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Headline Band has Carnival Crowd Swingin' in the Rain
The ever popular Alford Silver Band was the ‘headline’ act for Chapel St Leonards Carnival on Saturday 31st July, and despite a slight drizzle, such is the band’s reputation for great entertainment that a huge audience gathered in the open air on the Village Green to appreciate it.
Musical Director Steve Walker enthralled the crowd not only with his varied and toe-tapping programme, but also with his repartee between numbers that had the audience in fits of laughter.
With the Principal Cornet on holiday, deputy principal Andrew Taylor stepped into the breach and expertly led the 26 strong band as it entertained the crowd with popular numbers by Carl Denver, Elton John and Freddie Mercury (Queen) as well as some old favourites such as the wartime sing-a-long medley of Keep Smiling Through. Appropriately, the band included a ‘swing’ version of Singin’ in the Rain to which several members of the audience danced along with their umbrellas held high.
The band also premiered two new numbers: a lively medley from Walt Disney’s High School Musical and a romantic jazz solo of Marianne played on the flugel horn by Mike Green. Even then, Steve had a laugh at Mike’s expense, pointing out that as Chapel’s parish clerk, Mike should be the recipient of all complaints, and ‘helpfully’ pointing out the location of the parish office!
The band is now engaged on a series of private engagements, including playing at a wedding reception, but will give its next public performance at the Tower Gardens, Skegness on Sunday 22nd August between 2.00 and 4.00 pm.
Alford Silver Band will next perform in Chapel St Leonards on Thursday 4th November when it will perform a Remembrance concert in the Village Hall.
Summer Crowd Enjoy a Lazy Musical Afternoon
A combination of a hot sunny afternoon, a pleasantly cooling breeze and Alford Silver Band’s reputation for good musical entertainment brought the crowds out into Tower Gardens, Skegness last Sunday (11th July).
Under the expert baton of the band’s assistant conductor, Richard Walker, Alford Silver Band entertained a huge and appreciative audience for two hours with a selection of light “easy listening” numbers designed to bring enjoyment to young and old alike.
“We usually get a good crowd in the park, commented band chairman Martin Briggs, but the sun really brought them out last Sunday. It was one of the biggest audiences we have experienced for these popular, free open-air concerts. Not only were there several rows of full seats in front of the bandstand, but a large crowd had also gathered along the shaded flower beds of the Gardens to listen to the band.”
Despite several key players not being available due to other commitments or family holidays, the band still managed to field a full complement of players, with the exception of percussion.
Musical director Steve Walker and assistant conductor Richard Walker (no relation) had between them assembled a light programme for Richard to conduct that was designed to be easily absorbed on a hot afternoon. This included numbers by The Beatles and Elton John as well as popular modern classics such as We’ve Only Just Begun, Sentimental Journey and The Lion Sleeps Tonight. The band even played a ‘swing’ version of Singin’ in the Rain to try (unsuccessfully) to encourage cooler weather for the players sweltering on the bandstand!
“This has been a wonderful way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon,” commented one holidaymaker as the band packed away its instruments following the performance. “They are a very talented bunch and it was really pleasant just to sit and enjoy the music in the sunshine.”
Alford Silver Band will be back entertaining visitors to the Tower Gardens on Sunday 22 August and again on Sunday 5 September, on both occasions performing between 2.00 and 4.00 pm.
Hot Music for a Hot Night
Alford Silver Band received another standing ovation when it performed at Chapel St Leonards Village Hall last Thursday (1st July).
Due to the acclaim which followed its Christmas concert in Chapel, the band had been called upon by the Village Hall committee at short notice to put on another performance.
And what a performance it was. On a hot and sticky evening, the band gave faultless renditions ranging from Verdi and Elgarto numbers by Elton John, Queen and the Beatles, with the powerful John Williams theme to the film Jurassic Park thrown in for good measure.
The solo cornet line up of Josh Wilkinson, Andrew Taylor and Tina Wood gave a lively rendition of the ever-popular Bugler’s Holiday. Mike Green played the haunting theme to James Bond’s For Your Eyes Only as a flugel horn solo, and the talented trombonist Richard Walker gave a virtuoso and highly amusing performance of The Acrobat.
Musical director Steve Walker entertained the crowded hall with his humorous banter, much of it directed at his musicians.
“Chapel St Leonards has become something of a second home to us,” grinned a perspiring band chairman, Martin Briggs afterwards. “The Village hall committee has already fixed another date for us later in the year and we are also booked to play at the Village Carnival, as well as performing a private concert in the Village. We must be doing something right,” he laughed.
The evening finished with an old fashioned sing-song as the audience joined in a medley of wartime favourites such as Keep Smiling Through, Lily Marlene and White Cliffs of Dover following which the band received a standing ovation.
Alford Silver Band is due back in Chapel St Leonards for the Carnival on the Village Green on Saturday 31st July, and will be performing a Remembrance Day concert in the Village Hall on Thursday 4th November.