John Gilderoy, Amy Swann, Steveo Fay,
John Fay (MD) (Trumpets); Battler Britton (Alto) Beth Sanderson (Tenor) Kris
Park (Bari
(Review by
Kath Jobes).
I had heard via Facebook of a big band I had not
encountered before who were playing over the half term week at Beamish Museum
As I walked down the hill from the entrance the
sun was shining and fluffy white clouds sailed across the cerulean blue sky…
how apt I thought as I approached home farm to the gentle melody of Blue Skies. I entered the hemmel (a shed
or covering for cattle with arches in one side) just as the band struck up It Don’t Mean A Thing (If it Ain’t Got That
Swing), and for a greatly diminished band, from their usual cohort of 18,
to just 8, there was a great sound!
The Staff dancing out front were encouraging the
children to become a Little Brown Jug,
as the band kicked off the next tune, and then we were In The Mood as the dancers swung on… The final tune of this short repeating
set, as dictated by Beamish
Museum
I had a chat to the MD and a few members of the
band during their break and found out that this band had only started up about
6 months earlier, but they seem to be attracting new members almost on a weekly
basis…. And from what I have heard so far I think they will go from strength to
strength. They have some work coming up
in South Tyneside soon and they have had
increasing interest in their services for functions such as weddings and events.
I had a lovely afternoon in the bright sunshine,
even if it was a little bit chilly; I can’t wait to hear the full ensemble of
the Off Key Big Band…and I intend to very soon… so watch
this space!
Kath J.
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