The on-line Pershore Midsummer Brass Festival has been hailed as a success after it was broadcast recently with pre-recorded performances and highlights enabling listeners to enjoy plenty of great brass band entertainment.
On-line programmes
A host of bands that regularly take part in the popular event submitted programmes — with members of Jaguar Land Rover Band opening proceedings with the traditional welcoming fanfare.
This was the heralding call for performances from Arrow Valley Brass, AW Parker (Drybrook), the Band of Gloucestershire Constabulary, Bretforton Silver, City of Coventry, Malvern Hills, Perscoran Brass, Shipston Town, Stour Concert Brass, Shirley Band, SPAL Sovereign Brass, Stourport on Severn, Tewkesbury Town and Training Bands, Langley, Worcester City Brass, Worcester Concert Brass and Jaguar Land Rover themselves.
Fun
Some fun videos were recorded and plenty of inventiveness too, whilst others sent pre-recorded performances on existing CDs of music. AW Parker (Drybrook) supplied music recorded in Pershore Abbey, whilst Stourport on Severn played in a marquee similar to those at the local Angel Hotel or the Star Inn venues.
Tewkesbury opted for a wonderful heritage archive of imagery to accompany their music, as did the re-united Perscoran Band and Bretforton Silver Band. Arrow Valley Brass provided a tour of Ireland recorded from a drone to accompany their Celtic music, while Jaguar Land Rover performed with friends on electric guitars as an exciting addition to their normal line-up.
The festival ended with a performance from Lockdown Brass, comprising players from Worcester Concert Brass, Malvern Hills and Malvern Chase Band4BR
Finale
The festival ended with a performance from Lockdown Brass, comprising players from Worcester Concert Brass, Malvern Hills and Malvern Chase Band who have supported each other through lockdown with quizzes and chats online. They performed John Barber's 'Song for the Frontline', in support of the NHS.
The production gained over 6,000 views and gained many positive comments.
The organising committee also took the opportunity to thank Chris and Heather License for their technical wizardry and support.
It is now hoped that the 2021 Festival will take place as normal.