A very hot Brackenwood garden party

Slathered in sun cream and wearing sun hats galore, we played in what was probably the hottest conditions we’ve ever played in! It was our second year performing in the stunning grounds at the Brackenwood Garden Party charity event in Holt, Wimborne. 

The audience gathers as we get ready to perform

Wearing a black uniform on a boiling hot Sunday afternoon was quite sweaty, but we powered on through! It was worth the sweat because it was all for a good cause to help raise money for Dorset Cancer Care.

Crafts, flowers and cream teas

There was a real buzz in the atmosphere. People milled around the craft stalls, plants and flowers stalls, and tucked in to refreshments and cream teas.

People roamed around the grounds and wandered round the lakes at the bottom of the garden. Others chilled out on benches and hay bales in front of us to watch and unwind under a shady tree.

Easy-listening tunes

Our programme included lots of well-known tunes you can sing along to. Two of the band’s favourites were Pirates of the Caribbean and Mary Poppins. We also played a rendition of Adele’s classics and a medley of Tom Jones hits. You can always rely on a bit of Tom Jones to get people swaying!

We also had some more difficult pieces for the band like Yorkshire Overture and Amparito Roca which are both quite fast in places! To balance this we had some slower-paced pieces like Mountain Thyme which is a beautiful piece recently covered by Ed Sheeran. Although the slower, calmer pieces aren’t always easier to play. Sometimes they require more breath work and we have to focus on staying in tune with each other!

Up next – Regent’s Park in London

We’re looking forward to taking our summer programme to the Regent’s Park Bandstand in London on Monday 29 August. We’ve got a slot starting at 3:30pm and we’re so excited to be able to play at such an iconic event. If you’re around London on the bank holiday Monday or have friends in London who might like to come along, please spread the word – it’s free!

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By Emma on flute