We got our Summer Term events off to a good start at the weekend with an appearance playing on the Seles’ historic bandstand. Thanks to Steve Quilliam for the photo.
This was part of Hexhams’ Spring Fair and Eating festival with further events being planned later in the Summer.
Click here for further details visithexham.net We hope to play at the Hexham Regatta event in June.
We have our own Webshop which helps generate band funds. If you purchase goods through this link the band receives a percentage of the price of the goods taken from the retailers advertising budget. The cost to you is exactly the same as buying online directly.
The Webshop is now run by easyfundraisers who have taken over from Spend & Raise.
It works in exactly the same way as before. Why not give it a try and share the link with your friends. Since starting the Webshop we have raised over £1400.
Click on the logo and start contributing to band funds.
There is a now toolbar on the site which can be used to let you know if a retailer you might be going to buy from is involved with our Webshop. (Please make sure you are happy with your privacy settings before using the toolbar)
We had a very enjoyable evening last night with our friends the Ponteland Community Wind Band directed by Alastair Lord. PCWB played an interesting programme to start the concert aided by our very own Jack Ruddick on percussion and Jonny Drake stepping in on Bass at the last minute.
We held a brief AGM during the interval with an address by our Chairman Steve Quill i’ am and a report on the accounts by Mr Dave Lamb. The band is now in its 21st year and continues to attract new players and in particular younger musicians who are essential to our survival. If you are interested in joining please come along, you will be made very welcome.
After the interval Prudhoe Community Band started proceedings with an ambitious ‘Eyes Down’ attempt at ‘La Gazza Ladra’ (Rossini abridged Hignetti) The serious bit over we escaped unscathed to relax into the rest of the set.
Before our performance of ‘The Three Amigos’, our every own amigos Baxter Fenwick, Steve Quill i’am and Dave Hignett led the audience in learning the authentic dance moves from the film, complete with genuine Mexican Sombreros from Steves dressing up box.
Another highlight of our set was a tribute to the great American Band Leader Spike Jones featuring Guest Percussionist ‘Sir’ Mark of Bolderson on Whistles (Various), nightshade (falling), bakelite phone and Inappropriate Clash Cymbal.
Thanks too to Jo on bicycle bell, Baxter on party poppers (and various noises off) and band members on rolled up newspaper.
Here we see ‘Sir’ Marks able assistant Kathryn on joke hand pointer, sharing an amusing moment whilst warming up the audience for their subsequent participation.
Click here to see our rendition of “A Salute to Spike Jones” on Youtube.
‘Thank you Music Lovers!’
It was standing room only when, to conclude the evening, both bands joined forces for a rousing performance of Coldplay on Stage
Thanks to all who came to watch and make the evening so enjoyable. We are appreciative of the help and support we get from Prudhoe Town Council so it was nice to see several of our local councillors in the audience supporting Prudhoe’s very own community band.
Many thanks also to Alastair Lord and the Ponteland Community Wind Band for making the journey South of the river to join us for our annual concert.
Don’t miss our annual joint concert with our friends the ‘Ponteland Community Wind Band’ on Saturday 29th March at 7.00pm.
The band a had a lovely weekend away for our annual residential weekend at Ridley Hall.
Sadly the atrocious weather precluded for the first time in living history the usual football match between Mr Hignetts team V the Rest of the World. There was also disappointment for those band members who sneaked off to watch Sunderland beat Newcastle in the afternoon and on the Rugby field with France narrowly beating England in the last few minutes of the match.
There was however better news on the Snooker table later in the evening with Mr Hignett and John K taking on all comers to win the annual PCB Snooker World Championships fair and square (on this occaision)
This victory was in the face of an inordinate degree of cheating and unsporting behaviour from all directions. Those band members know who they are!
Here we see the kind of thing the champions were up against.
Mr Hignett sadly had to leave us on Sunday but the the band had a valuable morning rehearsal under the baton of our illustrious chairman Steve Quill i’am, followed by a short informal concert for friend and family.
The Final Tesco Gig just before Xmas marked the end of our 2013 fund raising campaign. If anyone who saw us play during our tour is interested in coming along to join us you would be made very welcome. We start rehearsals again in early January so keep an eye on our calendar for dates.
This year we have been very lucky with the weather and managed to play all of the events that we had planned.
Many thanks to the generosity of all the kind people who gave us donations towards band funds and to the helpers who held buckets at events.
Eldon Square was our only indoor event this year providing a welcome respite from the usual cold and windy outside gigs.
It was touch and go at Hexham Farmers Market
Our luck held out and we managed to play our second set before the impending storm closed the Market early in the afternoon
We have been out and about over the last few weekends entertaining the crowds during our Xmas Car Park Tour. We have a few more weekends to go so keep an eye on the Calendar if you want to catch us.
Here you see us briefly entertaining the good customers of Waitrose in Hexham.
Unfortunately our attempt to play 2 sets outside Waitrose were again curtailed due to another brush with the Councils parking enforcement officer. Subsequent discussion of the merits of interpreting the parking regulations so strictly at this festive time were not fruitful. Sadly there was not time for the band to relocate to his preferred place outside the store so we had to pack up and go home early.
We were invited to play for the skaters on the Sele Hexham at a new event arranged in the run up to Christmas. Everyone had a jolly time skating in the sunshine overlooked by a giant inflatable Snowman.
The weather held fair again when we played in Prudhoe last weekend.
This was probably our coldest day so far but the band is made of tough stuff and were appreciated by early morning shoppers passing by the ‘Glade’ (Cobbles).
Here we see MD Mr Hignett demonstrating his new Christmas singing tie through the PA.
Treasurer and ‘Slap’ Bass enthusiast Mr Lamb made an effort to get into the Christmas spirit with this fine outfit. (The beard is natural.)
We have been lucky to obtain the services of expert percussionist Mark Bolderson during the recent absence of Jack Ruddick.
Thank you for stepping in Mark. Jack will be back with us in the New Year.
Yesterday saw us performing at Brocksbushes Xmas Fayre. This very busy event marked the start of our Xmas fundraising tour around the region and got us off to a good start.
We play at the vagaries of the weather at this time of year but luckily we managed to play two full sets despite the sun in our eyes and the cold causing sticking keys on the Bass Clarinet.
We are very grateful to Charlie Conway of Wylam Electrical Services who has recently kindly PAT tested our electrical equipment to ensure our ongoing safety.
Listen in to the Sue Sweeney show on Saturday morning 26th October between 9am and 12pm to hear a telephone interview featuring Prudhoe Community Band.
We are hoping to that this interview will raise the profile of the band in the region and attract prospective new members. We are particularly keen that younger players continue to join us as they are vital to the continuing success of the band.
Many thanks to Bev Bookless for setting this up with BBC Radio Newcastle.
We were delighted to be asked to perform at the Hexham Abbey Street Festival in September. We were the finale to an interesting morning of music and performance.
Big thanks to Phil Rosier swapping Tuba for Drum Kit and stepping in at the last minute during the absence of our usual drummer Jack Ruddick. Normal service to be resumed soon. Best wishes to Jack from the Band.
Thanks too to Mike Coleman of Core Music for his involvement and providing the PA equipment.