Brass Band Podcast

Dave Kinross is joined by the Managing Director of the Centre Stage Group, Martin Gernon to discuss the potential risks of transmission and how some trials conducted in conjunction with Brass Bands England has led to his product Moisture Guard.

Martyn is back with his journey through the contesting archives. Russell Gray joins him this week to discuss a legendary Nationals win for Leyland on a piece that perfectly encapsulated the band’s story at the time and with a little bit of Roald Dahl thrown in for good measure!

In this episode, Dave and Martyn are joined by Viggo Bjorge of the Eikanger Bjorsvik Band and a familiar voice, Kenny Crookston the CEO of Brass Bands England. In an incredibly revealing insight, Viggo discusses everything from social distancing in band, to how we can expect formations to look in the "new normal".

Two weeks before the British Open in 2004, Garry Cutt was at home ignoring the debut of the X Factor and was anticipating a day’s listening and socialising instead of conducting. Here is the story of how he took on a job nine days before the biggest contest of the year and added a third Mortimer Trophy to his collection.

1985 was a golden year for Black Dyke Mills, winning a clean sweep of contests including the Yorkshire Areas, Europeans, the Open and the Nationals. It is the final victory, on John McCabe’s masterpiece Cloudcatcher Fells, that Sandy Smith joins Martyn to discuss on this week’s Time Capsule.

 

(Note: apologies for Martyn’s sound in the opening 2 minutes, it does get fixed!)

Martyn is joined by Sheona Wade to give retrospect on YBS's European Championship win of 2004. A huge 6 point winning margin between the set test of St Magnus and their own choice of Music of the Sphere's, cemented the contest firmly as one of the great band's finest moments.

In the third of the Time Capsule series, Martyn reflects on the 1992 European Championships with Mike Fowles, who gives an insight into Brittania Building Society's iconic Own Choice Performance of Year of the Dragon.

Dave and Martyn discuss the cancellation of The Open and Brass in Concert which has cast more uncertainty on the shape of banding in the future. They also examine the effect that social distancing and public confidence will have on the economic structure of events, and how they will ultimately affect bands.

In the second episode of the series, Martyn discusses the completion of the Cory Band's Albert Hall hat-trick with legendary soprano player, Gwyn Thomas. The band, under Major Arthur Kenney had to fight off a strong performance by Sun Life from a number four draw in order to prevail on the test of the day, Dances and Arias.

With brass fireworks, sublime, soloing and brilliant arrangements Frank brings the curtain down on this series for brasspass.tv with some of his all-time favourite recordings. Thanks for being there.