Grimethorpe Colliery Band has just completed the first concert of its Australian Tour to a delighted audience of more than 1000 fans at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in Brisbane.

Do best

They revelled in the programme led by Dr Robert Childs which featured the Brass in Concert Champion doing exactly what they do best — as the ovation from the audience at its conclusion certainly showed.

"It's been a fantastic start to the tour,"a delighted Dr Bob Childs told 4BR. "The band was really up for the concert and produced brilliant playing from start to finish. If we carry on like this I think we may be asked to stay for a few more extra performances!"

Trio of parts

Grimethorpe's programme was themed into three parts of 'Brass Classics', 'Brassed Off" and 'Lest We Forget' — each showcasing their star solo performers and unique entertainment mix.

The concert also opened with the world premiere of Paul Lovatt-Cooper's thrilling 'Eventus' and culminated in a roof-raising performance of the '1812 Overture'.

Huge hit

Tour Manager Craig Roberts told 4BR that the musical triptych proved to be a huge hit.

"Not surprisingly it gained a standing ovation,"he said. "The audience certainly appreciated the thought behind the programme as well as the skill that had been presented to them.

The only problem seemed to be that the band only had the two encores of 'Hora Staccato and Elgar Howarth's 'Pell Mell' on hand — although if we had more they could have been playing until midnight!"

The band was really up for the concert and produced brilliant playing from start to finish. If we carry on like this I think we may be asked to stay for a few more extra performances!Dr Robert Childs

Move on to Sydney

Delighted with the welcome in Brisbane, Grimethorpe now move on to Sydney, where after a 'short' two hour flight, they'll head to the ABC Broadcasting Centre for a recording session of two works that will be broadcast nationally this weekend and a swift photo call, before heading to the concert venue at the State Theatre for their second tour performance.

As can be seen above, the band was delighted to meet up with some old friends at the Brisbane concert, including Stephen Moschner (Besson Sales Manager for Australia & New Zealand), Brisbane Excelsior MD Howard Taylor (above) as well as former Cory solo euphonium Nigel John.

Next performance:

State Theatre, Sydney:
Friday 7th August — 7.30pm
Bookings: 1300 139 588 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.au