Grimethorpe Colliery Band has announced that it is to tour Australia in August this year under the direction of Director of Music, Dr Robert Childs.

The band will perform ten concerts in nine different cities from Perth to Sydney during the two week visit, which sees them depart the UK on 3rd August.

The tour invitation has come from leading concert promoters Andrew Kay & Associates Pty Ltd based in Melbourne.

Foremost talent

Andrew Kay has gained an international reputation over the last 30 years for being able to attract many of the world’s foremost musical talent to the country, including Wynton Marsalis and Yehudi Menuhin.

Speaking to 4BR, Andrew said: “Grimethorpe Colliery Band is the famous brass band in the world! I’m delighted that Bob Childs and the band have accepted my invitation to tour our wonderful country.

Grimethorpe were a sell out when they came to Australia in 2011 and we are sure it will be the same again.”

Unbeatable entertainment

He added: “There is already great interest in their visit in each concert venue — especially as people know that they provide unbeatable entertainment with world class music making under Dr Childs. The programme simply looks great!”

Memoires

The latest visit will bring back great memories for Bob Childs, as he was part of the Grimethorpe Band that made their first visit to the country back in 1980.

He told 4BR: “I’m really looking forward to it. I played euphonium on Grimethorpe’s first tour in 1980, so returning to Australia as conductor is something of a dream come true. We will be performing to approximately 16,000 people in big concert halls the length and breadth of country.”

Grimethorpe Colliery Band is the famous brass band in the world! I’m delighted that Bob Childs and the band have accepted my invitation to tour our wonderful countryPromoter, Andrew Kay

New works

He added: “We will feature music from our winning 2014 ‘Brass in Concert’ programme, as well as classical favourites, film and original brass band music. Dan Price and Paul Lovatt Cooper are also writing brand new works especially for the tour.”

Bob Childs also confirmed that Craig Roberts will act as Band Manager for the trip. He told 4BR: “I’ve taken lots of bands to Canada and America in the past, but managing Grimethorpe on this tour of a lifetime will be an unbelievable experience.”

Tour venues

During the forthnight the band will perform at the Concert Hall QPAC, Brisbane; State Theatre, Sydney; Llewellyn Hall, Canberra; Newcastle Town Hall, Newcastle; Hamer Hall, Melbourne; Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston; Wrest Point, Hobart; Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash; Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide, and Perth Concert Hall Perth.