Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival
The annual Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival returned to the Gorge on the weekend of 10 and 11 July. The event, which has been running since 2005, continues to go from strength to strength and visitors have proclaimed this the best yet.
Over the two days 14 brass bands played on the lawn outside the Museum of Iron. There was no entry fee and locals and tourists alike gathered to enjoy the music in the warm sunshine. Over 2,500 people poured into the venue over the course of the weekend. A fundraising raffle was held to raise funds for Severn Hospice on each of the days and the result can be found on the Festival’s website.
The evening of Saturday 10 July featured the traditional Last Night of the Proms concert at Enginuity. This year the concert featured music from the Jackfield Elcock Reisen Band and the Porthywaen Silver Band, joined by Helen May, a Mezzo Soprano. The Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival committee and volunteers including the Ironbridge and Severn Gorge Lions Club gave up their time free of charge to make the sell-out evening a success. The concert was hosted by BBC Radio Shropshire’s Jim Hawkins and the audience enjoyed an entertaining programme of music followed by the two bands coming together for the traditional sea shanties, Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory.
All proceeds from the night, including all ticket and bar sales, will be donated to Severn Hospice, along with money raised by selling flags and bowler hats and all donations made during the weekend.
Every musician appearing over the weekend gave their time free of charge and we would like to thank them, along with the organisers and their wonderful volunteer team, and the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.
News of the 2011 Festival will appear on the website soon and we are already looking forward to another fantastic event.
Thanks to Laurence Gale for the photos.
