The band recently enjoyed a day of celebrations to mark our 20th anniversary year.

Held at Wylam Institute we started with an open rehearsal which saw  many past members swelling the sections.  Christine and Dave, keepers of the band music blew the dust off some old favourites including Sesame Street, Santana, Tijuana Brass & Buddy Holly.

The tenor sax section diid a fine job of playing most of the numbers from memory due to the strange disappearance of the tenor sax music pad.

In the afternoon we were treated to a fine display of barbecuing skills by our Treasurer and Bass player Mr Lamb seen here in his favourite barbecuing outfit.

Here we see the three remaining founder members of the band enjoying the fine products of Mr Lambs labours.

Suitably refreshed  we played a short concert for friends and family before clearing the decks for an evening of merriment and dancing to the fabulous ‘Dave Hignett Band’ late into the evening.

One of the undoubted highlights of the concert was Mr Lambs fine rendition of the ‘Blaydon Races.’ . Chosen as our genuine ‘Geordie’ and his ability to sing all the right words in the right order, the races were one of Daves earliest memories having being taken to see them as a small child.

Dave also gave a vote of thanks to our founder member and conductor Dave Hignett for his continued enthusiastic support of the band and thanked him for his efforts over the years.

Many of our younger players have benefitted from Daves teaching and have gone on to pursue careers in music as a result of  his inspiration.

We are lucky to continue to attract young players into the band.

A fine day was had by all.

As this is our 20th anniversary year we are having a special day of celebration on Saturday 14th September at Wylam Institute.  We would like to invite as many people who have been involved with the band over the years as possible

We start the day with a rehearsal at 2.30 open to all past and current members of the band so dig out those instruments and come along.

We will then be having an afternoon Barbecue after rehearsal followed by a short concert in the evening starting at 7pm.

The fabulous ‘Dave Hignett Band’ will be providing the entertainment late into the evening.

We have now finished all of our summer gigs following a successful tour out and about in the area.  Miraculously we managed to play at all the events we had planned with no abandonments due to inclement weather.

A hasty decamp to a location preferred by a very efficient car park attendant  for ‘Heath and Safety’ reasons saw us playing amongst the compost and flowers outside Waitrose.

Spread out along the footpath and in a sun trap we had an interesting time watching Mr Hignett get redder and redder.

Brocksbushes Summer Fair ended our tour playing to a backdrop of Strawberry Fields on another swelteringly hot summers day.

Band chairman Steve Quilliam looking suitably relaxed with his trombone

Term restarts in September so if you have an instrument and fancy playing come along and join us.

As this is our 20th Anniversary year we do have some festivities planned on 14th September when we hope to invite members old and new to join us in a day of celebrations

We are now midway through our Summer Tour 2013 and so far the weather has held fair (ish) allowing us to play at all of our planned events.

Blustery winds have kept the keeper of the band pegs busy, but so far we have kept the music out of the trees.

Hexham Regatta

Hexham Regatta saw us play on the banks of the Tyne at Tyne Green to accompany the exertions of crews from far and wide.

Gibside Music In The Park

We were delighted to be invited back to perform at another Gibside ‘Music in Park’ Event playing on the avenue in front of the beautiful chapel.Music has been played in the ‘Pleasure Gardens’ since the C18th so it is lovely to be able to continue the tradition.

Sele School Summer Fair

The Sele School Hexham had a summer fair yesterday with Maypole Dancing, Stalls and a Fancy Dress parade. The morning showers held off in the afternoon, though we still had some excitement in the Rhythm Section with a flying Gazebo threatening to take off during a particularly interesting gust.

A scratch ‘Prudhoe Community New Orleans All Stars Jazz Band’ led the Fancy Dress Parade to an impromptu version of ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’

We are still on the road collecting for band funds until the Summer Holidays, so please come and see us.

We had a great turn out from the band to play at the Northumberland County Show held for the first time ever on the beautiful Bywell Hall Estate.

The weather proved typical for an English bank holiday Monday with a biting strong breeze and savage gusts up to 35mph.  

Needless to say the fine players of the Prudhoe Community Band stepped up to the mark and played despite flurries of flying music and frozen fingers.

The band is out and about throughout the next few weeks to raise money for band funds. see calendar for details.

Thanks to Steve Quilliam, our esteemed Chairman for the photos.

Last night we were delighted to host a joint concert with Ponteland Community Wind Band, the Tyne Valley Big Band and ourselves  in the performance area of Prudhoe Community High School.

Alastair Lord started proceedings conducting the Ponteland Community Wind Band before a swift change of Polo shirt saw him blowing trumpet with the Tyne Valley Big Band to close the first half.

The Ponteland Community Wind band is going from strength to strength with a growing number of players evident since our concert with them last year.

Tyne Valley Big Band still excited following their recent top three success at the Sunderland Big Band Jazz Festival, closed the first half with a great set of big band standards and newer arrangements.

Following the interval and raffle the second half was introduced by PCB Chairman Steve Quilliam, whilst Conductor Mr Hignett found his scores in the green room.

Steves observation that we were lucky to have three vibrant thriving ensembles in the area was well appreciated by the audience. Prudhoe Community Band completed the second half before players from all three bands joined forces in a rousing massed community wind band version of “Tequila”

To close the evening Dave Hignett gave a vote of thanks to all the musicians and helpers who had made this concert such an enjoyable event.