Christmas is All About That Brass

There are many things that signify Christmas is coming, certain songs, TV adverts, I’m a Celeb being on ITV. But there is something else, brass bands playing Christmas carols.

Rushen Silver Band has announced its plans for this Christmas, playing nearly 20 events starting with its own concert at the Erin Arts Centre on November 26.

That day sees two gigs, at 3pm and 7.30pm with Christmas classics such as ‘All I want for Christmas is You’ and ‘Frosty the Snowman’ being played as well as carols, hopefully including the banger ‘Good King Wenceslas’.

The band will be joined by Paul Costain who will be singing both by himself and with the band, whether you want him to or not.

Tickets are available from John Cole on cole@manx.net.

A new event on the list this year is the Christmas Carol train on Saturday December 17, leaving at 12.30pm. A trip
on the IOM Steam Railway, from Port Erin to Castletown, getting off at Port St Mary, Colby and Castletown to sing
carols with the band, before returning to Port Erin for refreshments to the bands musical accompaniment. Tickets
for this are £10 (£5 for children) and are available from Graeme Easton on gme@manx.net from next Tuesday.

As well as the bands own events, it will be helping lots of other local organisations with their celebrations, including Port St Mary and Port Erin Commissioners events, the Port Erin Traders, Rowany Golf Club, Ballafesson Chapel and Port St Mary RNLI. Ballafesson Brass, the development band of Rushen Silver Band, will also be joining the festive fun with an informal concert at the Erin Arts Centre on Friday November 25 at 6pm. This leaves plenty of time to enjoy the band before heading to the pub to watch the England.

The band finishes its Christmas events by playing for the residents at Southlands Residential Home at 11am on
Christmas morning, giving residents and their families a festive treat before their lunch.

Band chairman Chris Weldon said: ‘Christmas is a chance for the band to help all members of our community celebrate, there really is something for everyone. Although the band is very busy it is a chance to play a really active role in our local area and playing at Southlands on Christmas day is a lovely event.’