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Review | Brighouse and Rastrick Band at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival
As far as finales go, you couldn't get much better than Brighouse and Rastrick's performance, led by guest conductor David Bremner.
Feb 95 min read

Review | Cory Band at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival
The Cory Band’s performance at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival showcased their powerhouse sound and versatility.
Feb 84 min read

Review | RNCM Brass Band at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival
The RNCM Brass Band opened up the last day of the RNCM International Brass Band Festival in style with an exciting programme.
Feb 63 min read

Review | Black Dyke Band at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival
Black Dyke Band’s performance at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival was a journey of epic proportions.
Feb 56 min read

Review: Tredegar Band at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival
Under the baton of Ian Porthouse, Tredegar Band’s offering to the 2025 RNCM International Brass Band Festival was a feast of larger works.
Feb 24 min read

Review | JRNCM and Macclesfield Youth Bands at RNCM International Brass Band Festival
The RNCM International Brass Band Festival offered the opportunity to watch the bright young stars.
Jan 316 min read

Review|Athena Brass Band at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival
To have watched Athena Brass Band, America’s first all-female brass band, as a youngster would have blown my mind.
Jan 307 min read

Review: Foden’s Band at the 2025 RNCM International Brass Band Festival
Foden’s Band’s performance featured one world premiere, a UK premiere, a forgotten classic and a legendary masterpiece.
Jan 299 min read


Review: Wingates Band at St John’s Church
Fantastic sounds from the Wingates Band at St John's Church.
Oct 27, 20245 min read

Review: Band of Hope and Glory - Brassed Off at the Bolton Octagon
A review of the Theatre on the Lake's production of Brassed Off at the Bolton Octagon Theatre, featuring Wingates Band.
Sep 15, 20246 min read


CD Review | 140 | Cory Band
To celebrate their 140th anniversary, the Cory Band’s new CD, simply titled: 140, commemorates key milestones in the band’s history with som
May 22, 20247 min read


Review: Pemberton Band Gala Concert with Glyn and Helen Williams
Directed by their charismatic and endlessly energetic guest conductor, John Doyle (who set the band an incredibly challenging...
Apr 21, 20247 min read


Review | Freckleton Band’s ‘Kinky Toots’
Find out what happens when the worlds of brass bands and drag performance collide in Freckleton Band's Kinky Toots show.
Mar 17, 20247 min read

Review|The WFEL Fairey Band at Pemberton Band Room
A class performance from the WFEL Fairey Band. I appreciated the programme which introduced me to a lot of music I hadn’t heard before - it’
Feb 11, 202410 min read

Review: The Cory Band | RNCM International Brass Band Festival 2024
I’ll do my best to try and articulate with words just how mind-bogglingly incredible Cory’s performance was.Â
Jan 30, 202410 min read

Brass Band Conference 2023: Honouring Heritage and Inspiring Innovation - Part 1
I had the pleasure and privilege to be invited by Brass Bands England to cover the day’s events on the blog.
Oct 10, 202310 min read


Commentary Debut, Crying and cocktails - Cory Online Championships Day 1 & 2
I think that I can safely say I’ve never previously sat and watched a brass competition, sipping a Long Island Iced Tea.
Mar 17, 20216 min read


Bolden (2019) - Movie Review
At the start of this movie, Bolden is credited as being the 'inventor of jazz'.
It's true that he was a pioneer of the jazz genre and jazz
Nov 18, 20205 min read


Review | Reflection by Lions Youth brass
The talent and dedication of these youngsters and their musical directors is something to behold.
Sep 20, 20206 min read


Review| Richard Evans – Still Beating
This was one of those books that I wanted to read slowly and appreciate fully, for two reasons. The first reason being, I have a...
May 6, 20204 min read
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