Milnrow Band and “Hanky Park”

Milnrow Band and Hanky Park

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Shaw Playhouse 2 further enhanced its reputation for good quality local entertainment when it played host to a ‘full house’ concert given by well known folk duo ‘Hanky Park’, supported by local top brass band Milnrow on Saturday evening.

The band, under Musical Director Mareika Gray, and led on solo cornet by Beck Chrimes opened proceedings with the march ‘Gladiators Farewell’ followed by the brass band arrangement of ‘Festival Overture’ by celebrated Russian composer Shostakovich, the original written by him in1954 in celebration of the anniversary of the revolution.

Well known film music featured in this first stint by the band, highlight of which was the flugel horn solo ‘Concerto de Aranjuez’ (as featured in the film Brassed Off) here exquisitely played by the petite Natalie Beer, justly earning her rapturous applause from the very appreciative audience

Participation by the audience was encouraged as ‘Singing in the Rain’ from the film of the same name and ‘Breezing Down Broadway’ a compilation of film hits brought this first part of the concert to a close.

Local folk duo ‘Hanky Park’ (Tony Downes of Newhey and Pete Martin of Salford) then took to the stage and had the audience convulsed with laughter, as with self accompaniment on mandolin and guitar they regaled us with their versions of such well known folk songs and ditties as ‘Match Stalk Men’, ‘The Knocker up Song’ ‘Paddy’s Barrel of Bricks’ (this reminiscent of famous satirist Gerald Hoffnung) and the ‘Ship Canal Song’ ( or Bringing the Sea to Manchester) ... all interspersed with their own brand of quips and jokes.

After a short interval ‘Hanky Park’ continued with their unique brand of music and comedy with ‘Don’t bring that in `ere Lad’, followed by a some what risque ‘Phantom of Balderstone Mill’ with mention of ‘piecers’, ‘doffers’ and local places such as Thornham, Turf Hill and Shaw.

The duo also included in their programme (with band accompaniment) Beatles numbers ‘All my Loving’, ‘Yesterday’ and also ‘John’s Dream’.

They concluded their very successful set with ‘The Fred Dibnah Song’ (composed by Pete Martin) and as featured on CD by ‘Hanky Park’ and the Milnrow Band. The band then continued with ‘Light Walk’ a swinging band number composed by Australian Salvationist Barry Gott and ‘Sleep’ by Eric Whittaker, an item with very relaxing hymnal qualities.

The band concluded proceedings with ‘Gaelforce’ by Peter Graham, a number much influenced by Irish music, and the ‘Radetsky March’ in which the audience participated with somewhat gentile handclapping, before bursting into full spontaneous applause in appreciation of this splendid concert by local talent, for local people put on by a successful local entertainment venue.

Milnrow Bands next concert is on behalf of McMillan Nurses at Rochdale Golf Club on Saturday 29 September.