Shipston High School musicians wow Shipston Proms

Shipston High Summer Concert

The first full week of the Shipston Proms 2016 program included many gems (The Soul Traders, Debbie Bond Band, The Klee Quartet, The Vale Musicians and Hot Club ’42 among others) but the Shipston High School Creative Arts Music Concert was an evening of excellent performances. The musicians, aged 11-16, tutored and guided by the very impressive Head of Music Mr David Hunt played a variety of musical styles.

Jazz Band

It started with the Brass Group (Sam Rawles (saxophone), Hector Banks (trombone), Abel Wilson (piano), Oscar Wilson (double bass), Luke Parker (electric guitar) and Jamie Pullen & Atom Gill (drums)) with Head of Music David Hunt joining them on trumpet. The group has been the core of a number of school spin-offs including the Jazz Band and most notably Battered Soul from 2012, who are still performing, now managed by parents/musicians.

Hector Banks on Trombone

Then on the main stage, expertly lit and audio managed by two year 10 students Steven Haynes & Charlie Thomas, came the Year 10 GCSE Music Group Sam Aubrey (guitar), Hector Banks (trombone), Chris Barker Harland (vocals/guitar), Emily Bagley, Jodi Bevan, Charlotte Harboard Rayner, Lauren Morris & Caitlyn Kennedy (vocals), Thomas Cawley (piano), James Godfrey, Scott Holland & Jordan Jelf (guitar) and Jamie Pullen (drums). The group had performers at the Shipston Wool Fair in May and again played several numbers to show their level of skills, including a walkabout from trombonist Hector Banks.

The other group on stage was the recently formed band Feedback (Thomas Cawley (piano), Jordan

Jelf (guitar), Jamie Pullen (drums) and Sam Aubrey & Shea Leahy (vocals and bass guitar), who had their debut at the 2016 Shipston Proms Fame Contest. They played some harder edged numbers including an Eminem rap song.

Chris Barker Harland

Then we had a range of soloists & duets on stage with a variety of styles from classical to soulful ballad from Molly Hurwood (vocals), Elicia Westmoreland (flute), Luke Parker (guitar) and Maddie Thomas (vocals), Harvey Williams (piano), Chris Barker Harland (piano), Olivia Godfrey (flute), Amber Hourigan & Freya Liddell (vocals), Isabel Scholes (vocals) & Bertie Wells (guitar), Abel Wilson (piano).

Then Savannah Eden, who had won the 2016 Shipston Fame Fame Contest (solo/duet category) came on stage to sung (to backing tracks) “Black to Black” and “Your Heart is as Black as Night”.

Head Mr Gavin Saunders

Then Head teacher Mr Gavin Saunders came up and stated “This was my first Music Summer Concert and I was very pleased with the very high standard of musicians from my pupils, and amazed due to their young ages. I would especially like to thank my Head of Music Mr David Hunt on the planning and guidance of this well choreographed event along with the Parents of Shipston High (PoSH) for decorating the hall into a night club atmosphere as well as providing the refreshments. Finally, I would like to thank Shipston Proms Chair Tim Porter and the rest of his committee for all their tireless work.”

To end this year’s Proms we still have Songs from the Shows (sponsored by Sheldon Bosley) on Friday 1^st July (Townsend Hall) and 3^rd Dimension at The George Inn Lower Brailes & First Folkin’ Friday at Cherington Arms also on Friday 1^st July. On Saturday 2^nd July we have Was Family and Friends entertaining an evening of light classical & film music at St. Peter’s church Whatcote.

Then to finish this year’s Shipston Proms on Saturday 2^nd July we have the Goin’ Local Street Party in the main square in Shipston-on-Stour with a free event featuring the Fame Contest category winners and headlining two local bands Kinky Farnham with their funk and soul led by Tom Threadgill and WIRED with their funky blues, soul & rock & roll.

The Goin’ Local Street Party has been kindly sponsored by our Platinum sponsor Translyft Lighting Technology, whose boss George Scholes had been seen playing, during the event , with his group 3^rd Dimension.

After the Shipston Proms committee take stock after another fabulous year planning will begin for the 2017 event.

DUKE launch the 2016 Shipston Proms and wow crowds

DUKE

Beatbox band DUKE launched the 2016 Shipston Proms with an exhilarating performance that got the crowds dancing, in the Townsend Hall in Shipston-on-Stour.

The band who play everything live, with no samples, demonstrated with Ed Travers (vocals & beatbox), Marko Pandazis (vocals & beatbox), and Flynn Stronach (vocals & guitar), how they create their amazing sounds.

Brixton Alley

The evening was started off with DJ Dirty Harry warming up the ever increasing crowd with his dance tunes, before 2015 Fame Contest band winners Brixton Alley took to the stage.

Crowds enjoying DUKE

Brixton Alley lined up with Jonny Magro (vocals & guitar) Ben Wells (vocals and bass guitar) and Alex Wells (drums) and gave us some of their ever expanding repertoire of their own songs, having improved a lot since they last performed on the main stage at the 2015 Last Night of the Proms.

Then DUKE played their amazing set with encores to an ever appreciative crowd.

The following day was the Fame Contest with two categories – Solo/Duet and Bands.

Savannah

In the Solo/Duet we had grunge band The Pettibones with Ben Bryan (vocals & guitar) & Grace Spalding (drums), soulful ballads from singer Savannah Eden and a violin duet from Hannahflail (Hannah Porter & visiting American Abigail Hobart).

In the bands section we had Feedback with Sam Albury (vocals/bass), Shane Leahy (vocals/bass), Jamie Pullen (drums), Tom Cawley (rhythm guitar) from Shipston High School.

In competition with them was a more mature band Rock Roots Revival with Alex Lilley (electric drums), Rob Banfield (bass guitar), Andy Robinson (vocals & guitar) & Neil Pearson (guitar).

Rock Roots Revival

Rock Roots Revival were planning to play at last year’s Fame Contest but due to the ill health of their guitarist Mike Seddon (who sadly passed away later in 2015) they had to pull out.

After each act had performed two songs the judging panel of Chris Davies, Alan Thompson (Chair), Dan Packer, Laura Furnell & Richard & Louise Harvey then had to decide which point to give to each act.

Fame Contest Winners

After a short break the Shipston Proms chair Tim Porter announced that Savannah Eden had won the solo/duet category and Rock Roots Revival had won the bands section.

Proms chair Tim Porter thanked Charlie Thomas & Stephen Haynes for manning and setting up the sound and lights, along with thanks to James Thomas & Eleanor Stanley for loaning some of the sound equipment

With still two weeks of interesting acts playing at various locations in and around Shipston-on-Stour.

Events of note are the Ceilidh on Friday 24^th June at Shipston Primary School with music from 16 Strings Ceilidh Band, Saturday 25^th June with Jazz at the Feldon Valley Golf Club with music from Hot Club ’42 and 3^rd Dimension (with platinum sponsor Translyft’s Gorge Scholes on guitar) on Friday 1^st July at the George Inn in Lower Brailes.

Then we have the Goin’ Local Street Party in the main square in Shipston-on-Stour on Saturday 2^nd July with Fame Contest winners, Kinky Farnham and WIRED, which is put on as a Free event.

Shipston Mayor Thanks Proms Sponsors & Volunteers

Mayor Ronnie Murphy & Tim Porter

The 18^th Shipston Proms held its pre-event Proms Reception in Sheldon’s Wine Cellars in Shipston-on-Stour, with over 40 of the Shipston Proms sponsors in attendance, along with the Proms volunteers and committee members.

Hosts Sheldon's Wines of Shipston-on-Stour are an old and historic wine merchant with a long history dating back to 1842 with original and extensive cellars.

Shipston Bakery's Sharon & Karl Peacock

Music was provided by Lilly Shickle and Jonny Doran with a range of classic singer guitarist songs to entertain the audience.

Jonny Donny & Lilly Shickle

The great spread of food was provided by Sharon and Karl Peacock who are Gold Sponsors (and event sponsors) from Shipston Bakery.

The evening was formally opened by Shipston Proms Chair Tim Porter who thanked the Sponsors, without how the Proms couldn’t take place, along with the hard work of the committee.

Then he handed over to Shipston Town Council Mayor Councillor Ronnie Murphy who commented “Thanks to all the hard work of Proms Chair Tim Porter and his team on a marvelous event program. The Proms are a key event in the towns annual events that the Shipston Town Council supports, and we look forward to it continuing for many years to come”

DUKE

The Shipston Proms kick off with the Launch Evening featuring acclaimed Beatbox band DUKE, along with support from Brixton Alley and DJ Harry, on Friday 17^th June at Townsend Hall in Shipston. Tickets are available via the Shipston Proms website www.shipstonproms.org.