We have now completed our 2023 summer season. With lots of new music in our folders we set off for our first summer engagement at Duns Tew Fete which is long-standing fixture of the Band’s calendar and always a pleasure to play at especially as we are very kindly provided with complementary tea and cakes. The following weekend, we provided the musical entertainment at Boarstall Fete and Steam Rally which the band has played at for over two decades. The weather was fine this year so lots of people sat and listened to the music and could be heard singing along to ‘The Rivers of Babylon’ and ‘I’m still Standing’. To round off the summer season, we travelled down the road to a very warm and sunny Kirtlington to play at their wonderful Fete where they always make us feel welcome. Sheldon our Musical director always chooses music to suitable for outside engagements that the audience can sing along and dance to and certainly our music seem to go down well .
Sunday 16th July saw our summer concert, which due to the covid pandemic, was our first one since 2019. In typical British summertime style, the day of concert there were signs of threatening clouds and strong winds but we were really keen to perform outside. We completed all the necessary tests to determine whether we could play and set up outside including sticking our arms out the doorway to see if it was raining to pegging a piece of paper to a stand and counting out many times the paper blows away and the stand falling over. Even though the results of our rigorous testing were slightly inconclusive, we decided to go for it and set up outside. The bunting was untangled and pulled out around the trees to help with the summer feel. The Band started the first half with a piece called “Bandology” which is a rousing concert opener. Our programme then included a selection of music from Broadway, the Genesis classic “Afterglow” and we ended our first set with the foot tapping favourite “Proud Mary”. It was then the turn of the fabulous B Band to entertain with their set of Yellow Submarine, Over the Rainbow, Hey Jude and finishing with YMCA. This certainly got the audience (and the main band) up and dancing. Trying to remain optimistic about the British summer, the band started the second half with “I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside” followed by “Mr Blue sky” However, this did not work, and the heavens opened. The show went on and the rest of the second half was performed in the hall which included our encore of Sweet Caroline.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful audience who attended this concert. Who braved the weather and sat outside to listen to our concert and then to help the band carry chairs and equipment into the hall and to listen to the rest of the concert. It was very much appreciated and was great to perform to a large audience. We are very much looking forward to seeing you all at our “Spooktacular” Concert on Sunday 29th October 4pm.