March 14 – Film band stars in Festival line-up
By Lindsey Newton, Bury Free Press - National brass band champion Grimethorpe Colliery Band, which rose to fame in the hit film Brassed Off!, is to perform at this year's Bury St Edmunds Festival.
Terry Webster, who has managed the band since 1996, took time out of his hectic schedule to speak about the band's Festival performance. "We have played at the Festival on several occasions and the band is really looking forward to returning this year, especially as there is always a receptive crowd in Bury," he said.
The weekend before the band's Festival performance, it will be representing England at the European Brass Band Championships, in Stavanger, and, as Mr Webster says, 'the pressure is really on to perform well'.
Four national brass band championship titles and four British open titles are among the band's many achievements. Speaking about the history and future of the band, Mr Webster said: "There are still a couple of ex-colliery workers in the band, but the demise of the coal industry put an end to all that. "We have had an influx of younger players, who are top class, and the band is going from strength to strength."
Tickets for the show are currently selling well. Mr Webster said: "The band will be performing in the cathedral, which has fabulous acoustics and I can see why people would want to get in early and get a good seat."
Grimethorpe Colliery Band will perform at St Edmundsbury Cathedral on May 10, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 and £12 and are available from the Festival box office on 01284 769505 or via the Theatre Royal website.
