Dancing With The Duff!

Ballyduff’s schedule continues to be packed with engagements. Unfortunately, the band’s only performance in the Greater Belfast area on 6th July at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, was curtailed after twenty minutes due to heavy rain. There were quite a number of people in the park on the day even though rain had been threatening for most of the early afternoon.

After a short break, the band returned to Hazelbank  Park, where there wasn’t much of an improvement in weather conditions. A grey day with light rain didn’t deter people from venturing out to hear the band. With the band sheltered below the huge tree in the middle of the park, a complete hour’s programme was given even though there were comments about “Baltic”. The conductor did note that he was in a rather disadvantaged position as he had to stand just outside the shelter of the tree line and the top of his head is very sensitive to rain!!

On a windy Sunday afternoon the band performed at Sentry Hill House, a renovated country house run by Newtownabbey Borough Council. Some concern was expressed about where exactly the band would play, as it was felt that if they had to play in the usual garden venue, music could end up in Templepatrick!!! Fortunately provision had been made by the efficient staff for the band to play in a sheltered area just outside the coffee shop.

A good crowd had gathered and staff had to bring out more chairs! It was during the performance of “Tropical Party” that perhaps one of the more unusual events of the summer took place. Unbeknown to the conductor, who was expecting a cornet entry, a number of the crowd had actually got up and started to dance!! The dancers were just within eyeshot of the cornet section who were rather amused by these goings on, hence their inability to play!! To end the programme the dancers were given the opportunity to get to their feet again with toe tappers, Bill Bailey and Rock Around The Clock.

The following Sunday meant a return to Carnfunnock Country Park just outside Larne. This is an extremely popular venue, and the band enjoys playing there. This could be possibly due to the fact that the conductor gives a running commentary to the crowd, with eloquent descriptions before each piece. The logic for the players is, the more he talks, the less we play!! There was a huge crowd already gathered before the band started, and it was agreed that due to the extreme heat, short sleeve order would be suitable! The crowd were entertained with music of every type, marches, film music, classical, jazz, solo features and the inevitable dance band classics!!

Two consecutive performances at Loughshore, Jordanstown gave the band the opportunity to roll out a few new numbers and the odd old favourite! On Sunday 3rd August, “Best of Bond” had an airing as did “Tiger Rag” and of course our soprano cornet player’s favourite “Country Roads”. It seems that his part of this has strangely disappeared, so if there’s a band out there with a soprano copy, please let us know!!

Six more summer concerts to go, in what has been a very busy summer for the band. Details of these concerts can be found in the Diary section of our site.

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