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Spennymoor Brass in Concert 2003

We look at this years 27th running of the premier Brass Band Entertainment Contest in the UK, where 11 top class bands line up to showcase their talents.


Although not all the top bands in the country are in attendance, the Spennymoor Brass in Concert Championship remains the premier brass band entertainment contest in the UK. Now in its 27th year, the contest has survived through the sheer hard work of the excellent organisers and the ongoing appetite for good quality brass entertainment.

Although there are no ticks in the attendance register this year for 7 of the 4BR top 10 ranked bands – Fairey FP (Music), YBS, BAYV Cory, Fodens, Black Dyke, Brighouse and Rastrick, Tredegar and Whitburn are not here, there is still more than enough quality on stage to ensure the standards which have been so brilliantly maintained since 1977 will continue for yet another year at least. It says a lot for the contest that it is still a sell out (and we mean a sell out in the best possible way – no empty seats even for the so called lesser bands) and even though there was some concern that the contest was in some financial trouble after losing long term sponsorpship, the help of Grimethorpe in particular and many others have made certain that the contest has a good short term future at least. Congratulations to Jacqueline Beere and her team for ensuring the contest continues.

This year sees a line up of (in playing order) of JAG Mount Charles, Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart, Flowers, Scottish Co-op, Grimethorpe Colliery UK Coal, Ever Ready, Ransome, Sellers International, Kirkintilloch, Leyland and Carlton Main Frickley Colliery. Pretty good value in anyone’s book and bands that all can show off in all sorts of ways to try and catch the ears of the adjudicators John Berryman and Wing Commander Rob Wiffen, whilst the soloists will have to try and impress Morgan Griffiths – a fine choice from the organisers. The entertainment factor – worth 60 points to add to the possible 200 for performance – and one that can effect the result will this year be judged by David Hirst and Ted Griffiths – two experienced older heads who we think will put musical intelligence ahead of Music Hall antics.

Plenty of prizes on offer, from a trophy for the youngest player on the day to one for the best new arrangement or composition to one for the neatest package of musical scores and notes. That’s entertainment folks, and ensures that everyone on the day can be in with a shout of going home with something - if they have put in the graft.

The usual points will be up for grabs with 200 points on offer for the music itself and 60 for entertainment and presentation to give a wining score out of 260. As usual there will be plenty of debate about the latter as in 2000 Grimethorpe won the music section by 2 clear points from eventual winners Fodens and by 4 from second placed Leyland and still came 3rd. In the last two years though Grimethorpe haven’t had to worry so much about the anomaly in the system, but it remains something of a problem that needs to be amended for the future – surely the playing is what it is all about?

The quality of the soloists on offer will be an undoubted highlight, whilst the number of new arrangements of fairly obscure orchestral pieces will again show the poverty of our own brass band repertoire. Morgan Griffiths knows exactly what it take to produce a top class solo performance, but we still think he may be spoilt for choice this time – all of the bands have top raters in the stand up stakes. As for the predilection for arrangements of the latest film music – then just like the films themselves, they should receive mixed reviews. Just because lots of people have gone to see the latest Harry Potter doesn’t mean the music will sound as magical when played by even a fine brass band. You can count the number of cracking “Big Finishers” on one hand in recent years.

There will hopefully be some interesting choices in the March selection (some old yellow at the edges, musky smelling stuff has brilliantly used by some bands in recent years), whilst we would really love to see one of the bands go for broke and try a “themed” programme of brass band music from way out left field in approach (just go and listen to Eikanger’s latest CD offering). Will anyone be that brave we wonder?

The contest starts at 9.30am prompt with a 10-minute rule for the competing bands to adhere to when setting up on stage. It should end about 6.30pm.

Lots of great prizes up for grabs as well, with a top prize of £2000, followed by £1500, £1000 £500 and £250. The top soloist gets £100 whilst the “Quality Performance Award” gets £600. The best bit of new music will get £500 and youngest player on the day will get a boost to the pocket money to buy the latest CD’s of £200.

Lets hope it’s a cracking day!

4BR Prediction:
As we have said time and time again - Entertainment Contests are notoriously hard to predict accurately as on their day any of the bands could literally draw a white rabbit out of the hat and give the audience and judges alike a feast of entertainment last bettered only on “Opportunity Knocks” when the Great Osvaldo performed with his amazing frog xylophone.

What we will get is hard to say as the novelty items change year by year – although the garish, Bravo TV Channel inspired efforts of yesteryear have by and large been replaced by intelligent performances from nearly all the bands. It is always best to remember - The best bands always sound the best bands whatever they play. It’s in the quality of the sound, the production, and the musicianship – not in the tutu’s and red noses.

There will be some brilliant solo playing that will entertain the audience royally and some arrangements and compositions that will do the same, whilst the amateur dramatics will be either brilliant or just downright embarrassing.

Should be a great day out and the winners will certainly have deserved it. Who will it be then?

Given that class should tell, and that this year isn’t the very strongest field ever assembled here, Grimethorpe should make it win number 12 and a round dozen of victories. Behind them though it could well be a very close run thing with a whole batch of bands well worth listening too. Look out for Scottish Co-op under Dr. Childs who can on their day sound as good as any and who should have the class about them to claim second spot whilst JAG Mount Charles and Flowers really are fine entertainers and should push them hard – they will certainly be lively. Ever Ready and Leyland have the experience and the players to make it into the top six as well, whilst we go for Yorkshire Imps as our Dark Horse.

4BR Prediction:

1. Grimethorpe Colliery UK Coal
2. Scottish Co-op
3. Flowers
4. JAG Mount Charles
5. Ever Ready
6. Leyland

Dark Horse: Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart

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