Review: Richard Holy and Black Dyke Band from St. George Hall

It is the sound of the Northern Industrial, and some of the world's best brass bands are rooted in factories and factories in the Bradford area.

They were founded in Queensbury in 1855 and are no longer much larger than the Black Dyke Band, which was founded during the 170th Anniversary season.

It was a treat to see the Black Dyke Band working (Image: Black Dyke Band)

What a treat to see this world champion Brass doing on St. George's hall stage. And the band “Yorkshire Sound Mash” with Sheffield singer Richard Hawley was sublime.

Holy plays with acts like Pulp, Arctic, Elbow and Paul Weller. He has been duets with Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey. He is a nominee for the Britt Award and Mercury Music Awards, and won two Olivier Awards for his Music Standing at the Sky's Edge. But he never did anything to play in the mighty Black Dyke band.

“This blew my mind away,” he told the audience that he stuffed St. George's hall into the rafters. “I think the budget for the next album has increased…”

This remarkable concert began with the Black Dyke band, who played their favourites with Actio Nobilate and Jupiter (from the planet) led by Professor Nicholas J Childs.

Then it was time for “Strictly Black Dyke” – face the gorgeous finale of music and dance, libatango, bolero and nightingale dance. Introducing the bolero (which sounded even better with brass) he said, “What a symphony orchestra can do, Black Dyke can do well!”

After the interval, Richard Hawley and his own band joined Brass Tour de Force on stage for an incredible program featuring a selection of his songs, including the meaning of love, “Roll River Roll, Don't Gaze at Coles Corner.” The highlights were standing at the edge of the sky, enlivening the soldiers' performance.

Powerful, heart-pounding, playful, this is a truly amazing live music showcase that combines one of the best UK singers/songwriters with a world-class brass band.

The concert was the highlight of the weekend of an event in Bradford that brings together some of the UK's best and most diverse brass acts.

The highlight of Bradford's cultural city, Big Brass Blowout – features classic brass, afrobe trim, reggae and fusion jazz, celebrating the power, versatility and overall brilliance of brass.

The three-day programme was on BBC Radio 2 Loves Brass on Friday, featuring the Black Dyke Band, Chart Topper Maruti Peeler, Star Soprano Kari Paoli, Punja Brut Academy and Bradford Cathedral Choir.

*Big Brass Blowout continues today (Sunday, April 13th, Sunday, April 13th) and on Sunday afternoons, the brass continues in Road Bay. A lineup of TobyBrazierSextet Blend Classic Jazz and New Fusion Sounds, Bradford and Leeds Musicians. Omotola & Friends brings the West African Yoruba sound led by drummer Oluwatosin Omotola Ajayi. Bradford Concert Band Hot Air! It gives 21st century spins to brass band culture using programs from Brass Classics, Showtoon, film soundtracks and Daft Punk Medley.