‘Super Playing’ as Newstead Entertain Again

‘Super Playing’ described Newstead Brass’ performance as they retained the ‘Best Ex-Colliery Band' trophy and took runners-up position in the championship section of the Bolsover Festival of Brass held at St Mary’s College, Spinkhill in Derbyshire on Sunday 11th September.

Billed by the organisers as the ‘Great Britain’s largest brass band entertainment contest’, the festival featured 28 bands each performing a 20 minute ‘concert style’ programme to a large audience, including civic representatives from across the region.

Seven bands took part in the championship section, judged by Alan Morrison, former principal cornet with the Grimethorpe and Brighouse & Rastrick Bands. He complimented all the bands in the section on their playing and choice of music but emphasised that the three prize-winning bands had shown a consistently high standard of playing throughout their programme. His summary of Newstead’s performance, conducted by musical director Duncan Beckley was ‘A super programme that was so well organised and directed. High entertainment value in a range of styles that was thoroughly enjoyed.’

Newstead were awarded the Wilson Bowden Developments Runners-Up Trophy and the award for the highest placed ex-colliery band. Top prize went to the Jaguar Land Rover Band from Warwickshire and third place to the Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) Band from Shropshire.

A band spokesman commented, “We’re delighted to have finished in the top two at this festival for the third year running, an endorsement of the band’s quality and entertainment value which concert audiences can depend on.”

Local fans can hear ‘Newstead brass’ this Saturday (September 17th) in ‘Brass and Voices at the Palace’ featuring Newstead Brass, Eastwood Collieries Male Voice Choir, Derbyshire saxophone quartet ‘Imperfect Fifth’ and ‘Four Tubby Tubas’, a top prize winning ensemble from the University of Salford, one of the leading colleges for brass musicians.

Tickets are now on sale, priced at £8, (£7 concessions) from the Mansfield Palace Theatre box office on 01623 633133.