Skip to main content

Day 2 - Our first concert!!

It was a 9am departure for those who fancied a trip to the water park.  For the younger members (and some of the older ones!) the flumes were the perfect way to wash away the cobwebs of the day before.  Nothing breaks down barriers like seeing each other land in a splash pool with complete loss of dignity! 

For others, the morning gave the opportunity to explore Ostend, with several visiting the display of Disney sand sculptures on the beach.

After a quick sandwich and a change in to concert attire, it was time to walk round to a local square which was the venue of our first concert. 
The bandstand there is splendid and was just about large enough to accommodate all the players and everything we required to perform an outstanding first concert to a large audience.  

There was a marching band which passed by on a couple of occasions, but we were more than happy to share the space with them!
One side of the square had many cafes and restaurants with outside seating areas which were packed at that time of day. We also attracted a large crowd of passers by, many of whom stayed for much of the performance.  

It is fair to say that everyone was very appreciative of the entertainment and the feedback which we received from many was incredible.  

Nige and Colin seemed to have perfectly anticipated which music would be well accepted and we went down a storm (if we do say so ourselves!)  


Of the selection of solo and feature players, special mention must go to Victor, who performed as part of a trio despite not having played with band for over 18 months.

After another meal in the hostel, some returned to the on site bar for a couple of drinks and more games, whilst others sought out alternative drinking establishments in the area, returning at various points throughout the evening.  




 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We are, wij zijn, nous sommes, wir sind, Cheltenham Silver Band

And so began the dialogue for each of our concerts.  Our first tour in the band’s history has been a reminder that music truly transcends age, race, gender and background.   Some thoughts of those who came on tour and more photos which we hope really show everyone what a fabulous time we had: “We really enjoyed the tour, wonderful organisation from Andy and the committee and it was lovely to be able to chat to and get to know those people who are not in our sections - or band! Everyone looked after each other, helped out and we all have great memories we will be talking about for years. In particular we think it is worth noting that it is rare that a truly multi-generational group of friends get to travel, indulge in their hobby, entertain others and enjoy time together. We have become more than friends, we are a banding family! When is the next one….?” "Tour was such a fun mixing of music, laughter and sightseeing, I'd happily do it again this ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 3 - Brass bands, Boomwhackers, Bruges, Beer... and Chocolate

Still riding on the high of our amazing reception in Ostend, we were up bright and early for a departure to Nieuwpoort.  Who needs an alarm clock when you have dozens of highly vocal  seagulls?   Our stage was beach side, and even whilst we were setting up, we had a distinct feeling that we were likely to attract a crowd. And indeed we did.  It transpired that a third section band from Stoke on Trent was in the audience.  No pressure then..... The weather was "changeable" for want of a better word.  There were distinct gusts of wind which could have proved problematic for our feature players who had music stands at the front of the performance area. So here is a top tip for any other musical groups in a similar predicament. We used "Non Instrument Playing Junior Humans."  Simply clamp them to the base of the music stand, and they provide superb stability.   If the initial set up is performed with care, they are...
Post a Comment
Read more