Wire Brass

Saturday night saw the second annual fund-raising barn dance in Stockton Heath. A great night was enjoyed by members of the band, their families and friends.

Pictures from the event can be seen by clicking the image below.

It’s that time of year again!

Members of the public and fellow bandsmen are invited to a pre-contest performance of each of the 5 test pieces being played at this years Area Championships in Blackpool.

Featuring :

Golborne (4th Section),Cheshire Constabulary (3rd Section), United Coop 2000 (2nd Section) , Oldham – Lees (1st section) and Bactiguard Wire Brass (Championship Section)

Adjudication by Richard Evans

Sponsored by Lancashire Contests

At Penketh High School Drama Studio, Heath Rd, Penketh, Warrington, WA5 2BY (Map HERE)

On Saturday 6th March at 7.30pm

Entry – FREE

Come along and listen to every test piece that will be played at the Area Championships in Blackpool and hear Richard Evans’ unique style of criticism. Refreshments provided. No need to book!

Yesterday saw Bactiguard Wire Brass performing once again at the Brass at The Guild Contest, and once again they performed superbly to finish in 3rd Place. The band played ‘Masquerade’ by Philip Wilby. Although 3rd place was a good result the highlight of the day was our Euphonium player Kim Holly-Thorpe winning the ‘best soloist’ prize.

A recording of the event is available in MP3 format for download HERE

The full results were as follows

Championship Section
Adjudicator: David Read MBE

1. Blackburn & Darwen (N. Sheppard) – 191
2. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (M. Bentham) – 189
3. Bactiguard Wire Brass (P. Andrews) – 187
4. Freckleton (P. Dalton) – 186
5 Blackpool Brass (C. Larder) – 184
6. Newstead Welfare (D. Beckley) – 183
7. Hade Edge (S.Wood) – 182

As previously reported, 2009 has been an incredible year for the band both in terms of contest results AND relationships. As the year draws to a close we are pleased to announce yet another engagement involving 2 band players. During a christmas trip to New York cornet player James Hatton proposed to percussionist Nikki Andrews. Congratulations to both players and best wishes for a long and happy marriage together. They are the 7th and 8th band members to announce their engagement or get married during 2009. The band currently has vacancies for Solo Trombone and Bass Trombone players and their are only 3 single females and 4 single males in the band – so hurry up before you miss out !!!

There is better way to get in the mood for Xmas than to come along and listen to Wire Brass and Warrington Male Voice Choir on Friday December 18th and Saturday December 19th. Both groups will be performing some fun and traditional seasonal music, and it only costs £10 ! Wire Brass will be performing two new compositions written by members of the band Adam Taylor and James Hatton.

The events will take place at The Parr Hall in central Warrington – tickets available from the ticket hotline on 01606 42181

Be there – or miss out on a night to remember!

Band Xmas Pissup Party – Vodka Revolution – Manchester December 5th 2009

Ho Ho Ho ! What a celebration !

Band Baritone player Maz, organised a Christmas party to celebrate a fantastic year for Bactiguard Wire Brass. The ‘event’ took place at Vodka Revolution in Manchester and the band very kindly paid for a mini-bus and taxi’s so everyone could have a drink and get back home safely – and boy did we take advantage of the service.

The party got underway at 7pm with all drinks pre-ordered and ready for us when we arrived. Everyone (well, almost everyone) had brought a ‘secret santa’ present costing no more than £5 which were handed out at random to all players. Stuart received a small cock, (how appropriate – it’s the first chick he’s played with for a very long time!) and Mike Jones came over all excited when he opened what he thought was a naughty sex toy – only to find it was a miniature lava lamp. (sorry Nikki)

After a few hours of fun, frolics and festive beverages the party continued at a local curry house. What a great night – thanks Maz!

Pictures from the event can be seen below set to music ir can be viewed HERE in a regular gallery.

Enjoy !

It was only 10 months ago that the band were fighting for it’s Championship Section status at the area championships in Blackpool. A 6th place was needed to remain in the ‘top flight’ of banding, but the band produced a performance to remember and finished a stunning 4th. Many people thought it would be a struggle for the band to compete on equal terms this year in the top section, but the results the band and musical director have achieved have firmly established us as “a band to be feared” following a series of results that have been very impressive. Bring on 2010 !!

I have created a short video showing highlights of the past year.

The band would like to welcome to the band three great new players.

Owen Garbutt has joined us on Bb Bass from Faireys, Andrew ‘skippy’ Power all the way from Preston Band Austalia has filled the Repiano Cornet chair and Gareth Roberts  has joned us on 3rd Cornet.

The band now only has a vacancy for Solo Trombone and Bass Trombone.

Last night (10th September) saw a fantastic concert – a tribute to the great composer/arranger Goff Richards.

A large audience at Parr Hall in Warrington was entertained by Bactiguard Wire Brass, Brisbane Excelsior Band and Warrington Male Voice Choir – all performing some of Goff’s greatest works. Brisbane also played ‘Titan’s Progress’ which is the set piece for tomorrows British Open Brass Band Championships in Birmingham.

Goff attended the event despite his ill-health and took a long standing ovation at the end of the concert.

Both bands (and Goff and his friends) then partied into the night at a nearby hotel.

Click the image below to see pictures from the event

No fewer than 6 band members are getting married in the next  few months. Billy Parkinson (Sop) has announced his engagement to Laura Smallwood (Horn), Maz Cliff is engaged to Owen Carbutt (Bass) and Richard Behrend (Bass)  and Mike McCann (cornet) are to marry ‘outside the band’. Two of the weddings (Mike and Richard) take place in the next few weeks with the other weddings taking place in 2010.  I hope the rest of the band like wedding cake !