We had a great night entertaining the sponsors and guests of Tynedale Beer Festival held at Corbridge Rugby Club on Thursday.

Here we see the band with Mike our Bass player making rabbit shadow puppet shapes on the back wall. It’s a lifelong hobby of his and a dying art.

Well lubricated, some more than others, by samples from the many fine beers and ciders on offer the band played a couple of exciting sets and got the first night of the festival off to a cracking start

‘Beesting’ was a particular favourite with certain band members

Rhythm

Pete on Kit

Rather than risk calling off for the forecasted rain we huddled together and played on the portico of Gibside’s historic Chapel for the recent Music in the Park Event one of a series of concerts held throughout the Summer.

Spot the Big Band

Here we see our fantastic vocalist Barbara ‘no relation’ Hignett trying out a new arrangement of ‘Minnie the Moocher’ on the crowd.

Later technical problems with the PA interrupted ‘Mack the Knife’ and led to Barbara gamely continuing to sing ‘Unplugged’ to complete the number, a true professional.

Hi de Hi de Hi de Hi etc

Sir Markus of Bolderson on kit

Mr Barnes

Mr Hignett

We are very lucky to be supported by Wylam Brewery for another year of sponsorship.

We have been able to kit the band out with some very natty jackets to protect us from the cold and rain when we are out and about playing at summer gigs.

Here we se our illustrious MD Dave Hignett with John Boyle of Wylam Brewery trying on the jackets for size.

Thanks again John.

Tyne Valley Big Band entertained the crowds an a lovely sunny afternoon at this years prestigious Northumberland County Show on Bank Holiday Monday.

The previous two days of torrential rain made access tricky with many vehicles getting stuck in the mud early in the day. Luckily the majority of farmers in Northumberland, some with very large tractors indeed, were on site to pull everyone out.

We were situated between the funfair and the Cumberland & Westmoreland Wrestling ring on a small oasis of dry ground surrounded by mud, and the weather held fair for the day.

The Pink Panther himself, MD Dave Hignett conducted proceedings  interspersed by much witty banter and the odd solo just to show how its done. Trombone envy from a certain trumpeter. Andrea DeVere, top tenor Sax solo.  Trumpets with Guest Fintan helping out. Mr Barnes making a welcome appearance in the tromboners. Barbara ‘no relation’ Hignett on top vocal form Saxes featuring Andrea again, with a welcome guest appearance by Matthew ‘Choppy’ Lamb filling in for our favourite antipodean Alto Sax player Kelly Rose (otherwise engaged).  Becky Ben Rhythm Section, closest to the sponsors contribution cunningly hidden between the piano and the Kit, and by a strange coincidence right next to Mark. Mark on solo triangle.

Many thanks to Gaynor Shotton secretary of Tynedale Agricultural Society for inviting us back this year, we had a great day in the sun. Thanks also to our sponsors ‘Wylam Brewery’  for providing us with some welcome liquid refreshment during the afternoon.

We were delighted to be invited to play at this years Darlington Jazz festival by organiser Shaune Eland.

Jazz in My Pants played a great set outside the Head of Steam Museum before warming up the crowd in the marquee with a final number before TVBBs’ lunchtime slot.

Resplendent in our newly sponsored Wylam Brewery Jackets  TVBB took the stage to an appreciative audience.

Heres what BeBop Spoken here had to say about us. (Review by Russell (AKA Tolstoy).

We will be playing at Gibside on June the 8th during their series of ‘Music in the Park’ events.  Click the link below to see details of this and other events.

Music in the Park 2014

We had a tremendous joint concert last night with the recently formed Tyne Valley Youth Big Band before our Easter break.

Read a great review of the gig here. Bebop Spoken Here

The popularity of the event emphasises how Hexham is becoming a centre for Big Band Jazz under the enthusiastic leadership of our MD Dave Hignett.  The junior and Youth Bands will hopefully flourish and ensure that Big Band Music goes from strength to strength in the Tyne Valley.

There are still a few places available in certain sections of the Junior and Youth Bands so if there are any young musicians who wish join please contact Dave for details.

Following the now traditional end of term presentation of Scottish Wine to our MD the TVBB quickly decamped for a fine curry at the newly refurbished Diwan e Am. Several of the more foolhardy members of the band tackled the fearsome Rajastani Gosth hot enough to stop even Mr Hignett in his tracks!

The band were coerced into an evening of subterfuge in the planning of a surprise 60th birthday party for Dave Lamb, treasurer and long time Bass player with our friends the Prudhoe Community Band.

Mr Lamb joined the band to pick up his Bass Guitar for a sight read rendition of his favourite number “Birdland” joined by Daughter Katherine on Jazz Clarinet and Son Matthew “Choppy” Lamb (also seen in several other numbers ripping out some storming Also and Tenor solos.)  PCB Chairman Steve Quill i’am was also spotted with his old trombone.

Saxes

Trombones

Barbara

Saxes

Altos

Johnny “no photos please” Knap

TVBB

Toms

A great night was had by all.

Thanks as always to our sponsors Wylam Brewery for again providing a supply of excellent Wylam Gold for the band and guests.

The newly formed Junior and Youth Jazz ensembles in Hexham are up and running following an enthusiastic response by young Jazz players in the region.

Based at Core Music and Led by Dave Hignett the formation of these bands now means that Hexham is becoming the focus for Big Band music in the region with a total of three Big Bands in all.

The Tyne Valley Youth Big Band are busy rehearsing to participate in the Sunderland Big Band Festival for the first time.  They will be playing on Sunday 2nd March at St Peters Campus, University of Sunderland.

Tyne Valley Big Band will be entering the Open Section playing at 11am on Saturday 1st March hoping to repeat our success of last year with our joint second place.