On a beautiful sunny day, The Swing Busters trio drew the largest crowd we have had for Music in the Grove – 150, including children. 

Most of the audience weren’t born when many of the tunes were first performed, but there is a familiarity and nostalgia that gives the music its appeal. And although we couldn’t compete with Tony Engle’s delivery of all the lyrics, we could at least join in with the chorus: “Everything stops for tea”. Tony alternated between various saxes, and with Steve Benaim’s steady rhythm guitar and vocals and Martin Appleby’s bass, the trio provided the audience with a marvellous afternoon. 

More pictures and a video here.

Despite rain foreshortening their programme, the band entertained a hardy audience with tunes ranging from Holst’s “Fantasia on the Dargason” to “Wand’rin’ Star” – that not easily forgotten number “sung” by Lee Marvin in the film Paint Your Wagon. 

Fortunately the band’s rendering was much more tuneful. In the interval the latest group of LMB beginners gave their first public performance, and a creditable job they made of it. LMB do a tremendous job of loaning instruments and teaching beginners, which brings new blood into the brass band community.  More pictures here.

The Palace Wind Band were particularly keen to play in the Grove this year, having had to cancel last year because of bad weather. They set up in sunshine but were forced to retreat under the trees because of a rain shower. 

The audience did the same and enjoyed a varied programme that included some very familiar tunes from the operatic repertoire.

A first visit of the year for the Senior Band with the Monday Band playing in the "break". Lots of classics and brilliant weather for the crowd and band alike.

A marvellous way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

The band started the Music in the Grove season with their usual entertaining programme starting with the Proclaimers’ ‘500 Miles’ and ending with the perennial favourite, ‘Baggy Trousers’, by Madness. In between there were familiar tunes from films and musicals, and a distinctly less familiar number: ‘Bass in the Ballroom’, a solo for the large and deep-sounding tuba. 

London Metropolitan Brass do a great job of teaching brass to novices and returnees, and this year’s cohort, who had only started learning in January, did themselves proud in the interval at their first public performance. (Gordon, the organiser of Music in the Grove, is pictured thanking the band.) 

On hot days bands playing in the Grove often set up in the shade of the trees. This time the band needed to shelter from the rain, which did feature briefly. “But the band played on”, and under the lively direction of Deirdre Waller-Box the band entertained us with popular tunes ranging from ‘Moonlight Serenade’ and ‘Singing in the Rain’ to ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Shotgun’. 

LMB has done great work teaching people who want to take up or return to playing brass instruments, and the latest batch of beginners demonstrated their skills in the Beginners Band with an accomplished performance in the interval. The Community Band returned with more favourites, none more so than their final number: ‘Baggy Trousers’.

On a hot and sunny day, both performers and audience sought the shade of the trees to play and enjoy the music of the 20s and 30s. The audience – more than 70 people – was the largest we have had for music in the Grove. They were delighted by Tony Engles’ sax playing, the steady rhythm from Steve Benaim’s guitar and Martin Appleby’s string bass. But it was the vocals of Tony and Steve that brought out the humour and emotions of the old songs and the applause and whoops from the crowd at the end. 

The band was again blessed with hot weather and set up in the shade of the pines. The audience had the benefit of chairs recently bought for the Friends’ use by the palace, so at one point around 50 people were listening intently to the music, also from the shade of the pine trees. 

Once again an extra during the interval was provided by the Beginners’ Band, and for some it was their first concert. London Metropolitan Brass has an excellent record of teaching people of all ages who are new to their instrument or returning after a long break, and the Grove concerts give them an opportunity to experience playing in front of an audience.

Back for another year. The weather looked very dodgy just before the start with rain spotting, but as soon as the music started the rain stopped and eventually the sun came out. Swingbusters entertained us with great tunes including My Baby just cares for me, Black Coffee, Night Owl, and Java Jive. 

The last time LMB performed in the Grove, it was the Women’s Band marking International Women’s Day in March and the temperature was 2 °C. When the Senior Band played on 25th June it was 31 °C! Understandably the band set up in the shade of the pines. The audience, also in the shade, enjoyed stirring marches such as ‘Barnard Castle’, gentle melodies such as ‘Cavatina’ and the old favourite ‘Baggy Trousers’. An extra during the interval was a short performance by the Beginners’ Band, comprising people of all ages new to their instrument or returning after a long break. 

More pictures from the day here.

As part of their aim of celebrating women in brass banding during this anniversary year, the band decided to commission a new piece of music, An Exhilaration of Light by a contemporary music composer, Angela Slater and performed in the park to great acclaim. An extract of the musical performance. 

More pictures from the performance here.

We were lucky to have another new group in The Grove..... Rick Hayter (right of photo) sang with Denis (bass guitar) and Jake (on percussion).

Gentle mostly folk style music with songs about Muswell Hill and Richmond-upon-Thames amoung others. An idea of their music.

More pictures from the entertaining set here.

Great music and even audience participation for this very entertaining session of jazz under the trees in The Grove. A little extract of one of their songs.

Tony Engle on the saxophone and Steve Benaim on the guitar were highly engaging and we hope to welcome them back next year.

More pictures from the performance can be found here.

A welcome first visit from the Rob Thom Band to entertain us folk style music. Most the music was written members of the band, but there was a Simon and Garfunkel cover.

Major question posed by the band was "What should the band be called?". The members of the band are Jo Giggs, Tom Poslett and Rob Thom. Several ideas came from the audience who were mostly crowded into the smaller areas of shade close to the band. Email us and we will pass on any ideas. An extract from one of the band's songs "Miss Kitty".

Although The Grove was closed, we had the well received attendance of an ice cream van.

More pictures from the afternoon.

Music in the Grove: 10th and 17th July. In the hot, dry weather the bands chose to set up in the shade of the pine trees. On 10th July the London Metropolitan Brass (LMB) played an entertaining selection, sometimes lyrical, sometimes lively. (pictured) In the interval the LMB Beginners Band, comprising graduates of the LMB Learners course and players returning to instruments set aside years ago, gave an impressive performance of popular numbers. On 17th July there was a polished performance from the Palace Band, a wind band that rehearses in Cufos. To the casual onlooker, the audience seemed sparse, until one spotted all the listeners in the shade of the surrounding trees. 

First the Senior Band (pictured left) and then the Community Band were blessed with sunny days. The fresh breezes required the copious use of clothes pegs to keep music sheets on music stands but the players were undeterred.

As always, the sound of the brass band attracted many passers-by to stretch out on the grass and let the rich sounds of traditional brass band numbers and film music wash over them.

A few more pictures of the Senior Band.

This popular local band entertained us again in The Grove on a blisteringly hot day in June. Great to have them back.

 click for a video extract of their performance..

More about the Barnet Band here.

Flutes and clarinets wafted gentle music to the listeners providing an idyllic atmosphere for our second concert of the year.

The Palace Band treated us to a mixture of songs including many favourites like "I do like to be beside the seaside, I do like to be beside the sea"... ...although the sea did keep a respectful distance.

The performance was well received by the Park Users enjoying the Summer Sunshine.

More pictures from the Day 

We were treated to a great concert by Muswell Hill Brass on the first Sunday in August, 2014. 

The weather was kind to us as well and lots of people took the opportunity to spread out over the grass. There was even a guest conductor for one tune. We hope that you have enjoyed this chance to hear several local bands in Alexandra Park over the Summer.....

Some more pictures here

A welcome return for Fortismere Community Brass with their new name. Again a delightful performance from these talented musicians.

A good crowd and some excellent weather (a change from their last appearance!)

Lots of great rousing music to entertain the onlookers.

Some more pictures here.