BANDS in Trafford have been affected badly by the lockdown although some are finding ways round it.

The 31-year-old  Flixton-based Sweet Rhythm big band, directed by Jen Puchey, have kept in touch every Friday by playing to a Sibelius tape on Zoom.

Their co-ordinator and tenor sax player Diane Harris said:  “At Christmas, we recorded two videos independently and then amalgamated our efforts. We put them both on Facebook and Twitter.

“The Christie used one of them for their Christmas Concert and it raised £450 for them.”

The Stretford Band were less fortunate. “We haven’t been able to get together since last March. I feel it will be summer/autumn before we can rehearse,” said cornet player John Quirk.

Graham Truffet, co-director of the  Dave Egerton Band, which still uses its original name of Altrincham Concert Band on official occasions such as Remembrance Sunday, said:  “Although we haven’t been able to rehearse since March, we have maintained our membership through Zoom meetings and arrangements by our librarian, Howard Keable.”

Formed in 1983, the Dave Egerton Band had rehearsed  weekly at the LMRCA Club next to Navigation Road station until lockdown.

He said: “We lost ten engagements in 2020. The performing arts have been all but destroyed by the pandemic.”

Flixton Band was established in 1877.  

Paul Thomason, their manager, said: “In order to maintain contact, we have held regular Zoom meetings for quizzes and, more importantly, some rehearsals. There will never be a substitute for live rehearsals though.

“We have also made two videos.”

Sadly, the Flixton Band has had to cancel all its planned concerts.

Before lockdown, under the musical direction of Matthew Ryan, they were promoted to the First Section, one below the elite Championship section which includes the Grimethorpe Colliery Band and others. 

Flixton Band has a sister band, the Flixton Community band.  

A member, Richard Bond, last year won the Under 14 British Youth Band National Individuals Concert for Solo Euphonium

Brass Bands England has launched Save Our Brass Bands (Emergency Fund) on Crowdfunder.  To donate see Crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-brass=bands-emergency-fund.