Saltaire Bandstand 2007, week-by-week report
Written by Eddie Lawler

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WEEK ONE: Hulafrau on 27 May 2007

"Saltaire Bandstand" got off to a very un-summery start on Sunday 27th May, very cold and slightly damp weather greeted Hulafrau, the electro-pop trio from Leeds with their wry songs about Carpets, Vauxhall Vivas etc.  The colourful gazebo, purchased with a grant from Shipley's Community Chest, immediately paid off, providing the band's equipment with a dry patch from which to perform.   Most of the audience of a couple of dozen sat under a nearby tree.  All greeted the performance with enthusiasm and kept themselves warm with hot drinks from the Half-Moon Café.  

June sees the jazz quintet Cool Connexion (Sunday 3rd) , the Halifax Chamber Choir (10th) the Aire Valley Singers (17 th) and a double bill of the Fairburn Singers followed by the Bonsai Kittens (24th), all commencing in Roberts Park at 2.30pm and all free.

WEEK TWO: 3rd June 2007 - The Cool Connexion

"Saltaire Bandstand 2007" is underway and has completed two of its series of fifteen Sunday afternoon summer concerts.

What a contrast. The first event on 27th May with eceltro-pop from Leeds band "Hulafrau" played in drizzle to a few enthusiastic "promenaders" and to the cheers of the remaining small group huddled under a tree close to Sir Titus' statue. The second event on 3rd June in warm and humid conditions (good for Half-Moon Café business), saw 60 or more people of all ages, many picknicking or just lolling on the grass making the park look like a park, as the jazz quartet "The Cool Connexion" (also from Leeds) played for the best part of two hours.

The next event on 10th June is billed as Halifax Chamber Choir. The Choir have had to cancel at this very late stage, so up steps local jazz-guitar expert, the stylish Darren Dutson-Bromley, and he will take the stage in their place. The Half-Moon Steering Group which organises the concerts, is very grateful to Darren for such a quick response, and wishes him sunny weather. (but he can play inside the Cafe if the weather refuses to co-operate). It is also hoped that any followers of choral music who turn up will be pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed. They will in any case find their kind of music in abundance on the following Sunday 17 th June, when the performers are the top-notch local choir, the Aire Valley Singers.

Eddie Lawler

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