Fulham Brass Band playing an outdoor concert
Be prepared to look at brass bands in an entirely new light as Fulham’s very own brass collective pushes the musical boundaries with a concert on Sunday.
Fulham Brass Band – which has appeared on TV shows including This Morning, The One Show, and even Never Mind the Buzzcocks – is planning the spectacular concert to raise its local profile.
The 25-strong band will join with special guest James Fountain, who is the principal trumpet player of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, for the event on Sunday (21 May).
Fulham Brass Band chairman Steve Carney, who has been part of the group for the past eight years, said the concert at St Etheldreda’s Church, in Fulham Palace Road, would come as a surprise to many people.
“The way brass bands are now is very different from the idea that most people have in their heads,” he explained. “We made a decision a couple of years ago to play more of these high-profile concerts as it’s the best way to become well-known in the area, and create a better footprint.
The concert will feature the London premiere of the piece: Blaze: Concerto for Cornet by Phillip W Lawrence, as well as music from Queen, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Gavin Higgins, The Beatles, Richard Rodney Bennett and George Lloyd.
The brass band – which was founded in 1895 and meets each week to rehearse for its concerts, competitions and TV appearances – has been rehearsing for the event since the beginning of the year.
Steve added that the concerto Blaze has been performed in ‘very few places because it is so difficult’.
“Blaze is a very modern piece and a real departure from what you might expect a brass band to play,” he said. “It is spectacular in its virtuosity and the musicians in the band are very excited because it is such a challenging piece.”
However, there will be ‘something for everyone’ at the concert, added Steve, including lots of tunes that the audience will recognise, as well as more traditional marches written by local people around 100 years ago.
Steve pointed out that brass bands are in ‘rude health’ in the capital, with the concert coinciding with the 21st anniversary of the release of the film Brassed Off, which is being marked by a screening at the Albert Hall earlier this month with the score being played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Grimethorpe Colliery Band, which inspired the film.
The concert is at 3pm on 21 May, with tickets £10 adults, £5 students and £1 children.
