With much of the UK enjoying the last few rays of sunshine in what has become a belated Indian summer, the audience at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall provided an equally warm welcome to Carlton Main Frickley Colliery to open this year’s festival.
Fuse together
The Yorkshire outfit may have been a touched bruised after its disappointing British Open result, but whilst they were perhaps not at the very top of their form at times during this concert, they still provided more than enough musical evidence that a young band is beginning to fuse together well in time for their appearance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Wit and invention
Presenter Simone Rebello was the narrator for Elgar Howarth's 1975 British Open test piece, 'Fireworks'.
Deemed controversial at the time (how times have changed), this was a performance full of wit and invention under the direction of Leigh Baker.
Each of the ‘variations’ was played with a touch of zestful spirit with an expertly managed fugue and finale bringing a colourful performance to a satisfying close.
Brisk
Eric Ball's march 'The Torchbearers' was taken at a brisk tempo, before the audience heard one of the high points of the entire day, with the beautiful cornet playing of Kirsty Abbotts.
Once again, she reminded everyone that the art of lyrical cornet playing is very much alive and well with the title track from her highly enjoyable solo CD, 'Soliloquy' delivered with delicate sensitivity.
Aplomb
Philip Harper's arrangement of the Queen hit, 'Don't Stop Me Now' was the fizzy aperitif to two popular Irish melodies - 'Carrickfergus' featuring the excellent baritone soloist, Hannah Platt, and Leigh Baker's take on 'Erin Shore', both of which were played with a touch of classy aplomb.
The excellent flugel player Anna Spedding was joined by Daniel McLochlin on the piano in a traditional take on 'Scarlet Ribbons', before the band concluded their first of two concerts on the same day (they were in Bridlington at night) with the rhythmically flowing 'Momentum' by Ben Hollings.
Malcolm Wood
