New Year Treat from Newstead Brass

Newstead Brass will be joined by two special guest groups for a musical new year treat in their annual end-of-year concert on Sunday, January 2nd 2011 at 8.00 pm featuring popular music in the ‘Big Band’ style.

Award winning Newstead Brass will perform ‘Newstead Plays Big Band’ at the Newstead Centre on Tilford Road in Newstead with the support of ‘Brassed Up’ and ‘Imperfect Fifth’.

Musical director Duncan Beckley will lead Newstead Brass through a selection of music made famous by the likes of Ted Heath, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Glen Miller.

They will be joined by ‘Brassed Up’, a talented duo with a national reputation who present a musical journey through the sounds of up to 25 different brass instruments (from piccolo trumpet to bass tuba) and the piano. The evening will also see a return for ‘Imperfect Fifth’, the young saxophone quintet formed at South East Derbyshire Music Centre which has proved popular with the band’s audiences over the last few years.

A band spokesman added, “Most bands take a break after Christmas, but we enjoyed celebrating the end of the millennium so much in December 1999 we’ve made this end-of-year fun concert night an annual part of our programme. This year’s concert looks likely to be one of the best so far and everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy an evening that’s sure to play a great part in their new year celebrations. Even though we’ve been joined by our friends ‘Brassed Up’ and ‘Imperfect Fifth’ we’re holding the ticket price at £3, great value for an entertaining night out.”

Admission is just £3 payable at the door. Advance tickets can be reserved by calling 0115 952 7435 or via the band website.

Christmas Feast of Brass and Voice

Hucknall is set to host a musical Christmas feast as two of the areas top amateur music groups come together to create ‘Sounds Like Christmas’ at St Mary Magdalene parish church on Monday December 20th.

Newstead Brass, winners of this year’s Bolsover Brass Festival and ranked 26th in England will be joined by the Eastwood Collieries Male Voice choir which has an enviable reputation for the quality of its sound and singing. There will also be carols for the audience to sing with the band and choir. ‘Sounds Like Christmas’ begins at 7.30 pm on Monday December 20th. Tickets cost £5 (accompanied children under 16 free) and can be reserved via the website or by calling 0115 952 7435. Tickets will also be available at the door.

A band spokesman added, “We’re delighted to once again complete our Christmas programme with a concert at Hucknall Parish Church. Even though the band relocated from Hucknall to Newstead over 20 years ago, the ‘Byron story’ ensures we retain strong links with the town with regular concerts as well as leading the annual remembrance parade.

Newstead Brass have also confirmed their annual ‘Newstead Plays (more than) Big Band’ night will take place at the Newstead Centre on Sunday January 2nd at 8.00 pm when their guests will be ‘Brassed Up’, (incredibly versatile brass and piano duo). Tickets cost £3 and will be on sale at all Christmas concerts or by calling 0115 952 7435.

Christmas is Coming for Newstead Brass

Newstead Brass start their Christmas concerts this week with ‘Festive Favourites’ in Kirkby Woodhouse on Friday December 10th.

The evening will combine audience favourites from the band’s wide repertoire with music and carols associated with this festive time of year. The concert takes place at St John’s Church, Kirkby Woodhouse at 7.30 pm and admission is £5 for adults, £2.50 for children and tickets will be available at the door.

Tickets are also available for the band’s ‘Sounds Like Christmas’ concert (£5) at Hucknall’s St Mary Magdalene Church on Monday December 20th at 7.30 pm with special guests Eastwood Male Voice Choir and Newstead Plays Big Band’ (£3) at the Newstead Centre on Sunday January 2nd at 8.00 pm. Tickets can be purchased via the band website or by calling 0115 952 7435.

Hucknall Christmas Tree Festival 2010

A black and gold tree (reflecting the band's colours) was one of the winning exhibits at Hucknall's first ever Christmas Tree Festival which featured nearly 50 trees at the Parish church of St Mary Magdalene on Hucknall Market Place.

The festival opened at 6 pm on Wednesday 1st December, even though the Christmas Carnival had to be cancelled due to the weather and continued on Thursday and Friday with the final chance to visit on Saturday morning. Free admission and the availability of light refreshments ensured there was a steady stream of visitors throughout the event.

Newstead Brass will present their 'Sounds Like Christmas' at the church on Monday 20th December at 7.30 pm with special guests Eastwood Male Voice Choir.

Christmas at the Proms Tickets

Newstead Brass are delighted to once again be supporting the NSPCC with 'Christmas at the Proms' at Woodborough Village Hall on Friday December 17th at 7.30pm. Tickets are now on sale and selling quickly, so please contact Amanda on 07792 341557 to buy / reserve yours as soon as possible. Prices are £12.50 adults, £6.50 for Children.

Ticket details for Newstead Brass' other Christmas concerts will be announced shortly.

Remember, Remember, Throughout November

Newstead Brass began a busy month of 'Remembering' with the Royal British Legion ‘Poppy Appeal’ concert at Loughborough Town Hall on Wednesday November 3rd joining with singer Diane Sharp and the Carlton Male Voice Choir.

Next weekend (November 14th) Newstead Brass will lead Remembrance Sunday parades at Hucknall, Nottingham in the morning and Kilburn, Derbyshire in the afternoon.

On Saturday 20th November, Newstead Brass will appear as guests of Kirkby Light Operatic Society in ‘Thanks for the Memory’, a musical celebration of the songs of some of the most popular stars of yesterday and today. This concert starts at 7.00 pm at Ashfield School in Kirkby in Ashfield. Tickets cost £6 and more information can be obtained by calling 01623 457249.

The band end the month with the Gedling Festival of Remembrance at Carlton Forum Leisure Centre on Saturday November 27th when they will again be joined by Carlton Male Voice Choir and other performers to support both the Royal British Legion and the Mayor’s Charities.

A band spokesman added, “We’re delighted that Newstead Brass continues to be popular with concert organisers and audiences. They can be sure of an entertaining and quality performance from the band as shown by our recent top prize in ‘the world’s biggest and best Festival of Brass competition’.”

Standing Ovation at St. James'

Newstead Brass gained a standing ovation at the end of 'Music at St James'' as part of a weekend away in Cheshire and North Wales (23rd and 24th October).

A large audience enjoyed the Saturday concert at St James' Church in Christleton on the outskirts of Chester which included a variety of items from the band showing their versatility as they swapped from orchestral transcriptions to swing, rock, hymn settings and original works for brass band. The band also enjoyed their meal at the Ring O' Bells in the village and the drinks and cakes after the concert! Thank you to everyone who came along and especially those involved in organising the event.

On the Sunday the band travelled on to Prestatyn on the North wales coast to take part in the Pontin's Brass band Championships. Unfortunately the band's performance of Bram Gay's challenging transcription of 'Les Preludes' by Liszt failed to find the approval of the judges who placed the band 11th of the 15 performances. The Marsden Band from west Yorkshire took the title with former Newstead player Dale Garner taking the award for best soloist in the contest.

Headstock Festival Nominated for National Award

The HEADSTOCK music festival, which took place at the Newstead and Annesley Country Park on September 11th and was opened by Newstead Brass has been shortlisted for the 'best new festival' title in the annual UK Festival award to be presented at The O2 Arena on November 18.

The winning festival will be the one with the most public votes. To support Newstead's bid to win, please vote at uk.festivalawards.com before October 27.

Chester Song at Twilight?

Newstead Brass, winners of ‘the world’s biggest and best Festival of Brass competition’, are visiting Chester this Saturday evening as part of a busy weekend that may also see them singing ‘We do Like to be Beside the Seaside’ as they compete in Sunday’s Pontins’ National Brass Championships on the North Wales Coast.

The band visits Christleton’s St James’s Church at in Chester this Saturday, October 23rd, to present ‘Music at St James’, commencing at 7.30 pm. Musical director Duncan Beckley will lead the band and audience through a collection of light classical music, mixed with popular film scores, swing selections and rock classics! Tickets for ‘Music at St James’ cost £8 and can be obtained by calling Brenda Bailey on 01244 335034.

A band spokesman added, “It should be a special evening as a prize-winning band visits this prize-winning best kept village in Cheshire.”

The following day (Sunday 24th) Newstead Brass will continue along the A55 to compete against 13 other bands in the ‘Harry and Margaret Mortimer Championship’ section of the Pontins’ Brass Championships at Prestatyn.The band will be returning to the east midlands for a series of remembrance concerts in November.

Newstead Brass are Triple Entertainment Champions

Newstead Brass confirmed their position as the North Midland’s leading brass band winning three trophies at the Bolsover Festival of Brass held at the Post Mill Centre, South Normanton and Pinxton Village Hall, on Sunday 3rd October.


Billed by the organisers as the leading brass band event of its kind in the world, the festival featured 36 bands performing for over 9 hours across two venues, with each band performing a 20 minute ‘concert style’ programme to a large audience, including civic representatives from across the region.

David Read, adjudicator for the ‘Championship Section’, was gushing in his praise for Newstead’s performance of the varied musical programme put together by musical director Duncan Beckley which ‘clearly stood out from the remainder of the field.’

As well as the Wilson Bowden Developments Winners Trophy, Newstead also took the award for the highest placed ex-colliery band and the trophy for best soloist, presented to principal euphonium Lynden Cooper. The band will also receive a commemorative photography album celebrating the fifth anniversary of the festival.

Lynden Cooper capped a memorable day by also conducting Whitwell band to third place in section 4 of the contest.

A band spokesman commented, “After finishing as runners up in 2009, we’re delighted to have swept the board this year, a further endorsement of the band’s entertainment value which concert audiences can depend on.  Our special thanks to Dan Price who provided the band with a copy of his yet to be published arrangement of 'Lisa Lan' which was a key part of our festival programme.”

The contest was organised by Bolsover District Council, and full results can be found at http://www.bolsover.gov.uk/council-news-2010/1006-festival-of-brass-2010.html.

Feast of Music at Brass Festival

There’s a feast of brass music on offer this weekend when the Bolsover Festival of Brass takes place at South Normanton’s Post Mill Centre and Pinxton Village Hall on Sunday October 3rd.


Nearly 40 brass bands are taking part in the event, in which each band performs an entertaining 20 minute programme, giving the audience a wide variety of music throughout the day. There will be prizes for the best performing bands in each of the six graded sections.

The event has attracted bands from across the midlands and north of England with the first bands due play at 9.00 am in each venue.  The £5 ticket price allows admission to all performances in both venues.

Newstead will be playing late afternoon in the Post Mill centre.

FREE Brass as Newstead visit Crossley Park

It may officially be autumn this week, but there’s still chance to catch award winning Newstead Brass in a FREE ‘Summer bandstand’ concert this Saturday.

Newstead Brass will play for the final ‘Bands in the Park’ concert of the 2010 series on the Crossley Park bandstand this Sunday, September 26th, between 3.00 pm and 5.00 pm. As always, they will be led by their musical director Duncan Beckley. It will be a welcome return visit for the band which played at Crossley Park in July as part of the Ripley Music Festival when an estimated 2,000 people enjoyed the music of Newstead Brass, the South East Derbyshire Music Centre and a firework finale.

The concert series is organised by Ripley Town Council, supported by Amber Valley Borough Council with the help and assistance of the Friends of Crossley Park.

Newstead Brass Launch Headstock Festival

Newstead Brass were delighted to open the first ever ‘Headstock’ contemporary rock music festival at the Newstead and Annesley Country Park on September 11th.

A Newstead band spokesman said, "With Headstock taking place on the former colliery site. It’s great that the band has been able to support this ambitious festival and we look forward to supporting its future development."

And we made the bbc news website as well.

Newstead Brass Ready to Rock

Newstead Brass will be providing a contrast in the musical styles on offer when they open the main stage' entertainment at the inaugural ‘Headstock’ contemporary music festival this Saturday (September 11th).


Headstock, featuring four main stages, is headlined by chart topping rock group ‘Ash’ and will also includes ‘Frightened Rabbit’ and the ‘Penguin Café Orchestra’ as part of a 12 hour line-up. The festival takes place on the former Newstead Colliery site, now being transformed into a country park with assistance from the BBC / Big Lottery ‘Village SOS’ initiative. Over the coming years the festival aims to expand to a 3 day event attracting 60,000 concert goers. Day tickets cost £30 from wegottickets.com or from the Newstead Centre on Tilford Road.

A band spokesman said, "We're delighted to have been invited to open the Headstock festival. As the event is taking place on the former colliery site the village were keen that the band was featured as a link with the area's mining history. We'll be using the opportunity to promote brass bands with a lively programme of modern music in a variety of styles".

On the same Saturday evening the band will perform in the more conventional setting of St John's church at Colston Bassett. The concert begins at 730 pm and tickets cost £10.00 including Supper and Wine. Please call 01949 81745 for ticket details.

Newstead Brass will complete the month with a free concert on Ripley's Crossley Park bandstand on Saturday September 26th, commencing at 3.00 pm.

Summer Season Ends in Spectacular Style

Award winning Newstead Brass ended their Summer concert season in spectacular style playing to an estimated 1,500 plus crowd at the annual Ripley Music Festival and entertaining hundreds more at a National Garden Scheme ‘Open Gardens’ event.

With financial support from the Midlands Cooperative Society, the Ripley Music Festival ‘Picnic in Crossley Park’ took place on Saturday July 17th. Families and groups of all ages enjoyed a 3 hour ‘‘Brass Spectacular’ featuring Newstead Brass and the Swing Band and ‘Imperfect Fifth’ saxophone quintet from South East Derbyshire Music Centre. The evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display, provided by ‘Big Bang’ fireworks, as Newstead Brass played music from Jeff Wayne’s ‘Eve of the War’ and Holst’s ‘Mars (the Bringer of War)’ from the famous Planets Suite.

On Sunday (July 18th) an ensemble from Newstead Brass played for the hundreds of visitors to a national garden’s scheme event at Woodside Cottage in Newstead village, with proceeds from the afternoon supporting Nottingham Breast Cancer Trust.

A band spokesperson added, “This weekend has been a great end to the concert season and probably one of our most successful seasons of concerts ever. Saturday night was a great advert for what we as a band can now achieve.”

The two events concluded a busy summer season for the band, with 10 events over the last 6 weekends. After a short break the band will start preparations for the autumn which includes concerts across the east midlands and beyond and the ‘Bolsover Entertainments Challenge’ and Pontin’s Brass Band Championships.

The band are also planning to make a CD and individuals or companies who would like to ‘sponsor a track’ to help meet the costs of this project should contact 0115 952 7435. Details will be on the website shortly.
[Photo above by Kevin Sherlock].

Newstead Brass declare ‘It’s War for Ripley’

‘It’s (musical) war for Ripley’ as Newstead Brass announce the music which will accompany the Firework Finale at the ‘Picnic in Crossley Park’, part of the Ripley Music Festival, on Saturday July 17th.

Newstead Brass will perform music from Jeff Wayne’s ‘Eve of the War’ and Holst’s ‘Mars (the Bringer of War)’ from the famous Planets Suite as a ‘live’ musical accompaniment to the ‘Firework Finale’ as dusk falls across the park.

The ‘Picnic in Crossley Park’, supported by the Midlands Cooperative Society, starts at 7.30 pm and Newstead Brass, the north midland's leading brass band, will be joined by the Swing Band and other young musicians from South East Derbyshire Music Centre.

Admission is free but the audience should bring their own chairs / blankets to sit on and picnics are encouraged. Food will also be on sale from a ‘burger’ stall run by the Ripley Lions’ club with proceeds going to charity.

Conducting Notes

Congratulations to Newstead's principal euphonium, Lynden Cooper, on being appointed as Musical Director of the Whitwell Brass Band.  The appointment gives Lynden the opportunity to further develop his conducting skills (having been conductor of the non contesting Crich band for several years) alongside his playing and bandmaster responsibilities at Newstead and we are sure the move will benefit Lynden and both the Newstead and Whitwell bands.

Our congratulations also go to friend of the band Russell Gray on leading the Fairey (Geneva) Band to first place in the 2010 English National Brass Band Championships on 26th June.  Russell appeared as guest cornet soloist in our 2009 Christmas Concert at Hucknall Parish Church, the same venue that the band were appearing at as part of the International Byron Festival when news of Russell's success was received!

Take Your Pic(k)-Nic with Newstead Brass

Picnics are welcome as award winning Newstead Brass continue their Summer concert season playing for Picnics in the Parks of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

The ‘Friends of Nottingham University’ are hosting a public picnic in the Millennium Garden at the university this Sunday, July 4th from noon until 3.00 pm. Music by Newstead Brass is just part of the entertainment for all the family which also includes Rocket Making, Face Painting, Pond Dipping and the Bakersfield Birds of Prey as well as the wonderful gardens. Admission is free and cover has been arranged should the weather be inclement. Visit the Friends Website for more details.

Plans are also being finalised for the ‘Picnic in Crossley Park’ at Ripley on Saturday July 17th. Newstead Brass will be joined by the Swing Band from South East Derbyshire Music Centre for the annual Brass Spectacular, supported by the Midlands Cooperative Society, which forms part of the Ripley Music Festival. The music begins at 7.30 pm and will conclude with a firework display accompanied by live music from the band. Admission is free and the audience should bring chairs and a picnic. Food will also be on sale from a ‘burger’ stall run by the Ripley Lions’ club with proceeds going to charity.

Last Saturday, June 26th, a large audience enjoyed ‘A Musical Extravaganza’ featuring Newstead Brass (led by musical director Duncan Beckley) and Hucknall Operatic Society as part of the International Byron Festival at Hucknall Parish Church and the following day (Sunday 27th), despite other distractions, another large audience enjoyed a free concert at ‘Highfields’ in Codnor when the band were joined by Derbyshire vocal quartet ‘Farenheit’, quarter finalists on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.

Newstead On Track For Summer Concerts

Following a successful ‘double header’ of concerts in Newstead, Newstead Brass travel just a little further afield for two more concerts in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire this coming weekend.

This Saturday, June 26th, Newstead and musical director Duncan Beckley will join with Hucknall Operatic Society for ‘A Musical Extravaganza’ as part of the International Byron Festival at Hucknall Parish Church (where the famous poet is buried). The concert begins at 7.00 pm and admission is just £5 with concessions available.

The event forms part of a double-header for the band who travel to ‘Highfields’ in Codnor on Sunday (27th June) for a concert organised by Codnor Parish Council and free for everyone to enjoy. The event starts at 2.00 pm and light refreshments will be available for a small charge. The audience are advised to bring deck chairs or picnic blankets to sit on.

Last weekend the band gave a pair of concerts in Newstead, with a concert in the idyllic surrounds of Hayes Farm supporting the ‘Friends of Chernobyl’s Children’ and a performance at nearby Woodside Cottage for the ‘National Gardens Scheme’ gaining lots of positive audience comments and raising funds for several worthwhile charities. The band also took the opportunity to launch their new CD project at the events, inviting friends, supporters and local businesses to ‘sponsor a track’ to help meet the costs of recording later in the year. The band will perform at Woodside Cottage again on Sunday July 18th.

Newstead Help Make ‘Masters’ History

Newstead Brass made their debut appearance at the All-England Masters International Brass Band contest on Sunday May 30th 2010. It was a historic year for the contest as, for the first time, it was being held in the recently completed state of the art 'Lighthouse Theatre', part of the Kettering Conference Centre, having been held at the Cambridge Corn Exchange since its inception in 1989.

The change in venue gave the organisers the opportunity to refresh the contest and 22 bands from across Europe accepted the invitation to take part in this ground-breaking contest with Derby born Percy Fletcher's 'Epic Symphony', originally written for the 1926 National Championships, chosen as the set test-piece. Although Newstead and musical director Duncan Beckley gave a competent account of the piece, it only secured 17th place with top place going to the Cooperative Funeralcare band from Scotland and runners up Tredegar Town from Wales. With the Dutch Brass Band Schoonhoven taking the third podium place it was left to Northamptonshire's Virtuoisi GUS band to lead the English challenge with fourth place. Newstead did have the consolation of finishing ahead of both the Northern and London and Southern Counties champion bands.

Newstead Brass would like to thank Hucknall Central Methodist Church and their friends and supporters who attended an open rehearsal at the church on Saturday May 29th and the Rushden Windmill Band who provided rehearsal facilities (and drinks and biscuits) on Sunday Morning.

'Epic Symphony' has been described as 'Edward Elgar meets Eric Coates' and is likely to be included in the band's programme for their International Byron Festival concert at Hucknall Parish Church (where Byron is buried) on Saturday June 26th. See the tickets page for more details.

Join us for an 'Epic' Rehearsal

On Saturday May 29th, Newstead Brass and Duncan Beckley will be making final preparations to 'Epic Symphony' for their debut performance in the 'All English International Masters' contest taking place in Kettering the following day. All friends and supporters are welcome at the final rehearsal being held at Central Methodist Church on Baker Street from 11.00 am to 12.30 pm. Coffee will be available from 10 am to 12 noon as part of the regular Saturday Coffee morning at the church.

Newstead are top Midlands brass at Spring Festival

Although Newstead Brass missed out on qualification for a national final for the second time in six weeks, their performance in the ‘British Open Spring Festival’ consolidated the band's ranking in Britain’s top 30 bands and emphasised their position as the North Midland’s leading brass band.

The Spring Festival took place at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Saturday May 15th, with 60 bands striving to progress through ‘Cup’, ‘Trophy’ and ‘Shield’ competitions to join 18 of the UK’s top bands who had already qualified for British Open Championship Finals.

Competing in the ‘Grand Shield’, the final qualifying round, Newstead’s performance of ‘Rococo Variations’, led as always by musical director Duncan Beckley, drew praise from adjudicators William Relton and Stephen Roberts, but was placed ninth of the 20 entries with just the top two bands, Tredegar and Tongwynlais qualifying for the championship finals in a memorable day for Welsh banding.

A spokesman commented, “We were ranked 12th of the 20 competing bands before the contest started so a top 9 finish represents a good outcome on a very challenging piece. We will, of course, be aiming to go even better next year!”

This ninth place follows on from the band’s fourth place in the Midland’s Regional Championships in March, just missing out on qualification for the National Brass Band Championships.

The band’s attention now turns to their debut appearance in the ‘All England International Masters’ on May 29th. Taking place for at the recently completed Lighthouse Theatre in Kettering, Newstead will be one of 12 English bands in a 22 band field which includes 6 of the leading brass bands from mainland Europe.

Meanwhile, tickets are now available for three of the band’s June concerts, including the Brass Arts Festival Gala Concert at Leeds Town Hall on June 13th, the Picnic in the Park at Newstead on June 19th, raising funds for the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children , and a musical extravaganza at Hucknall Parish Church on June 26th, part of the International Byron Festival. Details can be found on the 'Tickets' area of the band website.

St George, St John and the concert that won't Drag-on!

Newstead Brass are planning an exciting concert to mark the St George's day weekend, and promising that the concert, at Kirkby Woodhouse's St John's Church, certainly won't drag-on!

'For England and St. George' takes place at 7.30 pm this Saturday, April 24th. Award winning Newstead Brass and their musical director Duncan Beckley will be joined by talented young saxophone quintet 'Imperfect Fifth'. The programme will include works by a variety of English composers and conclude with a 'proms' style finale.Admission is £5 per person (children free).

Tickets can be booked at online or by phone (0115 9527435). Proceeds will be shared between the 'Help for Heroes' charity, Newstead band and church. .The church of St John the Evangelist can be found on Skegby Road at Kirkby Woodhouse, adjacent to the library, postcode NG17 9BE.

On April 17th Newstead Brass helped raise over £1500 for the Treetops and Rainbow's hospices when they performed at 'Music and Song', organised by the Stapleford and Sandiacre Rotary Club at Beeston's Chilwell Road Methodist Church. A large and appreciative audience enjoyed a varied programme of music from Newstead Brass with songs from Lucy Hall, Andy Ward and Jenny Adams. Broadcaster Colin Slater MBE compered the evening, fresh from watching Notts. County clinch promotion to Division 1 and dedicated the band's performance of 'Don't Stop Me Now' to both of Nottingham's football clubs.

Newstead Brass Helping Hospices and Heroes

Newstead Brass is making it easier for supporters to book and pay for tickets as it prepares for two concerts later this month to support charities helping hospices and heroes.

The Treetops and Rainbow’s hospices are the beneficiaries of ‘Music and Song’, promoted by the Stapleford and Sandiacre Rotary Club at Beeston’s Chilwell Road Methodist Church in Beeston on April 17th at 7.30 pm. Newstead Brass will provide the ‘music’ whilst ‘song’ will come from Lucy Hall (Soprano) and Andy Ward (Tenor) with Karen Sneade on the piano. Broadcaster Colin Slater MBE will compere the evening. Tickets cost £7.50 from the venue or Treetops hospice (0115 939 4551).

On Saturday April 24th, Newstead Brass will present ‘For England and St. George’, an evening of patriotic favourites at St John’s Church, Kirkby Woodhouse. This concert will begin at 7.30 pm and supports the ’Help for Heroes’ charity. It is the first concert to be included in Newstead’s new on-line box office at www.ticketsource.co.uk/newsteadband. Tickets cost £5 and can also be booked by post or at the door. Admission is £5 per person (children free). Please ’phone 0115 9527435 for more information.

A band spokesman added, “We’re pleased to be increasing the ways that concert-goers can be sure of hearing Newstead Brass, Nottinghamshire’s leading brass band, with our new on-line booking service and will also be offering the service to groups and organisations booking the band. Fans will still be able to buy tickets from band members and by post as they have in the past.”

As well as these forthcoming concerts, Newstead Brass are also preparing for their contest appearances at the British Open Grand Shield and the All England Masters International Brass Band Championship which both take place in May. Newstead will be looking to continue their rise through the UK rankings where they have from 40th in February 2009 to 28th in April 2010. Companies or individuals interested in helping the band meet the costs of competing in these two internationally recognised contests should contact the band on 0115 952 7435 or 07970 490773.

Newstead at the Nuptials

An ensemble from Newstead Brass were invited play at the wedding of Tim and Kirsty at Bagden Hall in West Yorkshire on April 3rd and provided an eclectic mix of music before, during and after the ceremony. We wish the happy couple a long life and happiness together.

Newstead Brass can play for both church and civil wedding ceremonies. Please contact us for more information.

North Midlands Top Brass (again!) as busy weekend raises charity cash

A busy weekend for Newstead Brass raised over £200 for the Nottingham Evening Post / Maggie’s Appeal for a new cancer care centre in Nottingham and saw the band retain their position as the North Midlands top brass band, narrowly missing out on a second consecutive appearance at the National Brass Band Championships.

‘Music of the World’ attracted a capacity audience to Hucknall’s Seymour Road Baptist Church on Friday March 12th as musical director Duncan Beckley led the band through an international selection of music from Europe, North and South America. Featured soloists were Kirk Turner (principal cornet), Michael Corden (flugel) and Lynden Cooper (euphonium ) who also compered the event. The audience were invited to make donations in lieu of an admission charge, and after deduction of expenses, over £220 was raised for the Maggie’s Appeal.

A highlight of the concert was a performance of George Lloyd’s ‘English Heritage’, the music set for the qualifying rounds of the National Brass Band Championships, with the Midlands heat taking place in Bedworth on Sunday March 14th.

80 bands took part in this year’s Midland championships, with 12, including Newstead, in the highest ‘championship’ section. Adjudicators David Read MBE and Dr Robert Childs commended all the bands, but emphasised that the top four bands had provided three very good and one excellent performance. Only two national finals qualification places were available and these went to the Virtuosi GUS band (Northamptonshire) and runners up Desford Colliery. Third place went to West Midlands based Sovereign brass leaving Newstead as the fourth highly commended band.

It was a generally good day for Nottinghamshire bands with Thoresby taking fifth place in the championship section, Blidworth taking runners up place in Section 2 (and qualification for the national finals), Hucknall and Linby 6th in section 3 with Kirkby 5th and Bestwood 6th in the 24 band section 4.

Newstead return to the concert platform for ‘Music and Song’ at Chilwell Road Methodist Church in Beeston on April 17th, alongside singers Lucy Hall and Andy Ward with Karen Sneade on piano. This will be followed by ‘For England and St. George’ at St John’s Church, Kirkby Woodhouse on Saturday April 24th.

Free concert benefits Maggie's Charity

Newstead Brass will be donating over £200 to the Nottingham Evening Post / Maggie's Appeal for a new cancer care centre in Nottingham following a successful 'Music of the World' concert at Hucknall's Seymour Road Baptist Church on Friday 12th March.

Our thanks to the people of Seymour Road church for their help in organising the event and to everyone who came along and supported us.

Newstead Brass mark our musical heritage

In the same week that BBC2 television launch their new series, ‘A Band for Britain’, local concert goers can enjoy top quality local brass playing as Newstead Brass present a FREE concert on Friday, March 12th in Hucknall’s Seymour Road Baptist Church starting at 8.00 pm.

Built around ‘English Heritage’, the music set for this year’s regional qualifying rounds of the National Brass Band Championships, the concert has a ‘Music of the World’ theme taking the band and audience around the world with music from Britain, Europe, North and South America.
Admission to the concert is FREE, but the audience will be asked to make donations towards the band’s costs and in support of the ‘Maggie’s Appeal’ for a new cancer care Centre in Nottingham.

A band spokesman added, “Many bands, including ourselves, have had to overcome setbacks over recent years and continue to face challenges today. We’re delighted to see the media taking a renewed interest in brass bands. This is a great time for those who’ve not heard a band before to come and experience 21st century brass banding ‘live’ alongside our regular supporters and followers.”

Entrance to the Seymour Road Baptist Church is from Ruff’s Drive and car parking is available.

Newstead Brass set for World Tour!

Newstead Brass are getting set for a world tour without even leaving Nottinghamshire as they prepare for a FREE ‘Music of the World’ concert in Hucknall’s Seymour Road Baptist Church at 8.00 pm on Friday March 12th.

The concert will take the band and audience around the world in less than 80 minutes with a variety of musical styles on show from Britain, Europe, North and South America featuring Salsa, Waltz, Opera and more!

Admission to the concert is FREE, but the audience will be asked to make donations towards the band’s costs and in support of the ‘Maggie’s Appeal’ for a new Cancer Care Centre in Nottingham.

Entrance to the Seymour Road Baptist Church is from Ruff’s Drive and car parking is available.

Newstead Brass show New Year Class

Newstead Brass brought down the curtain on a busy festive programme with their annual ‘Newstead Plays Big band’ concert on Sunday, January 3rd celebrating a successful 2009, rewarding the ‘players of the year’ and looking forward with enthusiasm to 2010.

This was the band's 10th annual end of year concert, the series having begun with an end of millennium concert in 1999, and was split into four sections, 'big-band', 'pops' (featuring the music of Queen), 'Latin-American' (including appropriate attire by the band), and 'finale'. The band's items were interspersed by fine playing by 'Imperfect Fifth', a young saxophone quintet from South East Derbyshire Music Centre. Despite the poor weather, there was a large and appreciative audience for the concert, which included the presentation of the band's annual awards. Player's player of the year went to Ashley Clegg, in recognition of his astounding performances as both xylophone soloist and wider percussion playing for the band and his appointment as principal percussionist of the National Youth Brass Band. Duncan Beckley made the musical director's award to Michael 'Fred' Cordon, citing his consistently high standards throughout the year "from rehearsal to bandstand to the stage of the Royal Albert Hall."

The concert concluded a busy festive programme for the band with large and capacity audiences attending a string of concerts. The band appeared alongside the Alan Johnson Singers, Hucknall Operatic Society, Radcliffe on Trent Male Voce Choir and had the privilege of welcoming Russell Gray as guest cornet soloist. Funds were raised for the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, the NSPCC and the Mayor of Gedling’s chosen Charity ‘Nottinghamshire Leukaemia Supporting Myeloma’.

The band wish all their friends and supporters a Happy New Year and look forward to continued success in both concerts and contests in 2010.