Brass for Mbale and Butlins Mineworkers Open National Brass Band Festival

Published in General on 2014-01-16 by Empty Chairs

More news from Butlins Mineworkers Festival

As the The Butlins Mineworkers National Open Brass Band Festival 2014 (incorporating The Butlins Youth Band Festival) quickly approaches (17- 20 January 2014), arrangements to support the Butlins fund Brass for Mbale look set to offer attendees a range of exciting opportunities to help make a significant difference to this revolutionary Ugandan youth brass band project.

The fund was first introduced at last year’s festival and as a result of the generosity shown, the Mbale Youth Brass Band was overwhelmed to be able to purchase a brand new Sousaphone – a much needed instrument which has greatly enhanced their growing number of performances in the community. The additional publicity from the launch also resulted in the donation of some much needed music and a number of second-hand instruments. This year aims to build upon this initial success and hopes to raise funds to help in a number of different ways. Festival Director, Steve Walker, commented “It’s a real chance to help our fellow brass banders in their struggle against hunger, poverty and illness, and to enable them to gain all the benefits derived from music that we enjoy ourselves. In the long-term, we are also hoping to help them achieve their goal of being the first Ugandan youth brass band to compete in the UK, by entering the youth section here at Butlins.” He concluded: “Brass for Mbale is an ideal opportunity for us all to really help these youngsters - they have to face so many daily challenges, but through our mutual interest in brass band music, we can make a huge difference to their future.”

A Brass for Mbale Information Desk will be hosted at the ever-popular Trading Village throughout the weekend, offering insights and updates to the important work that surrounds the brass band project in Mbale, Uganda. There will also be an opportunity to discuss the project and its future in detail with supporters who have been directly involved with its development.

To promote the fund-raising initiative and build awareness of the project, there will be multi-media presentations across all the performance venues, the distribution of information flyers, balloons and stickers, and multiple donation points available throughout the weekend. There will also be an opportunity for everyone attending the weekend to participate in the Blow for Mbale event on Saturday evening (with Brett Baker’s University Of Salford Graduation Band), take part in a prize draw to win £200 worth of music (donated by music publisher The Music Company (UK) Ltd), show their support in style with Brass for Mbale branded t-shirts and hoodies (supplied by leisurewear branding specialist Your Logo Here), and also purchase a full set of the ‘Mbale March’ (specially written by Peter Bray for the Mbale project and donated by music publishers Kirklees Music). The Brass for Mbale fund-raising initiative aims to ensure that everyone can enjoy supporting and learning more about their 500+ fellow brass banders in Uganda, who directly benefit from the generosity shown towards this unique brass band project.

Blow of Mbale will be a key fund-raising feature of the weekend, where every player is invited to join Brett Baker’s University Of Salford Graduation Band in Reds on the evening of Saturday 18 to participate in a performance of Peter Bray’s ‘Mbale March’. This impromptu gathering will generate a unique opportunity to raise significant funds for the project, whilst creating a memorable playing experience for everyone who gets involved. Registration to join the Blow for Mbale can be made at the Brass for Mbale information desk, and in return for an entry donation, everyone will be issued with their music in preparation for the grand performance on the Saturday evening. Long-established brass band music publishers, Kirklees Music, are generously providing the performance music for all participants, as well as donating full sets of the march which can be purchased from the Brass for Mbale Information Desk to raise further funds and awareness for the project.

Brass for Mbale branded leisurewear will be available for purchase from the Your Logo Here stand (located next to the Brass for Mbale Information Desk), enabling everyone to ‘show their support in style’. As leaders in brass band customised leisurewear and uniforms, Your Logo Here is the official supplier of the Brass for Mbale branded clothing and is proud to assist the initiative by offering a range of t-shirts and hoodies, from which all profits will be donated direct to the fund.

Win £200 worth of music through the Donation Prize Draw available for everyone to enter at The Music Company (UK) Ltd stand (located next to the Brass for Mbale Information Desk). As an established music publisher and long-standing supporter of the Mbale brass band project, The Music Company is delighted to continue its involvement by offering this chance to enhance your band library with your choice of music from their extensive catalogue. The Prize Draw is simple to enter and the winner will be announced on Sunday before the results.

Brass for Mbale has the potential to make a significant difference to the future of the Mbale brass band project. Through the mutual appreciation of the fun, enjoyment, achievement, self-esteem and sense of team spirit that comes from being part of the world of brass bands, it is hoped that everyone attending The Butlins Mineworkers National Open Brass Band Festival 2014 will be able to share their enthusiasm through this fund-raising initiative.