6th June 2010
A very good weekend for the band.
On Friday evening we played at the Victoria Hall, Kidsgrove. Virtually a full house apart from the front two rows. (Why do audiences assume that brass bands are going to be very loud? I myself arrived very early and noticed that the audience were doing likewise - to get good seats -at the back of the hall). No comments please ......
The concert was shared with the fantastic Soprano singer Joy Sidley-Brookes. She alone almost brought the house down - so there was little for us to do, after that. A great night of music for all involved.
Sunday saw us at the Etruria Industrial Museum. The afternoon started out sunny and hot, and the band played outdoors. At our interval, the heavens opened and we quickly moved into the marquee. With our second slot, we had something of a captive audience, due to the weather - but was greatly enjoyed by all.
This is what banding is all about ....
Brass Band Marathon 2009
The band played in the Brass Band Marathon at the Queen's Gardens in Newcastle under Lyme - once again, we gained some press coverage ....
Walton Community Centre (September 2009)
The band played a second concert this year at the Walton Community Centre in Stone. Again, the band were very well received, and in fact received a "standing ovation".
Our EEb Bass player Mark Yates played his first solo with the band - "Tuba Smarties"
The other soloists on the evening
Rebecca Brookes Barbara Davies Sandra Yates
May 2009
The Band had just one booking this month on Sunday the 31st. This was at the Etruria Industrial Museum. A whole weekend of attractions had been organised. There was glorious weather, and what a colourful event, with the canal barges, steam engines, and just so much going on...... A marquis had been errected for the music over the weekend, but taking advantage of the good weather, we chose to play outside. We had a good audience throughout our performance and were as ever very well received.
April 2009
Our first engagement this month saw us playing in the beautiful Victoria Hall in Kidsgrove - a charity event organised by the Mayor of Kidsgrove, John Parsons. John is also the Chairman of "Children With Diabetes". The event was a charity event to raise funds for Children With Diabetes. A full house yet again - which raised much needed funds for the charity.
On the 24th of this month the band played at the St George's Day celebrations in Keele Hall. What a magnificent building that is. Apart from some general, soft / entertaining music whilst the banquet was being consumed - the band then played some "Appropriate and Uplifting Music for St George's Day". Needless to say "Jerusalem" & "Land of Hope and Glory" were repeated quite a number of times.......
March 2009
This month has seen the band playing at the funeral of Doug Smith - one of the band's longest serving members. A very sad day indeed, but comfort was taken knowing that Doug would have wanted the band there playing the music at his funeral - the band were indeed Doug's family.
The band played two concerts this month :-
Biddulph Church (in the wet and windy Staffs Moorlands, and a tad difficult to find). Despite some difficulty finding the venue, we all arrived eventually (and on time). We received a very warm welcome. The band performed to a full house and the concert was enjoyed by all.
Walton Community Centre, Stone.
We had no difficulties at all finding this venue. This concert was also very well attended, and we all enjoyed a great evening of music. We also received a bit of "press" coverage......
February 2009
This was a very sad month for the band, with the untimely death of our treasurer and horn player Doug Smith. We have opened a new page on the site to commemorate Doug.
January 2009
With the Christmas music now put away for another year, the band would normally start rehearsing some new music for the coming summer engagements. This year however, we are pleased to have some engagements early in the year. We have a joint concert with the Revelation Choir and the Stone Scout & Guide Marching Band. Also a church concert in Biddulph, and we are joining the St George's day celebrations in Keele.
The new music will be rehearsed "in due course".
November 2008
The band are pleased to welcome another new member, Adam Bentley, who joins us playing 3rd Cornet.
The new uniforms have arrived, and very smart they look! Roger Handley paid us yet another visit and we all had our "fittings". A new band photograph is now required - this will be taken at our next concert.
October 2008
One of our longest serving band members announced that he wished to purchase a full set of uniforms for the band. Handleys of Leeds were commissioned, and after two visits from Mr Handley himself, the whole band have now been "measured up", and we await delivery of our very smart new uniforms. There is no possible way that we can express our gratitude to Doug, other than to say a VERY big THANK YOU!
Photographs will of course be posted in due course..........