Foden's warmed up for their forthcoming Brass in Concert appearance at The Sage Gateshead next weekend with a performance that was literally out of this world at Keele University.

Led by Michael Fowles, the Sandbach band linked up with the university's astrophysics department for a concert featuring Stephen Roberts' arrangement of Gustav Holst's 'The Planets', complete with harpists, celeste and vocal accompaniment.

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However, each planet was also introduced by astrophysicist Dr John Taylor, who explained more about the celestial bodies in a user friendly manner — mixing history, science, Hubble telescope images and the type of facts that make you wide eyed in surprise.

Foden's also added to the heavenly wonderment with performances of 'Enter the Galaxies' by Paul Lovatt-Cooper and the final section from 'Music of the Spheres' by Philip Sparke.

It has been the type of innovative project that Foden's is becoming increasingly involved with, and we have already received a number of enquires about doing it againMark Wilkinson

Extra dimension

Speaking about the collaboration, Foden's Band Manager Mark Wilkinson told 4BR: "The band thoroughly enjoyed being involved in the project. It brought an extra dimension to the performance of 'The Planets' and there was a great reaction from the audience at the end of each movement.

It has been the type of innovative project that Foden's is becoming increasingly involved with, and we have already received a number of enquires about doing it again."

Following the concert guests were invited to visit Keele Observatory to view planets and other spectacular night-sky objects using the historic Grubb refractor.