Blackpool’s Grand Theatre hosted the Poulton-le-Fylde Band and special guest Father Geoff Bottoms, in a family orientated event which has been successfully staged for the last six years.
The band’s programme opened with ‘A Grand Christmas Welcome’, which featured creative staging that saw a fanfare team positioned in front of main curtain.
Spirited
A spirited rendition of the ‘National Anthem’ led into a controlled performance of ‘The Spirit of Christmas’, which in turn neatly segued into the first piece featuring a batch of excellent soloists, with Amy Horridge, Robert Lambert and Phil Worthington on lyrical form in ‘O Holy Night’.
No surprisingly, much of the music had a direct Christmas link; ‘City of David’ commissioned and excellently performed by principal cornet Neil Jones was based upon the hymn tunes ‘Stowey’ and ‘St. Louis’, whilst ‘St Clement’ was more mournful and atmospheric in its entrancing harmonic language.
Framed
Up tempo renditions of ‘Christmas Festival’, ‘Gaudete’ and ‘Welcome to Christmas’ framed the interval, whilst there was plenty of smiles on show with ‘Christmas Swing/Frosty The Snowman’ - toe tapping and delightful, with Sam Douglas on tuba showcasing his impressive skill set.
Wonderful
With the likes of ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’, ‘Christmas Adventure’ and the all consuming, ‘Hark the Herald’ - with tremendous audience participation, it rounded off a wonderful festive concert, played with flair and expertise by the band and well led by their MD.
Ellie Knott
