Posted: 04/10/21
October 3rd saw the band take to the competitive stage for the first time in 19 months and return with some silverware to top-up the trophy cabinet!
The Bolsover Festival of Brass is regarded as one of the leading Brass Band Entertainment Contests of today which for the last six years has produced a live-stream broadcast around the world to over 56,000 audience as well as its live capacity audience.
Despite still rehearsing under Covid restrictions and dealing with related complications, the band didn't hold back and instead took to the stage in true Derwent Brass style with a totally bespoke 20-min work penned by MD Jack Capstaff entitled 'Musica De Los Muertos' - a Gordon Goodwin big band inspired halloween themed programme.
The unique set caused quite the stir and was described as adjudicator John Doyle as one of two stand out performances of the day. The feedback overwall was quite incredible and it was a performance of which we the band is very proud.
We have always enjoyed feedback from John Doyle as an adjudicator and his remarks summary was no exception reading: "Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! I loved it from start to finish. Original, entertaining, cool, unique, soloists galore, and percussion a dream. Congratulations - you blew me away!"
Whilst it found favour as the winning performance with many in the crowd, adjudicator John Doyle admitted he couldn't decide between the two and disappointingly the win didn't come our way on this occasion. However what did was the award of Most Entertaining Band which, in an entertainments contest, we are delighted with and of course is what we consider we do best. Alongside this the band were awarded a richly deserved runners-up position. Of course a huge congratulations to the winners 'Easington Colliery' who certainly played very well indeed.
