DRUMBEAT: Shankill hosts Help for Heroes fundraiser
COAGH reverberated to the sound of flute and drum last Friday night, when the Hanover House Hotel was the venue for a band concert and fundraiser for Pomeroy True Blues Flute.
In all, five bands travelled to support the hosts, with first onto the floor being the Montober Flute, Cookstown.
A small band of three drummers and eight flute corps gave a solid performance, followed by the Portadown Defenders Flute.
A great variety of tunes from the 'Orchard County' men was well received, with the Great Escape in particular getting a good response.
Strong fluting was the order of the day for the third band to appear, South Fermanagh Loyalists, as they maintained their reputation for innovative arrangements.
Gortagilly Coronation Flute Moneymore are one of the Province's most improved bands of recent years, and they illustrated why with an impressive and disciplined display.
Final place of the night went to Tamlaghtmore Flute Ardboe, who ended proceedings with a strong showing, their drum corps standing out.
Also in County Tyrone, the Blair Memorial Flute had organised a fundraiser in Utopia nightclub in Omagh.
Three counties were represented on the night, including Defenders of the Rock Flute Lisbellaw, Pride of the Village Magheraveeley, Pride of the Frontier Flute Drumhillery Armagh, and Pride of the Orange and Blue Flute New Buildings, Londonderry.
All four bands provided presentations which were very much rooted in the traditional Blood and Thunder style, and received a great reception from a packed venue.
On Saturday night, the Liverpool Club on the Shankill Road launched a Battle of the Bands competition in aid of the Help for Heroes fund.
Five bands were scheduled to take part, with local band Young Conway Volunteers Flute beginning the night with a strong set.
Rising Sons East Belfast and West Belfast Volunteers Flute kept up the standards, before the Regimental Band of the Ulster Volunteer Force switched from Melody Flute to Blood and Thunder for the evening.
Craigavon Protestant Boys Flute Lurgan ended the first night of the competition, which was
a resounding success, boding well for the weeks to come.
Elsewhere in Limavady, the football club hosted three local bands for a fundraiser for Edenmore Flute.
Star of the Roe Flute, Ballyquin Loyal Sons of Ulster and the hosts all entertained the large crowd.
In County Antrim, the Ballycraigy Auld Boys Flute held a bands' night with Ballykeel Loyal Sons of Ulster, Sir George White Memorial and Staffordstown Accordion all combining to give a diverse and high standard of marching music.
Warkworth Purple Star Flute are currently admitting new members, with male or female of any age very welcome.
Anyone interested can come along any Monday night to the bands' practise at 7.30pm, in the upstairs lounge of the Stadium Bar, at Belfast's Shankill Road, next door to the Orange Hall.
Next week will see the first band processions of 2010, although another full weekend of events will be happening first.
Tomorrow night, the Monkstown Young Citizen Volunteers Flute are holding a melody night in the Monkstown Social Club.
Downshire Guiding Star Flute will also host a band concert in Banbridge Orange Hall and at Coleraine Town Hall, the annual concert for Coleraine Fife and Drum will take place.
Another annual concert, this time for Ballinamallard Accordion, will also be taking place at Archdale Orange Hall.
In Lowquarter Orange Hall, Magheragall Pipe have organised a night at the races fundraiser, while in first Ballyclare Linfield Supporters’ Club, the Ballyclare Protestant Flute are to host a fundraiser.
In County Armagh, the Cormeen Rising Sons of William Flute are holding a variety concert in their own hall, with all entertainment provided by members of the band.
Warkworth Purple Star Flute Shankill Road, together with LOL 1081, are holding a Night at the Races followed by entertainment in West Belfast Pigeon Club at Bootle Street, kicking off at 7.30pm.
On Saturday afternoon, two separate darts tournaments are to take place, organised by the Loyal Sons of Benagh Flute in Benagh Orange Hall, and by Steeple Defenders Flute in Antrim.
Both will start at 1pm.
That evening, the Queensway Battle of the Bands will continue, with heat four taking place in Lower Maze Orange Hall.
Nearby in Lisburn, the first Blues Supporters Club will be the venue for the Ballymacash Young Conquerors Flute annual indoor event.
The Shankill Road’s Liverpool Club ‘Battle of the Bands’ will enter its second heat, while in the Albertbridge Orange Hall in east Belfast, the Gertrude Star Battle of the Bands enters its third heat.
In the Queen’s Hall Newtownards, Newtownards Protestant Boys Flute are holding an indoor competition, with the Bentley nightclub in Knockloughrim seeing the annual band concert for Magherafelt’s Dunamoney LOL.
Heat two of the South Belfast Young Conquerors Flute Battle of the Bands takes place in the Shankill Road Rangers Supporters Club at eight pm.
On Wednesday, the band season officially gets underway with the first band parades and competitions of the year.
In Killylea, Cormeen Rising Sons of William Flute host their sixth annual parade, starting at 7.30pm.
Over 40 bands attended in 2009 and a large number and crowd are guaranteed to come again this year.
Further north, the Ulster Protestant Boys Flute annual parade will take place in Coleraine, starting promptly at 8pm, with another large number of bands expected.
Other smaller band events are taking place to mark St Patrick's day in Carrickfergus where Ulster Grenadiers Flute will be parading, and in east Belfast where the Rising Sons Flute are the organisers.
* If you would like to publicise fundraising, competition, cultural or indeed any events related to the large Ulster Marching Band Fraternity, Drum Beat will endeavour to use all information supplied where possible.
Drum Beat needs your contributions to continue to promote what is easily Northern Ireland largest voluntary arts grouping, and one of the most unique musical movements in the world. You can contact Drum Beat by ringing or texting 07835624221 or emailing admin@ulsterbandsforum.net, with all contributions, opinions and news from the country’s thriving band movement very welcome.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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