2010 Engagements
22nd January 2010:
Boobs and Brass have just returned from a happy and successful weekend of fundraising and music-making at the Butlins Mineworkers’ Open Brass Band Festival at Skegness, 22nd – 24th January 2010.
It’s hard to believe we packed so much into two short days (and nights!) but here goes.... the ladies arrived on Friday evening, going straight into rehearsal with Rusty Morris, chairman of the North American Brass Band Association, who put us through our paces for the next day’s Centre Stage concert. An early night for some – not so early for others – led us to Saturday.
Ah, Saturday – what a day! Our stand, Boob Central, had pride of place in the trade stand area, and we’d like to thank everyone who came to chat, and bought raffle tickets, balloons, CDs, DVDs, hoodies, music, pins and badges – you have each played a part in the search for a cure, and we can’t thank you enough for that.
The main event of the afternoon was, of course, the grand “Boob Blow” 2010 – a sea of pink filled the Skyline arena as some 370 players assembled to play together in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign. The event opened with our friends from Alyth, Kerri, Kyle and Graeme, emerging through the pink mist shrouding the stage, with their suitably pink-bagged pipes... very atmospheric and a great start to proceedings. We then moved into the main performance, compered by Frank Renton and conducted by Rusty Morris, as the largest brass band most people will ever be part of played “Here Come the Girls”, “Lily the Pink” and “In the Pink” (the theme from the Pink Panther)...with fourteen flugels, fifty tenor horns and similar numbers around the other sections of the band, it was a fine sound. During the event, Maggie and Jane presented a cheque for £15,530 to a representative of Breast Cancer Campaign, which represents the fund-raising from the latter half of 2009. We also held the raffle for the Booby Prize...for one lucky(?) young man this meant the chance to play on stage with us at our evening concert: more of him later!
Saturday evening’s concert in Centre Stage by the girls was an experience we will remember for the rest of our lives. Under the watchful direction of Frank Renton, some 40-odd girls filled the stage – yes, yet more pink – to give a performance to be proud of, to an appreciative audience. We were delighted to have numerous guests on stage with us: Michelle Ibbotson assisting on soprano cornet, Rusty Morris on 3rd cornet (think he’s got promise, that young lad at the bottom end!), with soloists Sheona White (tenor horn), Kirsty Abbotts (cornet), Katrina Marzella (baritone), Simone Rebello (xylophone) and honorary “Boobie” John Lee (flugel horn) all performing with their usual flair and panache.
We were to have had an appearance by Mark Walters on flugel horn, but he seemed to have been kidnapped and replaced by an apparition in a curtain and dodgy wig... and the highest red stilettos you’ve ever seen... nevertheless, Miss Gloria Stits gave a wonderful rendition of Concierto d’Aranjuez, high heels or not! Our own Mairi Addy delighted the audience, as always, with a lively and stylish accordion solo, and we were pleased to be able to feature the Alyth pipers again.
A special mention should go to Ben, the winner of the Booby Prize raffle – what a sport! The prize came at a price – namely that Ben had to don a pink bobbed wig and the pink uniform jacket of Boobs and Brass – which he did uncomplainingly. Thank you Ben for your contribution on euphonium; hope you had fun!
On Sunday the fundraising continued, but eventually it was time to relax, and make our way back to our respective bands and families.
All in all, it was a great weekend, lots of fun, lots of new friendships formed, some great music-making, but importantly, every penny donated goes towards researching the cure...
We couldn’t have done this without the many helpers and organisers, particularly Jon Handley, who has worked tirelessly for months to make this weekend happen, thank you Jon. Thanks also to Jane, Maggie, Keith, Al and our wonderful supporters and non-playing members for everything they did to make this weekend a success. Here’s to the next one!Judith Hayes
From Maggie Betts: It was a great privilege for us to be joined by Katrina, Sheona, Kirsty, Michelle, Simone, John and of course Mark Walters (who looked very confortable in his red high heels). Their superb playing is an inspiration to all of us and we are very appreciative that they all gave their time freely to support our efforts and hope that we can share the stage again with them some time the future.
Our Butlins competition winners are:
Booby Prize winner: Benjamin George
Trivia Quiz (full band set of instrument Gig Bags donated by www.gigbagsgalore.com) - Kelly Saunders from Emley Band who scored 16 out of 19.
Exclusive Instrument Raffle (sponsored by www.bandsupplies.co.uk) - still awaiting result
Balloon Race (£250 music coupon donated by www.dehaske.com) - Joe Walters
Click HERE for 2009 Highlights