Farewell 2021 and hello 2022!

Thanks to everyone who has helped and supported Downshire Brass during the ups and downs of 2021. It’s certainly been an interesting, challenging and memorable year for the band and musicians everywhere! Here are some of our highlights.

January - April 2021

Despite the COVID restrictions which prevented us from meeting in person, January to March 2021 was busy with preparing and recording music for two Downshire projects involving Harmonic Sounds Concert Band, Wellington Memorial Silver Band and Dynamic Brass. Supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Four Band Projects kept everyone busy with home-based audio and video recordings for two concerts which were streamed on YouTube on 6 March and 24 April.

Downshire’s contributions included the premiere of Rush Hour Duel, an excerpt from a more extended piece which Downshire had been working on during late 2019, Spain, which featured Rick Swann and Neil Doherty, both on flugel horns and Song of the Night Sky which featured Hannah Calderwood on cornet. The second concert closed with a performance of The Candyman which involved performers in all four bands. Although nothing like the experience of live music-making, these online events were helpful in keeping the band playing and motivated during a challenging time for everyone. Special thanks to Andrew McQuiggan, Patricia Evans, Paul Hamilton and Thomas Woods for their support and input into these online events.

May - June 2021

Much to everyone’s relief, the easing of COVID restrictions in May 2021 meant that the band could now meet in a limited capacity in outdoor locations. On 6 May, face-to-face rehearsals started at a new location for the band - the BB Pavilion at Belvoir. In the early months of 2021, and with an eye to the likely impact of COVID on music-making for all organisations, the band decided to move from its historic home at Malone Presbyterian Church and take up a new permanent base at the BB Pavilion in Belvoir Estate. Being back together was wonderful if a little odd because of social distancing, temperature and COVID checks, masks and the precautions required in handling instruments, music, stands and seats. Still, it was great to be back together after 14 months and important to do so with a concert at Hillsborough bearing down on us!

26 June, a date to remember… Twelve months to the day since our successful online performance with David Childs, Downshire Brass was back in action performing in front of live audiences in the grounds of Hillsborough Castle. With back-to-back concerts on 26 and 27 June 2021, it was a real treat to be able to return to face-to-face, live music-making. Social distancing rules meant that the band would have to relocate from the South Terrace to the lawns in front of the Castle, a move which allowed the audience to sit on the grass and to picnic with friends and family.

A massive thanks to all our guests who helped over the weekend, and congratulations to Gerard McCartney who was making his debut with the band on Eb bass and to Lauren Ward who did a tremendous job on kit for the first time with the band.

July - August 2021

With further easing of COVID regulations, the band was able to move indoors to its new dedicated rehearsal space in Belvoir. Thanks to a grant from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the hard work and support of band members, we were able to create a wonderful new facility for Downshire. The funding enabled us to purchase a new suite of music stands and make a significant investment in acoustic treatment and recording equipment for the band. Much of the summer was spent preparing for return to normal banding in preparation for the autumn months and contest preparation.

September - October 2021

Downshire Brass was delighted to be back playing on the contest stage again after a long 18 months. The setting was the 103rd North of Ireland Brass Band Championships, which took place on 16 October 2021 at the Marketplace Theatre in Armagh. The set test piece was Royal Parks by George Lloyd and the band was drawn to play second in the Championship section. September and early October were busy with contest preparations, both sectionals and full rehearsals, and by the week before the contest, we were fully back in contest mode with five rehearsals in the days leading up to the contest. We gave a very creditable performance on the day and managed to secure third place behind the First Old Boys and Laganvale bands. Irrespective of the result, it was good to be contesting again!

November - December 2021

The Christmas period is normally busy for all brass bands, but in 2021 it turned out to be an exceptionally busy and rewarding period for Downshire. A concert in First Church, Belfast, as part of the City Council’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Belfast’ event kickstarted a really busy period for the band that included a residency at Let’s Go Hydro, a Sing Out Christmas Special for BBC Radio Ulster and various performances supporting local schools, charities and organisations.

The highlight of our Christmas programme was undoubtedly the sell-out performances in Belfast city centre of The Snowman on 18 December 2021. This amazing 26-minute score was a big undertaking for band at short notice but we rose to the challenge and the events proved to a huge success with our audiences.

Looking Ahead to 2022

We are extremely excited about 2022 and beyond for Downshire Brass. COVID allowing, the early part of 2022 will be focused on preparations for the European Brass Band Championships in Birmingham in May, as well as on concerts, contests and recordings. With nearly a year completed in our new home in Belvoir, we have ambitious plans to expand and develop our youth and community engagement and to ensure that the band thrives despite the somewhat uncertain times ahead because of the pandemic.

We want to thank everyone who has helped and supported Downshire Brass during 2021. Particular thanks to all the guests who helped us during 2021, particularly Jonathan Corry, Paul Hamilton, Stuart Adair, Catherine Dodsworth, Lucy Place, Amber MacLennan, George Sanford, Sam Moreland and Thomas Loughrey - we couldn’t have done it without you all.

With best wishes to you and yours for 2022 from everyone in Downshire Brass!