On Saturday evening October 12th we presented a sell-out concert at Bolton Ukrainian Centre, a new venue for us at Eagley. After an outstanding first half performed by our main band, the second half featured our new Big Band which performed to the packed theatre. It was standing room only at the back!

The evening opened with our ‘Swing When You’re Winning’ 50th birthday tribute to Robbie Williams featuring our outstanding Principal Percussionist Leo Turner Patel at the Kit (who had another excellent concert from start to finish), our superb soloists comprising Principal Cornet Lynsey Hayes, Solo Horn Deb Lyons and Flugel Horn Quartet Lynsey Hayes, Becca Crompton, Hollie Lancaster and Janet Walsh, and continued with a very eclectic programme of well known pieces ranging from Everybody Wants To Rule The World and Billy May’s The Continental to Toccata, MacArthur Park, The Marriage of Figaro and Buglers’ Holiday, featuring the entire Cornet section.

After the interval, our MD Chris Wormald then introduced our newly created Big Band, in which he directed an hour long set off just three rehearsals with pieces ranging from Hay Burner, Stardust, Back Home, Caravan, A Foggy Day, At The Sign of The Swinging Cymbal, When I Fall In Love and A Shot In The Dark to even bigger ovations for the five item Glenn Miller set In The Mood, Little Brown Jug, Tuxedo Junction, St Louis Blues and the highlight of Moonlight Serenade featuring the section of six Saxophones.

Our Solo Horn and Chair Deb Lyons, who had played superbly in the first half, took care of drawing the well-supported raffle whilst our Band President Gerry Russell enjoyed a rare evening just being an enthralled audience member with his invited friends and guests.

A great night was enjoyed by everyone and judging from the reaction and feedback from all of the audience and players alike, it’s a guarantee that we’ll be returning to the Ukrainian Centre before too long.