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

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• WEEK EIGHT: July 15th - Hot Aire (The COOLEST band around!)

Hot Aire at the Half Moon Cafe Photos kindly provided by Sharon Ashton

Eddie Lawler writes: The Mela might get washed out, but not Saltaire Bandstand.  Everyone knew it would be a Sunday afternoon of heavy rain, there would be no outdoor performance, so the Half-Moon Café staff shifted all tables out, invited the 20-odd strong band of local talent called "Hot Aire" to play indoors and standing up (unless like their star drummer, you had to sit down), and packed the 40 listeners into the seating area.

"GREAT fun!" was the comment of one member of the audience at the end of a near two-hour performance of wondrous noise, the band  performing arrangements of well-known songs and films. The music from the "Titanic" kept the gig afloat.  "Hot Aire" blew with a vengeance and defied the weather, conducted with great enthusiasm and humour by Stephen Bradnum.

They will be back next year and we hope they get what they deserve in terms of sunny weather and smiling park audience.

Hot Aire

Hot Aire is a symphonic concert band based in Bingley, West Yorkshire and is lead and encouraged by the published composer and conductor, Stephen Bradnum. The band's roots go back as far as 1956 and it has developed into an extended concert band combining woodwind, brass and percussion with keyboards and electric guitars.

The band, which performs pop and show music, attracts musicians from across the Bradford Metropolitan area and beyond, and welcomes new musicians of a reasonable standard. There's no age limit, no audition and if you can read music - they love you!

For more information on how to contact Hot Aire - visit their website.

• WEEK NINE: July 22nd Achord/VoiceMale (close harmony in an open world)

The Sunday concert with Achord, Amaranth and Voicemale. An excellent outdoor concert which we managed to sandwich in between the morning showers and the late afternoon rain. A crown of around 50 peope came down to watch and enjoy the original unaccompanied music, featuring a range of traditional English, European and even African pieces.

• WEEK TEN: July 29th Nigel Gotteri, Organ Recital

Nigel Gotteri - Organ Recital Photos kindly provided by Eddie Lawler

The sun shone on Nigel Gotteri as he played one of Phil Fluke's reed organ collection - and the wind blew too, so Phil had to hold the music down!