Hello and welcome to the second newsletter of The Front Row Big Band based in Norwich, Norfolk. Since we last contacted you, an awful lot has happened. We’ve put our new logo onto the music stands, a very interesting exercise in positioning the transfers precisely with differing opinions on how to measure up, but ultimately very successful and the stands look great.
Then, Joe, our superb bass player and technology wizard designed our pull-up banner to use on gigs, as well as a banner advertising our Christmas gig at Dunston Hall, which will be displayed at the main gate from this Saturday 18th November. Hopefully, you’ll see it if you drive past. Ticket sales have been good and we’re hoping for a full house so remember to book as soon as possible.
Photoshoot
On November 5th we had a photoshoot at Dunston Hall, Norwich, and Kate our photographer got some great photos we will share with you. Thanks to Ivan Fisher, who bought his 1966 Routemaster Bus along for us to use. We all had a great time, and the weather was kind to us.
Our First Gig!
A huge thank you to all of you who came along to our first Jazz at The Hall big band gig, to a packed Eaton Suite on November 9th. It was a very well-received concert – lots of faces that we recognised and quite a few new ones which is lovely.
It was a great evening when Dave, our lead trumpeter played ‘Gonna Fly Now’ (The theme from Rocky) to close the first half with stratospheric brilliance to bring the house down. Our first encore was ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ which featured our new drummer Dean driving the band along. We then played ‘Every Time We Say Goodbye’, beautifully sung by Lindsey Ball.
We also played two Glenn Miller numbers, ‘American Patrol’ and ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’. We’ll be playing two different Miller numbers, plus a wide variety of the best big band arrangements on February the 1st 2024 when we return to The Eaton Suite, Dunston Hall, Norwich.
Our upcoming gigs in Norwich, Norfolk
We start to prepare for our Christmas gig this week and our musical director Martin has managed to find an arrangement of ‘The Nutcracker Suite’, originally played by Les Brown in the 1950s. It’s a terrific chart that we’re looking forward to playing.
We do hope that you’ll come along to our remaining two big band gigs in Norfolk of 2023 at The Venue, Holt on Wednesday, the 6th of December at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available for this here… The Front Row Big Band Tickets, Wed 6 Dec 2023 at 19:30
Also, our Christmas gig in The Sunningdale Suite at Dunston Hall, Norwich on Sunday the 17th of December at 3 pm. Tickets for this are available here… A Swingin’ Christmas at Sunningdale Suite, Dunston Hall
Look out for our social media posts and remember to give us a like on Facebook. Also, please view our Upcoming Dates on our Calendar page, and put the dates in your diary.
Thanks for following us and for helping to keep live music going in The East of England. Bye for now and we look forward to seeing you soon!
All best wishes,
The Front Row Big Band