Grimethorpe Colliery Band coming to Middleton Arena

Grimethorpe Colliery Band

The multi award winning Grimethorpe Colliery Band will be performing at Middleton Arena later this year during their 2015 tour.

The world famous brass band, formed in 1917 by a group of miners, visit Middleton for a show on Sunday 13 September. They were the real stars of the smash hit film 'Brassed Off,' which brought the band international fame in 1996. Since then they've toured the globe, including shows at the World Cup, Eurovision and major music festivals.

More recently the band was seen in action by a worldwide audience of 2.5 billion during the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony alongside the London Symphony Orchestra, in Danny Boyle's epic production. Grimethorpe were part of the spectacular 'Isles of Wonder' presentation that saw the vast green and pleasant landscape inside the stadium turned into the industrial revolution, with the band's performance having echoes of both its own famous industrial and film heritage.

The film 'Brassed Off' was based on Grimethorpe's struggles against pit closures, and its soundtrack was recorded by the band. It told the story of a brass band from the fictional Yorkshire mining town of Grimely who, faced with the closure of their pit, went on to triumph at the National Brass Band Championships. The film took Grimethorpe on to international stardom, receiving standing ovations and critical plaudits wherever they appear. Performing regularly on radio and television, last year they recorded a track with Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott. Their CD featuring a selection of their most popular tracks reached Number 1 in the classical music charts and on several occasions they've been crowned National Brass Band Champions of Great Britain.