Gala concert for Hospice birthday celebrations

The Black Dyke Band

Springhill Hospice has announced a special Brass and Voices Gala Concert as part of the celebrations to mark the Hospice’s 20th Anniversary year.

Taking part in the concert, which will take place at the Gracie Fields Theatre on Saturday 18 April, will be the Greater Manchester Police Male Voice Choir and the internationally famous Black Dyke Band, regarded by many as the best brass band in the world. Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be former BBC GMR and Piccadilly Radio personality Phil Wood.

Ian Jenkins, Fundraising Manager at the Hospice, said: “We are thrilled to bring Black Dyke Band back to Rochdale. As a former bandsman myself it is always a thrill to hear the sound they make – there is honestly nothing like it. I fully anticipate the night to be a sell out.”

Black Dyke Band is the most recorded band in the world with over 300 recordings and that figure growing every year. It is also the most successful contesting band in the world, having won the British Open no fewer than 29 times and the National Championships 21 times. In addition to touring and recording, the musical life of the band has included television shows, films, broadcasts, concerts at Music Festivals, Universities, The Proms, Fanfare into Europe, Songs of Praise for BBC, covering the whole musical spectrum, appearing with Lesley Garrett, Elton John, Peter Gabriel, Evelyn Glennie, James Morrison, Rod Franks, Ian Bousfield, Phil Smith and many more.

Greater Manchester Police Male Voice Choir was formed in 1974, giving its first concert six months later with just twelve members. Since then the choir has gone from strength to strength, performing at venues across the country, including the Royal Albert Hall, London, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Sheffield Arena and the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. They are very proud to have visited Scandinavia five times, performing in Sweden and Finland and the choir also made a trip to Germany in 2005 for a performance in the famous Kaiserpfalz Concert Hall in Paderborn. With four performances in five nights on a Scottish tour, four visits to the Isle of Man, taking on the Welsh male voice choirs - in Welsh! – at Porthcawl and concerts from Chester-le Street to Torquay, the choir has plenty to sing about.

Phil Wood has been broadcasting for over 25 years, on both BBC local radio and local independent radio. He now presents a show on the internet-only radio station ManchesterRadioonline.com. Phil started his broadcasting career behind the microphone at Manchester’s Piccadilly Radio – where Chris Evans was his tea-boy – and he became famous across the northwest for his character-based Breakfast Show and his immortal catchphrase, “put some more Wood on the wireless!”

Tickets, priced at £15.00 and £12.50 (concessionary) are available from Sandiford’s Gallery, Drake Street, Rochdale (01706 646563) and Springhill Hospice Fundraising Office, Broad Lane, Rochdale (01706 649920). Credit and debit card facilities are available at both outlets.