On Sunday 25th September the Band were honoured to perform in the picturesque setting of the Royal Avenue Gardens Bandstand in Dartmouth as part of the 2011 Bandstand Marathon. The weather for the day was beautiful – warm and sunny, although this was not apparently the case further north! The band performed a full concert of solos, popular and classical brass band repertoire including Voice of the Guns, New York, New York, Abba Goes Brass and Hot Toddy to a very appreciative audience. Soloists included our Soprano Cornet – Paul Luford playing ‘Demelza’, Solo Horn – Sandie Heyworth playing ‘Try to Remember’, Solo Baritone – Brent Heyworth playing ‘All I Ask of You’ and Euphonium Duet, ‘Deep Inside the Sacred Temple’ with Colin McEwen and Claire Luford.
The event, involving hundreds of bands and other musical groups performing in bandstands across England, Scotland and Wales, is now in it’s fourth year, and has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark four years in a row. As part of the Cultural Olympiad, the Bandstand Marathon aims to humanise public spaces by having as many bands performing on as many bandstands and outdoor performances spaces all at the same time on the same day throughout the UK. The event is organised by Superact and widely supported by the brass band movement.
More information can be found at www.bandstandmarathon.org.uk and the 2012 date has been confirmed as being on Sunday 9th September 2012. We are now hard at work preparing for the South West Brass Band Association Annual Contest in November 2011, and hopes to be able to continue its support for Bandstand Marathon in 2012 – Olympic Year!
