The Astley Youth Band from Manchester, England will visit Arklow from the 25th to the 29th August. During this visit they will be giving a number of performances around County Wicklow.

Joint concert

On Tuesday 26th August they will be giving a joint concert with the Arklow Shipping Silver Band in the Arklow Bay Hotel commencing at 8.00 p.m. On Wednesday 27th August they will be playing on the bandstand on the sea front at Bray between 3pm and 5pm, and on Friday 29th August they will be playing on the Bandstand in Arklow at 6.00 p.m.

Working hard

The band has been working hard preparing for the tour for the last 18 months, and has raised much of the funds from carolling and fund-raising. The band were very grateful to be awarded a grant of £4,285 from the Wigan Council Youth Opportunity Fund, to help with the the cost of workshops in order to prepare the programme of music for the tour.

Music of an Irish flavour

The ages of the players in the band range from 8-18. During this trip they will be joined by some of their adult players in order to add a bit of spice to their wonderful programme of pieces. The programme includes a number of pieces of Irish music; Peter Graham's Gaelforce, Stephen Roberts arrangement of the traditional Irish folk song "Carrickfergus", and Bill Whelan's "Riverdance". Soloists include Michael Collier (Cornet), James McGougan (Flugel), Jack Berry (Soprano), Rohit Jepegnanam and Adam Jordan (Tenor Horns), Claire McGougan (Baritone) Samantha Minshall and Thomas Collier (Trombones), Tom Berry (Euphonium), and Craig Mann (Eb Bass)

Civic Reception

The bands are being honoured by the Arklow Town Council with a Civic Reception during their visit and this is seen as a great honour by the band. It is hoped that the people of Arklow and Co. Wicklow will come out and support this exceptional band during their visit.