The theme for the Christmas Concert series for 2023 was Christmas 'Radio Hits'. The Band performed at The Palace Theatre, Paignton on Friday 2nd December, The Watermark Theatre, Ivybridge on Saturday 3rd December and The Flavel Centre, Dartmouth on Saturday 8th December 2023.
The programme was packed with well known Christmas songs and tunes that we are all too familiar with including, Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea, Mary's Boy Child by Boney M, Saviours Day by Cliff Richard, Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade and The FairyTale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty McCall. It was of some coincidence and significance that the composer and performer of this wonderful Christmas song, Shane McGowan sadly passed away just before Christmas and therefore, the band was honoured to dedicate it's performance of this stirring Irish Christmas song to him.
There were a couple of surprises in the programme including two competitions, a 'Match the stars to the Song' competition which was featured in the paper programme itself which was a test of memories of days gone by and a listening competition which challenged the audience to count the amount of times the band played Jingle Bells throughout the programme.The winners won two free tickets to our next concerts.. clever that, don't you think?!
The other surprise was an exciting Christmas rendition of the Post Horn Galop which was actually a Yuletide Galop. This was performed by our two intrepid first trumpet players, Phil and Paddy who were suitable costumed as Santa and the Grinch!
Our amazing guest singer Lucy Hingston joined our very own Mick Jones on stage to woo the audience with their duets of Baby It's Cold Outside and Let It Snow, Let It , Let It Snow.
Of course, our Christmas Concerts would not be the same without our free mince pies all warmed up and ready for the Interval. Yum yum!
