LAST weekend saw periods of torrential rain right across the Province, however even the most extreme weather conditions don’t stop band processions, as was clearly illustrated with events going ahead in counties Down, Antrim and Tyrone.
On Friday night the Loyal Sons of Benagh Flute were the hosts in Newry city, with an impressive 39 bands on parade to support the south Down band.
As has been the pattern with the band to date, standards in musicianship, style and appearance, marching and discipline were all noticeably higher than ever before.
Donaghmore Accordion impressed with a small but committed band, with the young and primarily female flute corps of Allistragh Flute Armagh also standing out for many. Downshire Guiding Star Banbridge has started the year strongly, with Armagh True Blues Flute putting in a very powerful blood and thunder performance.
The colour party of Blackskull Orange and Blue Flute continued its run as one of the finest in the entire movement, chalking up another first place, while one of the most entertaining shows of the night came from the Portadown True Blues Flute, showing plainly that the old tunes still can turn heads.
Further north in the county on the night, Killyleagh was the location for the annual event for William Savage Memorial Flute Toye. A good crowd was on the streets of the village, with a largely north Down selection of bands on show. Goldsprings True Defenders Comber were well up in numbers and looking smart, as were Robert Graham Memorial. East Belfast Protestant Boys Flute impressed along the entire length of the short route, while Monkstown Young Citizen Volunteers Flute are among the ranks of those bands obviously working hard behind the scenes, the band improving weekly.
A busy schedule this weekend will see the procession of the Freeman Memorial Flute in Coleraine and Star of the North Dollingstown in Lurgan on Friday night.
The Coleraine event marks the host band’s 35th anniversary and is sure to have considerable support. Saturday night will see two events in Co Armagh, the respective hosts being the Markethill Protestant Boys Flute and the Pride of the Frontier Flute Drumhillery. The Frontier Flute parade will take place in Killylea, with the Markethill Protestant Boys Flute event hosted in their home town. Near the north coast the annual Silver Plains Moyarget Flute annual event will begin at 8pm in Armoy.
If you would like to publicise fundraising, competition, cultural or indeed any events related to the large Ulster marching band community, you can contact Drum Beat by ringing or texting Quincey on 07835624221 or emailing quincey@ulsterbandsforum.net, with all contributions, opinions and news from the country’s thriving band movement very welcome.