Grimethorpe Colliery Band has just completed the first leg of its Australian tour — with all the band members making it to Manchester airport.

Visas and passports

With all their bags and instruments packed, visas and passports at the ready, the players under Dr Robert Childs and Tour Manager Craig Roberts will now make the 7 hour flight onto Dubai, before notching up another 16 hours in the sky before touching down in Brisbane.

Childs return

It will be the third time the MD has visited the country with the band, and he is certainly looking forward to it, as he told 4BR.

"I made my first trip with Grimethorpe in 1981, so to return once again is a great thrill. We have so many fantastic concerts to look forward to — especially as demand for tickets has been huge. All we have to do now is sit back and relax!"

We have so many fantastic concerts to look forward to — especially as demand for tickets has been huge. All we have to do now is sit back and relax!Dr Robert Childs

Last possible detail

Tour Manager Craig Roberts added: "We have gone into every last possible detail to ensure everything goes smoothly, so I was relieved that all the players were on time and nothing was left at home.

We have a fantastic concert tour ahead of us — and I'm sure we will make plenty of new friends and thousands of new fans."

Updates

The band will be forwarding regular updates to 4barsrest throughout the tour — so keep your eyes peeled for another Grimethorpe update.