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.

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.

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.