In the October Nezzyonbrass prize draw two lucky winners will each receive a cartoon mug from my “The Worlds Greatest Player’ range. Whether you are on the cornet bench, Baritone, Trombone or percussion – you can choose which instrument you want and there are 5 choices of uniform colour – Black, Red, Green, Navy, and Light Blue. […]
10 quick-fire quiz questions to test your brass band knowledge (Answers at the foot of the page) The test piece ‘Extreme Make-Over by Johan de Meij’ is a metamorphoses based on a theme by which classical composer? The Welsh Band Goodwick, conducted by Matthew Jenkins, is based in Pembrokeshire, Powys or Carmarthenshire? Which test piece […]
Thinking of jumping ship to a new brass band this summer? It’s exciting, exhilarating and daunting. You know you’re under scrutiny from the off and don’t relish the prospect of facing the band you just deserted at next week’s contest. If that is all you have to worry about then it should be plain sailing. […]
It is the first time for 21 years that I have been in a band that has qualified for London and as I cast my mind back two things jump out. Playing in the Royal Albert Hall and hotels. The latter still gives me nightmares. I have been to many contests where a hotel is […]
10 quick-fire quiz questions to test your brass band knowledge (Answers at the foot of the page) Which of the following four bands is the odd one out – Virtuosi Gus, Forresters Brass 2000, Ifton Colliery and Boarhurst Silver? Who am I? – Born in Cumbria in 1967. It took just 5 years to move from 3rd […]
Win a Limited Edition signed cartoon print ‘Spectrum’ in the latest Nezzyonbrass prize draw – 2 prizes up for grabs! The cartoon, which appeared in Brass Band World Magazine comes in a double picture mount ready for inserting into in a 12″ x 10″ frame. This is a limited edition print with only 50 available. […]
If you went to the Blackpool Brass Band Spring Festival back in May didn’t time seems to fly? Before you knew it you are back home feeling like you have been run over by a thousand stampeding wildebeest. So what exactly happened? Where did that time go?….Here’s a quick reminder… Two days away from home. […]
10 quick-fire quiz questions to test your brass band knowledge (Answers at the foot of the page) Harry Mortimer was born in Hebdon Bridge on April 10th, 1892, 1902 or 1922? Who am I …Born in Lincoln in 1909 and died in Tintagel aged 60…was commissioned by the Daily Herald to write his first major […]
Brass band adjudicators have possibly the most thankless job in the world and I understand why they tread the line when giving their pre-results speech. But!…wouldn’t it be wonderful if they said what they really thought? Tension mounts as the contest results are announced… “And in third place with 190 points is the band […]
I have produced the cartoons for the monthly satirical article ‘And Another Thing’ in Brass band World magazine for many years, working with several talented scribes who produced the marvelous words. John Barber is the most recent contributor and it was an absolute pleasure to work with him as he has produced some of […]