A record breaking worldwide audience tuned in to enjoy the brass band entertainment at the Bolsover Festival of Brass on the weekend.

Early feedback shows that around 14,500 unique users took the opportunity to link up with the partnership production at the Heritage High School in Clowne hosted by Bolsover District Council, broadcast by the First Art organisation and supported by Arts Council England.

Great response

13 hours of live broadcasting started at 8.30am, eventually reaching 23 countries across the world — from the USA to Vietnam, as well as over 220 towns and cities within the UK.

There was also a great response to the social media interaction with a steady flow of twitter and Facebook messages from all corners of the globe (as well as the bar, which did a roaring trade thanks to a special screen set up to broadcast the action as people enjoyed a drink in the sunshine).

In addition, residents and brass band supporters in the local area enjoyed the fringe events put in place at the Diamond Centre in Kirby in Ashfield and Shirland Miners Welfare, whilst residents at Stonelow Court in Dronfield had brass band music making piped directly to their sheltered housing complex.

Bolsover & NE Derbyshire District Council Chief Executive Daniel Swaine told 4BR that the event was a showcase for what local authorities can do best. "It's a wonderful event — brilliantly run by Carole Hirst and her team and supported in partnership with other leading organisations such as Arts Council England and First Art amongst others.

Being able to help promote as well as celebrate what is so good about brass bands is something we are very proud of doing."

Happy anniversary for Imps

Fans of Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel certainly enjoyed their Sunday trip down the M1 as their new musical partnership with recently appointed MD David Hamilton got off to a winning start in claiming the Wilson Bowden Developments Trophy and £750 first prize in the Championship Section.

With their 80th anniversary celebrations to look forward to later this month 'Imps' ensured that there will be plenty of silverware to fill with celebratory champagne as their eclectic 20 minute set caught the ear of adjudicator Roger Webster, who summed up his written remarks by saying; 'A well balanced show — rehearsed so well — slick and having the wow factor.'

The opening 'Hermanos de Bop' was followed by the swagger march 'The New Colonial', before flugel player Ginette Baker took the 'Best Soloist' award with her suave rendition of 'Over the Rainbow'.

A fizzing 'Folk Festival' led into the bravura 'Nightingale Dances' to see the band get off to the best possible contesting start under their delighted MD David Hamilton.

Brilliant attitude

"I couldn't have asked for anything better,"he later told 4BR as he held the Peter Parkes Memorial Trophy in his hands. "It's a real pleasure to conduct this famous band, one that has a brilliant attitude and such a progressive musical approach. I hope this is now the start of many more successes together."

Unite the Union came runner-up for a second successive year as a well-worked set under the baton of John Roberts also claimed the Margaret Allsop Memorial Trophy as giving the 'Most Entertaining Performance', whilst the final podium slot went to a delighted Shepherd Group under Richard Wilton.

They gained the added bonus of gaining a direct invitation to the Senior Trophy at the British Open Spring Festival in Blackpool.

In a contest that showed that a number of bands were keen to try something a little different, even if Roger Webster felt that some could have taken more risks and shown a little 'commitment' to their MDs musical ideas, went to Derwent Brass in fourth, with the final top-six places going to Hatfield and Elland Silver.

Elland success

Earlier, Elland claimed the honours in the First Section, as under MD Daniel Brookes they produced a highly enjoyable set to claim the £500 first prize to pip rivals Foresters Brass 2000 and Longridge.

The Yorkshire band opened with the choreographed Mnozil Brass item 'Blue', before principal cornet Samantha Harrison gave a lyrical account of 'Londonderry Air'. William Rimmer's famous march, 'The Cossack' led into 'Black is the Colour of My True Love's Hair' before they rounded things off with the classic Bach/Sky pop group inspired 'Toccata' — complete with 11 year old Lewis Barton taking a leading role on xylophone and then as conductor.

Enjoyment

That sense of adventure and enjoyment was one of the key reasons behind their victory according adjudicator David Childs who felt that they 'looked as if they enjoyed every minute of their performance'.

Foresters Brass 2000 (who like Elland also played in the Championship Section) ended up just a point behind under John Davis, with a well-balanced set that included a fine rendition of 'Georgia on My Mind' by 'Best Soloist' award winning trombonist Rob Wilshaw, whilst Longridge carried in their run of recent solid contesting form under Mark Peacock.

The final top-six places in a contest that featured a great deal of musical variety for both listeners in the hall and home to enjoy went to Blidworth Welfare, Chapletown Silver and Enderby.

More Stannington success

The investment in the Bolsover Festival has ensured that every band's performance was recorded to be released for future broadcast through the website of the First Art organisation, so fans of Stannington Brass will be able to enjoy their clear-cut success in the Second Section time and time again.

The recently crowned Second Section National Champion showed their quality under Derek Renshaw to take the £400 first prize by a commanding three-point margin over rivals Foss Dyke, with Ibstock Brass a point further back in third.

Their cracking set started with the high tempo 'Salsa tres' Prado', before lyrical contrast was shown by a sublime performance of the 'Adagio' from Rachmaninoff's '2nd Symphony' played by 'Best Soloist' award winner Richard Dowling, which adjudicator Anne Crookston told 4BR was 'simply fantastic'.

A further change of style came with George Michael's 'Faith' featuring flugel soloist Eward Knowles, before they closed with the blockbuster film score from 'Jurassic Park'.

Crofton victory

Another Yorkshire National champion showed its quality in the keenly competitive Third Section, as Crofton Silver added yet more silverware to their burgeoning 2016 list of successes.

Under MD Dean Jones, they opened with Lionel Richie's, 'All Night Long' before principal cornet Andrew Clutton gave a wonderfully assured 'Best Soloist' performance of the '2nd Movement' from 'Concert Piece for Cornet' by James Curnow'.

The lyrical 'Guardian of My Soul' led into the classic tub-thumper 'MacArthur Park' as Crofton claimed a clear two-point winning margin over Matlock, with Rolls Royce (Derby) in third. The other top-six finishers in what was a highly entertaining contest between 11 well match and well led bands, went to Towcester Studio, Rivington & Adlington and Resdev Market Rasen.

Swinton & District go one better

There was certainly plenty of great entertainment on offer for Anne Crookston and the audience to enjoy in the Fourth Section — from a brilliant heavy metal electric guitarist playing Iron Maiden's 'Run to the Hills' to some cracking youth led choreography and presentation.

In the end it was an excellent set from Swinton & District Excelsior under the baton of Robin Rutter that claimed the £250 first prize, ahead of close rivals Audley Brass and Kirkby Colliery Welfare.

The winners opened with Alan Fernie's popular 'Prismatic Light', followed by a superb 'Best Soloist' award winning performance from Daniel Potter on 'Feelings'. 'All the Jazz' and 'The Ashokan Farewell' showed the band's command of style and good banding basics, before they rounded things off with the up-tempo 'La Bamba'.

Every band gave performance rich in merit according to Anne Crookston, with mention made of the desire to really try and entertain with their programme choices, even if sometimes a little over ambition and some basic problems just cost a few valuable points.

Ilkeston Brass, Deepcar Brass and Newark Town made up the final top-six places.

Carlton kick off in style

Right on the stroke of 9.00am it was Carlton Brass Training who got the day off to a cracking start as under MD Geoff Hawley they produced a great set that started with the classic 'Amparito Roca', before segueing through 'Georgia on My Mind' (played by 'Best Soloist' winner Sarah Harper), 'That's a Plenty' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean'.

With further statistical information to come through over the next few days it is hoped that the Festival will be able to build further on what was an overwhelming success, as Bolsover became the focus of worldwide banding attention.

It's a real pleasure to conduct this famous band, one that has a brilliant attitude and such a progressive musical approach. I hope this is now the start of many more successes togetherImps MD David Hamilton

Results:

Championship Section:

Adjudicator: Roger Webster

1. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (David Hamilton) — 95
2. Unite the Union (John Roberts) — 93
3. Shepherd Group (Richard Wilton) — 91
4. Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard) — 90
5. Hatfield Band (Stan Lippeatt) — 89
6. Elland Silver (Daniel Brookes) — 88
7. Easington Colliery (Chris Bentham) — 86
8. Foresters Brass 2000 (John Davis) — 85
9. York Railway Institute (Chris Hirst) — 84
10. Haverhill Silver (Mark Ager) — 83
11= Blidworth Welfare (Martin Heartfield) — 82
11= Shirley Band (David Bishop-Rowe) — 82
13. Kibworth (Dave Holling) — 81

Most Entertaining Band: Unite the Union
Best Soloist: Ginette Baker (flugel) — Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel
Major Peter Parkes Winning Conductor Prize: David Hamilton

2017 Spring Festival qualification: Shepherd Group

First Section:

Adjudicator: David Childs

1. Elland Silver (Daniel Brookes) — 94
2. Foresters Brass 2000 (John Davis) — 93
3. Longridge (Mark Peacock) — 91
4. Blidworth Welfare (Martin Heartfield) — 90
5. Chapeltown Silver (Andrew Dennis) — 89
6. Enderby Band (Simon Greswell) — 88
7. South Yorkshire Police (Leigh Baker) — 87
8. Gresley Colliery (Dave Purkiss) — 85
9. Kibworth (Dave Holling) — 84
10. Ireland Colliery Chesterfield (Richard Windle) — 82

Most Entertaining Band: Elland Silver
Best Soloist: Rob Wilshaw (trombone) — Foresters Brass 2000

Second Section:

Adjudicator: Anne Crookston

1. Stannington (Derek Renshaw) — 96
2. Foss Dyke (Colum O'Shea) — 93
3. Ibstock Brick Brass (Simon Willis) — 92

Best Soloist: Richard Dowling (cornet) — Stannington

Third Section:

Adjudicator: Colin Hardy

1. Crofton Silver (Dean Jones) — 93
2. Matlock Band (Geoff Hawley) — 91
3. Rolls Royce (Derby) (Graham Cardwell) — 90
4. Towcester Studio (Neil Brownless) — 89
5. Rivington & Adlington (Malcolm Wilson) — 88
6. Resdev Market Rasen (David Dernley) — 86
7. Stacksteads (Fred Bowker) — 85
8. Audley Brass (Tom Hancock) — 83
9. Newhall Band (Kevin Holdgate) — 81
10. Oughtibridge (Gain Somerset) — 79
11. Dronfield Genquip (Simon Kerwin) — 76

Best Soloist: Andrew Clutton (cornet) — Crofton Silver

Fourth Section:

Adjudicator: Anne Crookston

1. Swinton & District Excelsior (Robin Rutter) — 94
2. Audley Brass (Tom Hancock) — 93
3. Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Neville Buxton) — 92
4. Ilkeston (Geoff Hawley) — 91
5. Deepcar Brass (Cathryn Rogers) — 90
6. Newark (Rupert Trippett) — 89
7. Ellenbrook & Boothstown (Christopher Barmes) — 87

Best Soloist: Daniel Potter (horn) — Swinton & District Excelsior

Unregistered Section:

Adjudicator: Anne Crookston

1. Carlton Brass Training Band (Geoff Hawley) — 88

Best Soloist: Sarah Harper (cornet) — Carlton Training Band