Foden's add to their foundation!
Mark Wilkinson • January 4, 2023
Foden's Band are delighted to take delivery of two new Yamaha Neo YBB632S Silver plate BBb basses from Rosehill Instruments. These basses replace previous Yamaha basses, which is the preferred instrument of Foden's BBb bass team Andy Cattanach and George Mitchell, and will continue to provide the solid foundation of the band.
Principal BBb bass Andy Cattanach mentions, ‘The consistency of the Yamaha Neo has made it the choice of many BBb bass players in recent years. The sound, response and tuning make supporting the best of brass bands an easier and more enjoyable task!’
On behalf of Rosehill Instruments Paul Austin commented, ‘Our Rosehill technicians enjoy working with Yamaha brass tubas: aside from the playing advantages and their reliable mechanical operation, they are designed to be easily dismantled to aid servicing. We are proud to supply a band with such a great reputation and are confident the Yamaha tubas will prove a good long-term investment.’
Next month, Foden's will head down to Berkshire to appear at the 2025 Newbury Spring Festival with a varied programme ranging from our 2024 Brass in Concert programme paying tribute to Mohammad Ali, through to extended works such as Dvorak's 'Carnival Overture' and Gregson's 'Variations on Laudate Dominum'! Corn Exchange, Newbury Sunday 18th May, 2025 3pm www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk/event/fodens-band/
Foden's are delighted to announce that their performance at January's RNCM International Brass Band Festival is set to be featured on BBC Radio 3' flagship 'In Concert' programme on Monday 24th March (7.30pm). Hosted by Tom Redmond, it will feature the UK premiere of Edward Gregson's new tenor horn concerto 'Three Gods' featuring Belgian virtuoso Tim de Maeseneer. Led by Michael Fowles, the programme will also include the classic test-pieces, 'Fireworks' by Elgar Howarth plus John McCabe's epic 'Cloudcatcher Fells', as well as 'Elektrodesign' by Elisabeth Vannebo, 'A Leadsman, a Lady and a Lord' by David Stanhope, and 'Fantasia on a Theme of Purcell' by band President Paul Mealor Further information can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00291fp
Over the last year, we've been honoured to be supported so kindly by the Mayor of Sandbach Ann Nevitt, and as part of her support to aid our upcoming trip to represent England at the 2025 European Championships in Stavanger, we'll be performing a concert in Sandbach Town Hall to help our fundraising efforts.
After an amazing concert opening the inaugural Elgar International Festival of Brass in 2024, Foden's are delighted to be returning once more to the event on Sunday 8th June at Malvern Theatres - with a programme celebrating the music of Edward Gregson, featuring his 'Essay for Brass Band' and festival march 'Chalk Farm No.2', whilst Gary Curtin and Mark Landon will be featured in a spectacular Concerto Grosso by Etienne Crausaz! The concert will also feature contributions from Black Dyke and The Cory Band Festival Theatre, Malvern Sunday 8th June 4:30pm http://malvern-theatres.co.uk/event/elgar-international-festival-of-brass/
We are delighted to announce that we'll be making our 2nd visit to Burton-upon-Trent in June this year! Burton Town Hall Sunday 1st June, 2025 2pm www.burtontownhall.co.uk/#whats-on
We are looking forward to a number of exciting performances over the next couple of months! Please visit our events page for further information
In mid 2024 Foden's were informed that due to a 'change of use' they would have to vacate their rehearsal premises at Bradwall Hall, Sandbach (home since August 2016) at the end of February 2025. Despite help from the local community, Sandbach Town Council and Cheshire East the band were unable to source premises that accommodated their needs. The bands plight was also aired on BBC radio! Speaking about the search Mark Wilkinson commented 'Due to the band being based in the Sandbach area since 1902 it was paramount that premises in Sandbach were found. During our search we were grateful to numerous bands locally and outside the area who offered their rehearsal spaces. We were extremely grateful to Jef Sparkes and the Acceler8 Band in Crewe who had made arrangements to house Foden's from the start of March' Prior to August 2016 Foden's rehearsed in Moston, Sandbach but due to a devastating bandroom fire moved to Bradwall Hall with the previous premises being restored and used as office buildings. However, at the start of the year the band were informed that the industrial site that originally housed the band had been sold and was now available to lease. Mark continued 'We are delighted to secure our former home in Moston, in the actual building where we rehearsed prior to the fire. Due to the large amount of property stored at Bradwall Hall band members spent the day prior to the North West Area Contest moving equipment with the days after the contest being used to take down acoustic boarding and recording equipment. We are absolutely delighted to remain in Sandbach and return to our original premises which brought so much success between 1995 and 2016.'
On Sunday 22nd February Foden's competed at the 'North West Area' contest held at the Winter Gardens Blackpool. The UK is split into various 'regions' and the top two placed bands at each regional contest is invited to represent their 'region' at the National Finals, held at the Royal Albert Hall London in October. The top three placed bands from the previous years 'National Finals' receive an automatic qualification, due to Foden's being runner up at this contest we had already received an invitation to the 2025 Finals. Foden's competed against 11 other bands performing the set test piece 'Diversions' by Derek Bourgeois, we were subsequently announced as the Champions for the ninth consecutive year also winning the prize for the best Principal Cornet Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs and Andrea Price 1. Foden's (Russell Gray)** 2. Leyland (Daniel Brooks)* 3. Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins)* 4. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Ryan Watkins) 5. Milnrow (Chris Binns) 6. KNDS Fairey (Phil Chalk) 7. Acceler8 (Jef Sparkes) 8. Boarshurst Silver (Jamie Prophet) 9. Rainford (Sarah Groarke Booth) 10.Wingates (Matt Ryan) 11. Longridge (Mark Peacock) 12. Wardle Anderson Brass (Brad McCulloch) Best Principal Cornet: Mark Wilkinson (Foden's) **Pre qualified for National Final * Qualify for National Final
On Saturday 22nd February Foden's held their final rehearsal at Bradwall Village Hall, Sandbach. The Hall has been home to the band since August 2016 where they have won numerous National, British Open & Brass in Concert titles which has secured their position as the 'World's Number 1 Brass Band' Due to a 'change of use' the band were served notice a number of months ago and have used this time to source a new rehearsal facility to keep the band in Sandbach (which has been their home since 1902) The band are delighted to have sourced new premises with further details to be released shortly Foden's would like to thank Edward Barlow (Bradwall Bakehouse) for allowing the band usage of their premises for the past nine years
On the 31st January Foden's travelled to Armagh, Northern Ireland for a weekend of musical activities! As in previous years the band worked with a number of soloists in a master class situation. Eager performers were given the opportunity to perform a solo, accompanied by the band, with the relevant Foden's principal player giving constructive spoken feedback as well as addressing the large audience consisting of parents, teachers and supporters. The afternoon session was concluded with a number of massed items, where the soloists, teachers and supporters joined ranks with Foden's. In the evening Foden's performed an entertaining concert to a large and enthusiastic audience which featured their fine array of soloists as well as 'Cassius: The Rumble in the Jungle' from their 2024 Brass in Concert Set. The programme also included the World premier of ‘Lift High The Cross’ by Jonathan Bates, commissioned by the Armagh Brass Band Summer School to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church (where the concert was held). All at Foden's thank Ivor Stevenson MBE and his hard working team for their hospitality on this 24th visit! Plans are already in replace for a return trip in 2026.
