70 years ago Cheltenham established its first Festival as a post war expression of future positivity in the celebration of the musical arts.

Over the years it has attracted many world renowned performers and has established for itself a reputation for innovation as well as tradition - sometimes mixing both to wonderful effect.

Philosophy

The Flowers Band has been invited perform on a number of occasions - the latest certainly embracing the festival philosophy with a joint concert that saw them link up with the celebrated illustrator and children’s author James Mayhew. 

The concept proved to be a popular as well as critically acclaimed success: The band providing the musical template to which the artist added his own interpretation of the eclectic subject matter - from Holst and Mussorgsky to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. 

All for a pound

The event was part of the ‘Bring your pupils to the Festival' initiative, which saw Flowers and James provide two concerts aimed at exciting as well as embracing young children with colourful music and quick drawn imagery - and all for just a Pound!

As Flowers enjoyed themselves so did the children, as James happily narrated the musical storyline as his amazing paintings were revealed on a huge projection screen behind the band.

It was hard to think of Holst’s ‘Mars’ being so thrillingly brought to life: Flamboyant brush strokes literally sprayed paint over the trombone section as the artist drew the audience into the music.

Highlight

The highlight was undoubtedly Mussorgsky's ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ - the artist able to bring the fantastical images jumping off the screen as the band played its part with some splendidly vivacious playing.
  
The concert came to rousing close with Grieg's ‘In the Hall of The Mountain King’ - with an amazing final flourish that saw what at first glance appeared to be a total mess: It turned out in fact to be the final picture completely painted upside down - only revealed by the artist in its full glory by James flipping the canvas 180 degrees in time with the last beat of the music!

Innovative concept

Following the concert pupils were able to get their hands on a range of instruments in Music Explorers sessions, with expert guidance provided by members of the band to round off what James Mayhew described as, ‘a new, innovative concept’.

It was certainly a concert that fully lived up to the Cheltenham Festival’s 70 year philosophy.

James Case