Milnrow Band’s new programme features ‘rock’ and ‘pop’

Milnrow Band at Shaw Playhouse

Milnrow Band gave another stunning performance of its new seasons` concert programme, this time at Shaw Playhouse on Saturday 4 July.

The near capacity audience was treated to an excellent fare of brass band music with no sign of a march, overture or traditional arrangement to be heard, whatever would the traditionalists think?

It was a total surprise when the band commenced with ‘All Night Long’ the upbeat Lionel Richie hit.

Musical Director Mark Bentham said: “Our endeavour is to present something a little different, the programme will feature music of styles and groups from the ‘rock’ and ‘pop’ era of the past”.

There were to be many highlights during the evening, one of which was the unexpected minute and a half acappello choral singing by the band, with the players laying aside their instruments for the introduction to Freddy Mercury`s (Queen) ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

The evening contained well known numbers from the 60s through to the present and included ‘Elephant Love Medley’ (from Moulin Rouge), ‘Beatles Medley’, ‘Ruby Tuesday (Rolling Stones), ‘Beat It’ (Michael Jackson), and many more.

Solo items were expertly provided.

The silken tones of Principal Cornet Hayley Moore were to the fore with her lovely rendition of ‘Field of Gold’ (Sting) Gordon Sumner.

Kenny Pain enthralled the audience with his performance of ‘Solitaire’ (Carpenters), and then Solo Tenor Horn player Helen Clarke showed her virtuosity with her solo of another Carpenters hit ‘Goodbye to Love’.

Final solo of the evening was a Barbra Streisand classic number in which Mick Morris (Principal Euphonium) treated those present to a lovely version of ‘The Way We Were’ from the 1973 film of the same name.

Musical Director Mark Bentham is doing wonders for Milnrow Band with his exuberance, enthusiasm and new look towards a brass band music programme and he has engendered a new feeling of excitement within the members of the band which is ultimately showing in their performances.

Another highlight was a medley of Madness classics ,’It Must Be Love’ , ‘Baggy Trousers’ and ‘House Of Fun’. ‘Complete Madness’ was a very apt title.

A Philip Sparke arrangement of ‘Music’ by John Miles, was the final item, and after prolonged applause the band obliged with a ‘curtain call’ number, ‘Final Countdown’ a hard rock hit from 1986.

Ken Watts, Band President said: “After its recent contest successes in the All England Masters at Kettering (second place out of 15 bands) and being adjudged Best Local Band in the Saddleworth Whit Friday contests Milnrow Band is now preparing to compete in the British Open Brass Band Championships at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Saturday 5 September, we wish them every success.”