Not much matches Newstead brass

Newstead Brass showed that they’re unmatched for innovative performances as they joined in a major outdoor community theatre production ‘Not Much Matches Mansfield’ over the weekend of July 14th and 15th.

Jon Tams (songwriter for the National Theatre production of ‘Warhorse’) acted as musical adviser to the production, written by Kevin Fegan (‘Britain’s most innovative playwright’) with music by Ian Carter.

‘Not Much Matches Mansfield’ celebrated the town’s past, present and future with six separate scenes performed at five outdoor venues with musicians from Newstead brass involved in 5 of the scenes. Audiences of several hundred followed the action in a ‘promenade’ production which took around 3 hours to view from start to finish.  The finale on Mansfield market place featured the 60 strong cast from the Mansfield Palace Community Theatre Group, a choir of up to 80 local school children and Newstead Brass.

On the Saturday evening Newstead brass lit up the Derbyshire skies as part of the annual Ripley Music Festival ‘Proms in Crossley Park’.  Despite the recent damp weather, the band and organisers ensured the event went ahead and were rewarded with an audience of around 2,000 people who enjoyed a varied up-tempo programme concluding with a firework display with live music from the band in a new transcription of ‘Zadok the Priest’ by David Oswin.

‘Not Much Matches Mansfield’ was presented as part of the Mansfield Arts Festival supported with funding from Arts Council England and the National Lottery.

Photos from Newstead brass performance at Ripley Festival can be viewed on our Gallery pages.

Newstead brass return to Mansfield for 'Brass and Voices at the Palace'on Sunday September 23rd.  Tickets (£8.50 / £7.50, Group discounts) are available from Mansfield Palace Theatre (Box Office 01623 633133)  

Newstead Brass Fired up for Festival Fireworks

The annual ‘Brass Spectacular’ is again set to light up the Derbyshire skies as part of the Ripley Music Festival ‘Proms in Crossley Park’ on Saturday July 14th.  The FREE event starts at 7.30 pm and ends with a Firework Finale accompanied by live music from the award winning Newstead Brass band.

There will be a variety of music on display during the evening performed on a special festival stage in the park.  Newstead Brass will entertain with a range of classic, show and popular brass arrangements and compositions before leading the audience in some ‘last night of proms’ favourites.

The concert will end with Newstead Brass’ marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by performing the Coronation Anthem ‘Zadok The Priest’ to accompany the spectacular ‘Firework Finale’.

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. 

The ‘Proms in Crossley Park’ is part of a busy weekend for Newstead brass who will also be taking part in an outdoor theatre production ‘Not Much Matches Mansfield’ on the streets of Mansfield between 12 noon and 3.30 pm on Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th July.

Newstead Brass set to show that Not Much Matches Mansfield

Newstead Brass are set to innovate once again as they support A FREE outdoor musical theatre performance in Mansfield Town Centre.

The band will perform in ‘Not Much Matches Mansfield’. a new community play, on the afternoons of Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th July, sandwiching their appearance at the ‘Brass Spectacular’ in Ripley’s Crossley Park’ on the Saturday evening including live accompaniment to the ‘Firework Finale.’

‘Not Much Matches Mansfield’ incorporates six separate scenes depicting the town’s history performed at various venues around the town centre between 12 noon and 3.00 pm each day.  A 60 strong cast from the Mansfield Palace Community Theatre Group will be supported by a choir of up to 80 local school children and Newstead Brass Band.

For more details download the guidance leaflet giving scene details, venues and times.

The project has been largely funded by Arts Council England/National Lottery.

Newstead brass will present an evening of Brass and Voices at the Mansfield Palace Theatre on Sunday September 23rd.