2010/2011 Review

Can't believe we're starting a new season next Monday, seems like we've never stopped.
Last 3 months have been really busy..
June 22--The big one. We played for her Maj.
3 Gigs in July including the 2 classical gigs
5 Gigs in August (+ trumpet fanfare)....good going

Classical ones were well received despite some peoples' misgivings, and I believe playing the classical stuff has improved the standard of musicianship in the band.
We certainly have improved and keep on improving...we are now sight reading stuff we couldn't have a while back.
So well done all of you for your hard work.
I know I don't always say that was brill...usually "that's not bad" but that's just me.(it often is pretty good)
I do appreciate your hard work.

We've had as usual some band changes: newbies, leavers and babies.(and a guest appearance Helen Carey)


Special thanks to:

Ron,George,Derek, for stepping in when needed, to cover any vacancies in varying sections of the band,and for anyone else who has played different music at gigs when we are short of people.

George for keeping the band going throughout August.

George and Ron for occasional depping for me.

The band exec for all their help and support both to me and to band stuff, behind the scenes.

Paul P for his photographic skills and web site management.

A special thanks to Lorena for her excellent sec skills in organising all the gigs we've had...it does take an awful lot of work to get to that one page link on the band diary with all the stuff you need to know!!

Family and friends for their support.

and finally anybody else I may have missed out.

RT

NB Your aims for this season....
I say it every year......

Expression Marks!!!!

Alnmouth Gig Bank Hol Monday Review

Brilliant gig...weather not bad.even some sunshine.
Band played well..we all fitted under the tent!(there was only about twenty of us.)
Thanks to Ron for depping on tbn and Miranda for sight reading 3rd clart..well done.
Even Mama Mia was a sucess.

Tea and scones/cakes at half time..very tasty.

Nobody in the band won anything in the raffle...must be a first.

Paul P took a vid of Bandology which is now on you tube and also on the blog video page.

The organisers seemed to like us and want us back again...so a good result.

Alnmouth Gig Bank Hol Monday

Looking forward to today's gig at St John the Baptist Church, Alnmouth at 1.45pm.


Weather looks Ok ish.

Alnmouth Gig Bank Hol Monday

Just building up nicely for a cool wet bank holiday Monday.

Just the job, playing outside....chilly today (Sat), round about 13 degrees C..is it really August or mid November?

Queen's Visit 2011

The Official Video from the Royal Channel on you tube, showing the band playing as the Queen enters our area has been linked from our Band Video pages .

Warkworth Show 20/08/11

Another cracking performance.

Gorgeous day, the sun shone.....our first gig in ages in Sunshine.
Mr Hogg's first appearance at a summer gig this year.

Bit blowy, so the magnets were put to full use.(and even some clothes pegs!!)
Miss Alice Paul mislaid her magnets, so a fine will be levied !!!

Sarah Elliot, on Alto (a newish band member), enters the hall of fame at no 10....for forgetting her magnets at the start of the second set.(not as bad as having to go off for music, but still worth a lowish entry on the chart)
Currently :

1. Glen Hogg: Music in Lagny Cathedral
2. Allan Jones: Music in Bedlington
10. Sarah Elliot: Magnets in Warkworth
25. Alice Paul: Magnets in Warkworth

Entry to the chart is arbitrary and entirely at my discretion!!

Any band member is eligible!

Biggest crowd in a long time, think they liked our choice of music.

First set started on time..followed by tea and carrot cake in the tent..Yummy!!

Magic Myrtle didn't turn up on time, so she started late...

Then we seemed to have hours and hours of kid's fancy dress.

Then loads and loads of highland and clog dancing...all looked the same to me!!

Eventually we started second set later than scheduled, and we were told off for overrunning....because Magic Myrtle was ready to start........... (no comment necessary)

Finished with Instant Conc...

We had a varied selection of hats from ....George,Sheila and Paul.....maybe we need to adapt an official band hat!!
Any ideas?

Wilkinson's Shop Opening

Here is the full video of the opening ceremony.

Video once again by PedalBikerUK

Alnwick Symphonic Wind Ensemble

Getting a good response for this.
Gig on 26/11/11

It's looking like a goer!!

At the mo we have 1.5 flutes,3 clarinets,1 oboe, 2 hns,bass,2 tpts,2 euphs and 1 tbn.

Still waiting for some replies.

Wilkinson's Shop Opening

4 of our trumpets: Glen,Ron,Richard and Kyla played a fanfare today at 9.00am for the opening of the new store in Alnwick (opposite Morrisons).

It went very well and sounded fantastic.
They did the band proud.

Some band members were there in support.

Video herewith:

and some photos of the event:

Thanks to Quentin F-B for the video and photos.

The big 1000 views

Just hit 1000 views of the blog.

Not bad

Alnwick Symphonic Winds

Decided to try and get together a classical concert with all the offshoot groups form the  band.

Aiming for 26/11/2011 in St Michaels Church Alnwick.

Watch this space.

Chillingham Castle

Not a good day today.
We didn't play as well as have done in recent gigs....don't know why
Some errors in 1st half, gave the guys a pep talk ....improved.
2nd half..outside ..think we were too spread out.
Sounded thin.....haven't played outside as much this year..didn't have our usual oomph!!
Finished with Pirates...probably our worst ever performance of it.

Weather a bit iffy so did the first half inside and then decided to do 2nd half outside.
Rain kept off.

No food at half time, only tea and coffee.

Not much of an audience for us , or the stall holders either.
Don't know how well it was advertised.

3 photos taken on my mob uploaded.

Will this rain ever stop?

Hope it's going to clear up for our gig on Saturday at Chillingham..the forecast isn't very clever.

We haven't used the magnets properly yet...we need to test them out.

Watch this space.

Cooncillorr Todd's Bash or "Who ate all the sarnies?"

Played at County Hall,Morpeth,Northumberland last night for chairman's dinner and guests.(Other council chairmen)

Another good night.

Nearly as many in the band as there were guests!
Bit of a squash, but we got there.
Thanks to Dekka and Ron for depping on Tuba and Tbn.

7.15 start....we can play quietly (well quietish!!)

First half we def kept the volume down...still need to get pp sounding pp.


Stopped at 8 whilst dinner was served and shown to an upstairs room full of council chauffeurs sitting round the one table eating our sarnies,and drinking our tea and coffee!
Not enough seats either.
Some muttering went on, A and I had words with the chairman's PA,the result being we got given some mini ice cream tubs...just the job.

It  was too hot. and we didn't get called back to play till 9.20...a long wait.

So we gave it some welly!!

Started quiet with H Potter, then hit them with Light Cav, Chicago,.Jersey Boys,Spam.

Played Instant as encore (following one request for more!!)

Got home 10.40, got out the Southern Comfort and watched the results of America's Got Talent.

Best part of the evening! :-)

St Michaels Church:Alnwick Flower Festival 03/08/2011

Cracking gig last night.The band played well(once the chairs had been sorted out!!)
Slight mishap in the Floral Dance, which we played for the first time.I started it in 4/4 stopped it, and started it again in 4/4. Started too slow, eventually got it up to speed!!
Thanks to Dek for playing Euph.
Good to have adaptable players who can turn their hands to other instruments.

Good feedback from the punters.Well appreciated by the organisers

Strange unprepared speech from Alnwick's Town Mayor.

Mel's mum was delighted we'd played floral dance.

Apparently she had heard only good reports and feed back and they were all very pleased how the evening went.  The band made the evening go so well.
Mel's mum flower arrangement featuring the band Banner was excellent.Paul has taken some photos which should be on the web site soon.

A regular customer(who was on the door last night) of Pat's (the boss) came into her shop today and said it was the best thing she'd ever heard, and she felt moved to tears at two of the numbers.Very kind of her to come and say that.

Claire and I had a go at one guy who apparently runs the Music Festival web site.
He said it was the first he'd heard of us.
He is on their committee and we asked him to mention/remind them of our name at any future meetings.

We are the local band!!


I said we appear to have dropped out of the picture and explained that we had for many years opened the Music Festival's opening concert.(as well as playing outside at a weekend)
I was too late to catch the Mayor who is also Chairman of the Festival.