Stay Away Rain! 

Sunday, June 25 th saw Uppermill band perform at Uppermill Conservative Club to a large and appreciative audience in new MD James Garlick’s debut concert. Making use of the club’s refurbished outside seating area, the band glanced anxiously at the gathering rainclouds before launching into their opener, the aptly named 'Into The Future'. Their programme showcased Uppermill’s rebuilt
band and brand new conductor and featured brass band standards like 'Mr Jums', 'the Lost Chord' and 'MacArthur Park' as well as film music ('007' and 'Mission Impossible') and an arrangement of the rhythmically tricky Dave Brubeck chart 'Blue Rondo A La Turk'.

Four soloists strutted their stuff; new principal cornet Neil Booth wowed with 'Napoli' and was followed by baritone player Stacey Webb playing 'Donegal Bay', solo horn Gillian Kirkby performing 'With You I’m Born Again' and solo trombone Richard Knight with a gently swung 'Londonderry Air'. The audience headed home well satisfied and the rain held off until the band were halfway back to their cars.