Cutt (Music)
Paul Norley (Entertainment)

Additional comments and thoughts on our Twitter site: www.twitter.com/4barsrest

Comments: Malcolm Wood

Live comments

What do we think?

Another brilliant day's music-making from the cream of the Youth band's in Blackpool. Inventive, innovative, fearless, these bands just don't worry and really go for it.

In the hunt for the prizes, it really is going to be tight with three bands in the frame for us. Elland Silver Youth, Rochdale Borough Youth and Youth Brass 2000.

It will be interesting to see what the judges make of it but for us:

4BR Prediction:

1. Youth Brass 2000
2. Rochdale Borough Youth
3. Elland Silver Youth

8.Rochdale Borough Youth (Eric Landon)

Paint it Black
Goldcrest
Silver Threads Amongst the Gold — Tenor Horn Solo
Left Bank 2
Flash, Bang, Whallop

Rochdale’s musical coloured pictures theme opens impressively with so finely tuned playing and slick presentation. The march, ‘Goldcrest’ is extremely tight whilst the tambourines’ give an audition that would make them welcome in any Salvationist Corps.

The horn soloist delivers a performance of ‘Silver Threads Amongst the Gold’ that Sheona White would be proud of – so secure and musical.

The vibraphone soloist, plays the theme from ‘Vision On’ (‘Left Bank 2’) so effectively whilst the choreographed synchronised swimming with young men in costumes is brilliantly done.

'Flash, Bang, Wallop', see’s the MD, be innovative once again with some terrific playing from his costume-dressed ensemble.

Overall: Wonderful defence, brilliantly executed, but will it be enough?

7.Houghton Area Youth Band (Brian Adams)

2001 – A Space Odyssey
The Final Countdown
What a Wonderful World
The Eve of the War
Jupiter from Planets
Starchaser

The North Easterner’s open with a brief bit of ‘Space Odyssey’, before the singer tests the acoustics of the hall with ‘Final Countdown’. ‘What a Wonderful World’ is delivered with touch of musical artistry by the soloist.

The popular theme from ‘War of the Worlds’ is well choreographed and delivered in effective style whilst ‘Jupiter’ from The Planets see’s the band deliver its most controlled bit of playing of their performance although it didn’t really need the humorous choreographed bit at the end.

The closing ‘Starchaser’ see’s the band close in upbeat mode standing in three columns and with further bits of choreography thrown in.

Overall: Space theme North Eastern style certainly had it’s moments of quality, but it may not be enough today

6.Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans)

Olympic Fanfare & Theme
Main Theme from Chariots of Fire
Victory – Cornet Soloist: Thomas Fountain
The Champions
Bolero ala Blast

With MD in Union Jack jacket and an Olympic theme, Youth Brass 2000 opens in fine style with ‘Olympic Theme and Fanfare’. ‘Chariots of Fire’ sets the Ballroom ablaze with a real musical aplomb. Thomas Fountain on Principal Cornet delivers a cracking bit of solo playing in Herbert L Clarke’s ‘Victory’ whilst the march, ‘The Champions’ is full of swagger.

The band then really goes to town in a choreographed show-stopping ‘Bolero’ to close in terrific style.

Overall: Youth Brass 2000 goes for an Olympic theme that is delivered in stunning musical fashion and has gold medal class stamped all over it.

5.Poynton Youth Brass Band (Mike Eccles)

Eve of the War
Star Trek
Imperial March
Space Drift — A New Hope
The World of Tomorrow

The standing ‘Eve of the War’ is effective with lots of controlled playing. MD Mike Eccles changes into Dr Spock as Star Trek comes to the Empress Ballroom. The recurrent themed ‘Imperial March’ from Star Wars is full of dark, mysterious playing. The tenor horn soloist is on fine form in ‘Space Drift – A New Hope’ before the band concludes with a controlled account of ‘The World of Tomorrow’.

Overall: Different this. Poynton opts for a space theme that focuses primarily on good playing without too much choreography. Mike Eccles does a fine job in bringing the best of the young band.

Comfort break

Some really innovative playing from the bands so far but Elland Silver Youth infront so far for us, but this contest is very much up for grabs.

4.Elland Silver Youth, (Samantha Harrison)

Manhatton
Liberty Bell
Chryslee Building
Radio City
Someone to Watch Over Me
Make em Laugh
If My Friends Could See Me Now
Hello Dolly

The Yorkshire band goes all American and showbiz. Life in Manhatton quickly turns into a belting interpretation of the march, ‘Liberty Belle’. The upbeat mood continues with some further impressive playing and engineered choreography. The popular ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ features a classy cornet and effective dynamics and controlled playing – some of the best playing of the day (at this point) in fact.

The choreographed ‘Make em Laugh’, does what it sets out to do whilst there is some terrific solo singing in ‘If My Friends Could See Me Now’. The all singing ‘Hello Dolly’ is slick and polished.

Overall: Cracking stuff from start to finish out in front for us

3.Wardle Junior Band (Gwen Smith)

Hornpipe
Beyond the Sea
Two Sailors
Pirates of the Caribbean
Skye Boat Song
Pieces of Eight

Wardle come on dressed as sailors and start off with the traditional ‘Hornpipe’ before a real quality singer shines superbly in ‘Beyond the Sea’. Some further sailing songs leads into the popular ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. The traditional ‘Skye Boat Song’ features some nice dynamics and good control. The closing ‘Pieces of Eight’ again see’s the band in fine form.

Overall: The nautical theme from the Lancastrians works well with a fine bit of compering from a young man who certainly got into character

2. Sellers International Youth Band (Simon Kerwin)

Hail the Conquering Hero
The Two Imps – Percussion Feature
Theme from Return of Jedi
In the Hall of the Mountain King
William Tell Rides Again

From Handel to William Tell and Dick Barton, Sellers have it all in action packed ‘heroes and villians’ theme. ‘The Two Imps’ percussion feature which became The Chimps with a percussion player who was just 5 was brilliant.

Overall: really great stuff, some fine playing and lots and lots of fun

1. Enderby, Trevor Hounsome

Star Wars
Dr Who
Wanderin’ Star – Bass Trombone Solo
Sentinel
Forever Autumn from War of the Worlds
Also sprach Zarathrustra

The Midlanders go all out space in a well drilled choreographed performance. Star Wars and Dr Who get the band off in fine style whilst the pantomime horse brings humour to the bass trombone solo, ‘Wanderin Star’. Peter Meechan’s ‘Sentinel’ features some fine playing and dancing before they close with musc from War of the Worlds and an all guns blazing, ‘Also sprach Zaeathrustra’.

Overall: An impressive programme that was well delivered with effective choreography.