This year’s season of “Brass at the Bounty” had a change of venue, due to the Hark to Bounty being closed and unavailable.  Instead the concerts, “Brass on the Grass”, were planned to be held on the village green in front of the Village Hall.  However, only the July concert was held outside, the rest being inside the Village Hall, due to weather.  The Village Hall bar was open for all the concerts and light refreshments were available.  

The band gave their biennial proms concert from the Clitheroe Castle Bandstand.  The concert was well attended by an appreciative audience, made all the better by the fine, warm weather.

Many of the musical items commemorated a variety of anniversaries.  This included 80th anniversaries for the end of the Second World War and the first appearance of the Thomas the Tank Engine stories. Other contrasting pieces were a selection from Gilbert and Sullivan to the theme music from the 2025 movie, Minecraft and a percussion solo piece, called “Fascinating Drums”.

The second half of the concert incorporated many regular favourites from the “Last Night of the Proms”, concluding with “Auld Lang Syne”.

It was a busy weekend for the band playing at the 43rd Slaidburn Steam Fair.  This year it was held at the village hall and on the village green.  In past years the venue had been the Hark to Bounty, which is at this time not operational. 

Unfortunately the weather was inclement, therefore the band performed inside the village hall on both days.  

The event was started in 1980 by local resident Mr David McNamee and has raised over £100,000 for village groups and organisations.  This year the proceeds will go to Slaidburn Archives, Newton Village Hall and Slaidburn Silver Band.

For more information about the Steam Fair, click here.

A concert was given by the band in Slaidburn Village Hall to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day, 8th May 1945).

The band performed music reflecting the war years, both of that time together with film scores depicting that era.  Conductor, John Cowking, introduced each piece of music by relating it to the chronological series of events in the course of the war.

Slaidburn Archive provided a visual display of “War Time” in the Hodder Valley.  This included pictures and explanatory texts.

The Band was sorry to hear of the death of Cynthia Baxter recently after a short illness. Cynthia had been playing with the Band for quite a number of years and will be sadly missed.

She began her playing career with the Accrington Military Band and for quite a number of years played with Blackburn and Darwen Band, also acting as their Secretary. She retired from Blackburn and Darwen and soon after joined Slaidburn Band on 1st baritone, keeping a close eye (and ear) on the rest of the baritone and euphonium section!

The family asked the Band to play at Cynthia’s funeral service and we were honoured to play a selection of music including “Brother James’ Air” which was one of the last pieces she played with us and one that she enjoyed.