*
banner

PLC swaps sticks for baton with Brighouse

Paul Lovatt-Cooper will be at the helm for two high profile concerts with Brighouse & Rastrick over the coming few weeks. -

PLC in action
 

Paul Lovatt-Cooper will be swapping his percussion sticks for the MDs baton as he looks forward to conducting Brighouse & Rastrick in two forthcoming high profile concerts.

It’s a welcome return to the front of the band for the popular Black Dyke star, who has been enjoying himself of late hidden away amongst the Queensbury percussion section as they claimed the 2014 ‘Double’.

Too good to miss

Getting the chance to conduct their great rivals once more though was a wonderful opportunity too good to miss as he told 4BR: “I'm very excited to be conducting Brighouse & Rastrick again. I worked with the band some years ago preparing them for Brass in Concert with Richard Evans.

They are a fantastic group of musicians with wonderful soloists, so you can see why I’m excited by leading them in what promises to be two great concert events.”

Where and when

Paul lead the West Riding band in a joint concert at the Riverside Civic Hall, Whitworth, alongside the Whitworth Vale & Healey on Saturday 22nd November 7:30pm, whilst his second appearance will be at Brighouse & Rastrick’s Christmas Extravaganza concert in Ilkley at the Kings Hall on the 7th December at 3.00pm.

Not surprisingly, Paul has ensured that there will be the usual mix of high class soloists and popular concert entertainment fayre.

“Brighouse are such a great concert band, with all the talents to entertain — so that’s what I will be hoping to do with them.”

Welcome to West Riding

Meanwhile, Brighouse & Rastrick Band President, Paul Beaumont was delighted to welcome Paul to the band. “His flair for music-making and experience in a wide range of performance styles, dynamic compositions and musical arrangements, and his indelible rapport he establishes with audiences makes Paul a very worthy guest conductor with the band.

Everyone is looking forward to two great concerts — they are not to be missed.”

Brighouse are such a great concert band, with all the talents to entertain — so that’s what I will be hoping to do with themPaul Lovatt-Cooper

Tickets

Tickets for the Riverside Civic Hall, Whitworth are priced at £12.50 and are available from brighouseandrastrick.ticketsource.co.uk or from the Riverside direct on 01706 854130

Tickets for the Christmas Concert are available from Ilkley tourist information on 01943 602319 or from brighouseandrastrick.ticketsource.co.uk and are priced at £13.50 — £16.50.

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Brass in Concert

New adjudication system being considered for Brass in Concert

May 17 • Adjudication rankings of equal value to be considered in potential revamp of judging at the Brass in Concert Championships later this year.


winter and Storheim

Norwegian brass band talent spotlighted for Maestro direction

May 17 • Eline Storheim and Samuel Winter have been chosen to be part of a two year conducting course.


wobplay

New releases set for Wobplay

May 17 • New CD releases from Black Dyke Band, Birmingham Citadel and Bone-afide alongside the Elgar International Festival will soon be able to be enjoyed on the digital platform.


Lostock

Tynan departs at Lostock Hall

May 17 • The brief but successful musical partnership between Lostock Hall Band and conductor Tommy Tynan has come to an end.


Harlow Brass Band - SPRING CONCERT - AN ANIMATION SENSATION

Saturday 16 May • St Andrew's Methodist Church. The Stow. Harlow. CM20 3AF


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 17 May • Dorchester- Park Bandstand DT1 1RG


Newstead Brass - Mansfield MVC - Brass and Voices

Sunday 24 May • Forest Town Arena. Clipstone Road West,. Mansfield NG19 0EE


Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3


The Hepworth Band - Brassband Burgermusik Luzern

Saturday 30 May • Dewsbury Minster, Vicarage Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 8DD


Cambrian Brass

May 16 • We're always happy to hear from anyone interested in joining a friendly and supportive band, whether you're returning to banding or looking for a new challenge.


Delph Band

May 15 • We are seeking an enthusiastic and musically skilled Associate Conductor to lead and develop our band alongside our current Musical Director Phil Goodwin. . Rehearsals are Mondays and Wednesdays, 8-10pm at Delph Band Club.


Tintwistle Band

May 15 • We have a vacancy for a soprano cornet, and with lots of exciting engagements coming up we would love to get this seat filled!. We rehearse every Monday and Thursday 8-10pm at our own bandroom in Tintwistle, under the baton of our superb MD, Jim Henson.


Prof. Christopher Houlding

MMus, GGSM, LRAM
Conductor, Performer, Educator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd