Band Xmas Party
by admin on Dec.07, 2009, under Gallery, Misc, News
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 !
The End of a Great Year
by admin on Dec.01, 2009, under News
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.
Great Result at The Scottish Open
by admin on Nov.30, 2009, under Contest Results
It was a long weekend of travelling, but once again Bactiguard Wire Brass showed their class in a strong field of bands to finish 6th at this years Scottish Open Brass Band Championships.
The band didn’t arrive at Stalag Luft Perth until midnight on Friday after a long 6 hour drive – and an early start the next morning wasn’t what we needed, especially as we drew band number 16 (thanks George!) and had to hang around all day until we finally played at 8.30pm. The bands performance of Masquerade was well recieved by audience and judges alike, and a few ‘wee drams’ were consumed afterwards to celebrate!
The full results are below
1. Fountain City, Dr Joseph Parisi, 5, 198
(Dreams)
2. Pemberton Old Wigan DW, Mark Bentham, 14, 195
(Music of the Spheres)
3. Whitburn, Steven Mead, 17, 194
(Titan’s Progress)
4. Co-op Funeralcare, Russell Gray, 8, 193
(Titan’s Progress)
5. Kirkintilloch, Selmer Simonsen, 11, 191
(Titan’s Progress)
6. Wire Brass, Paul Andrews, 16, 190
(Masquerade)
7. Marsden Silver Prize, Glyn Williams, 13, 189
(Rococo Variations)
8. Fishburn, Alan Morrison, 9, 188
(Journey to the Centre of Earth)
9. Unison Kinniel, Alan Ramsay, 4, 187
(Whitsun Wakes)
10. Bon Accord Silver, John Maines, 15, 186
(Journey to the Centre of Earth)
11. Kingdom Brass, Andrew Duncan, 10, 185
(Extreme Make Over)
12. United Co-op Milnrow, John Ward, 3, 184
(Paganini Variations)
13. Dalmellington, Ian Porthouse, 6, 183
(Dances & Alleluias)
14. Newtongrange, Nigel Boddice MBE, 1, 179
(A Lowry Sketchbook)
15. Kirbymoorside Brass, John Woodward, 7, 178
(The Essence of Time)
16. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass, Charles Keenan, 177
(Rienzi)
17. Easington Colliery, Roy Curran, 12, 176
(Tristan Encounters)
A Great Result at Pontins
by admin on Oct.02, 2009, under Contest Results
WOW! What a day. Pontins at Prestatyn once again was the venue for the annual Harry Mortimer Brass Band Championships, and once again the October weather in North Wales was as windy as usual.
The band were drawn No 1 – a notoriously difficult position to get a good result from, but played brilliantly and impressed the judges enough to be given a remarkable second place, Kim Holly Thorpe ‘stole the show’ with some awesome playing and won the individual solists prize. Well done Kim!
The result was achieved despite 3 missing regular players (thanks must go to our ‘deps’) a principal cornet player suffering from a severe ear infection, a percussionist with a shoulder injury and a 2nd cornet player who had just had a tooth removed! All things considered a very impressive result !!!
To hear a recording of our performance go to the Videos and Audio section of ths website.
The full results are below (courtesy of 4barsrest.com)
1. Tongwynlais Temperance, Philip Harper, 5
2. Wire Brass, Paul Andrews, 1
3. Skelmanthorpe, John Roberts, 4
4. Felling, Graeme Tindall, 12
5. Marsden Silver Prize, Glyn Williams, 13
6. Kidlington Concert Brass, Catherine Underwood, 16
7. Sovereign Brass, Jason Glynn, 2
8. Ashton under Lyne, Martyn Evans, 9
9. Staffordshire, Huw Thomas, 10
10. Wantage Silver A, Philip Bailey, 11
11. Woodfalls, Melvin White, 7
12. Jackfield (Elcock Reisen), Simon Platford, 14
13. NUSUWT Riverside, Ian Robinson, 6
14. Derwent Brass, Keith Leonard, 3
w, Burry Port, Craig Roberts
w, Stannington Brass, Derek Renshaw
Best Instrumentalist: Kim Holly Thorp, Euphonium, Wire Brass
New Players Join The Band
by admin on Sep.20, 2009, under News
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.
Goff Richard's Tribute Concert
by admin on Sep.10, 2009, under Gallery, News
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
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Love is in the air!
by admin on Aug.02, 2009, under News
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 !
Wire at The Races
by admin on Jul.15, 2009, under Gallery, News
The band beat the odds and played at York Races without there being any interruptions for rain!! The band played to over 20,000 people and were only ‘handicapped’ by a very small bandstand. Paul Andrews put them ‘under starters orders’ at lunchtime with the band playing traditional brass band music between every race. Later in the evening the band retired to their hotel to count their winnings and enjoy a wicked night out ‘on the town’
Pictures from the event can be seen by clicking the picture below
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FIFA Sign-Up Wire Players (but not to play football!)
by admin on Jul.02, 2009, under News
Members of Bactiguard Wire Brass and Fairey have been signed-up to perform as part of the new advert for computer game FIFA 10.
After a late-night ‘phone call Owen Garbutt put together a group of players for filming at 9am the following morning. The video was filmed at the iconic ‘Salford Lads Club’ made famous by The Smiths.
The players performed football anthems to 200 ‘extras’ pretending to be Manchester United fans and then donned Arsenal shirts to play to Theo Walcott of Arsenal and Tim Cahill of Everton while they played computer games.
The players taking part were Kim Holly-Thorpe, Marrianne Cliff, Owen Garbutt, Lisa Sarasini, Andrew Oetgenn, Rebekah Caldwell, Jonathan Probert and Mike Eccles.
Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden Concert
by admin on Jun.02, 2009, under Gallery, News
The band last week peformed a great concert at Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden. Over 200 people sat in the stunning grounds and enjoyed a picnic accompanied by music by Wire Brass. For once the British weather was good , and a good sum of money was raised for ‘The Friends of Grappenhall Garden Conservation Group’. This worthy cause supports local residents and volunteers in their quest to keep the garden away from property developers so that it can be enjoyed by the community.
Click the image below for pictures from the event
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