In October 2007 both the Senior Band and Brass Roots were lucky enough to be invited to play in Greece…

Chris Griffin, our Solo Trombone, is a regular holiday maker to the island and in particular, the village of Lindos.  This trip for the Bands came about during a discussion with friends there.  The question was, “Would you like a Brass Band from Scotland to visit and play in the village?” The resounding answer was yes!  And thus the seeds of this venture, believed to be the first visit of a Brass Band from Scotland to the island, were planted in this discussion.



The idyllic town of Lindos

On Saturday 13th October a party of around seventy players, partners, friends and families, travelled by bus, car, van and train to Newcastle Airport for the flight to Rhodes, arriving in the “wee small hours” of Sunday 14th.  We were met by Katerina, our contact at Lindos Council, who was responsible for most of the arrangements for the trip.  The group was split between three sets of holiday apartments, Lindos  Gardens, Lindos Horizon and Lindos View, and we were all happy to fall straight into bed after our late arrival.

Our first playing date was on Monday 15th in the village square in Lindos.  We performed a selection of light music and marches.  During this short concert a presentation was made to the mayor.  Following this the band marched through the small streets and alley ways to the strains of “Death or Glory” to Yanni's Bar where a welcoming reception was held for the Band.





The Band’s first Greek warm up and Concert

On Tuesday an excursion to the Island of Symi was arranged.  Other members of the group travelled to Rhodes Town on the local bus.  These bus trips were very interesting as the route was never exactly the same twice!
 
Following our discussions with Lindos Council a concert was arranged for the Wednesday evening in Rhodes Old Town.  Two coaches and a transit van were arranged to transport everyone and the instruments to Rhodes Town for the evening performance.




Rhodes Old Town
Hippocrates Square—First Concert Anticipation—Playing in the cool of the evening

After setting up in Hippocrates Square in the centre of the Old  Town, we started our concert in daylight.  Within a quarter of an hour it was getting too dark to see the music and we were on the point of taking a break when eventually the street lights were turned on.

At the end of the first half we broke for an interval of around an hour to enable the Band party to have something to eat and also allow the diners in the surrounding restaurants a period of quiet to enjoy their meals and reflect on our playing before our next set.





Taking light refreshments before the second set of the evening

Brass Roots started the second half of the concert with a short performance of popular pieces:





Brass Roots performing their set in the concert

Finally Brass Roots passed back to the Senior Band for the remainder of the evening.  It was an enjoyable evening for all involved - not least the many spectators in the restaurants around the square, as well as those passing through the square and attracted by the music.





The Senior Band finishing off the evening with that rarest of teats—a Solo Bass

A trip to Faliraki Water Park was the order of the day on Thursday and this was especially enjoyed by Brass Roots members and their families.  In the evening, as a thank you to the staff at Lindos View for all their assistance, a short informal concert of light music was given by the Senior Band and Brass Roots.





Saying “thank you” to the Lindos View Hotel with an informal concert

This was then followed by a meal for the full party in the restaurant.  The evening was rounded off by “some” of the Band showing their singing prowess [or lack of it!] at the karaoke in the Lindos View gardens.



Playing brass instruments is not our only talent!

Our final concert of the trip was given in the “New Amphitheatre” in Lindos on the evening of Friday 19th.  A full performance along the lines of the concert in Rhodes Town was given,  It was attended by the mayor and a large audience in a wonderful setting,  with a back drop of the floodlit Lindos Acropolis.



The final evening’s performance in the wonderful setting of Lindos’ New Amphitheatre

Saturday was a day spent by the Bands and party doing final shopping, sightseeing and getting ready for the journey home.





Seeing more of the sights…..

Many enjoyed the Rugby World Cup Final which was on TV in the apartments and bars in Lindos before the coach journey to the airport very early on Sunday morning.  The weather had unfortunately taken a turn for the worse by this time.  High winds and rain made for a very interesting take-off from Rhodes Airport!



Lindos at its best—no wonder Chris spends every holiday here!

This was a very enjoyable week, and as the first overseas trip made by the Band, various thank yous require to be made.  These go firstly to our hosts in Greece, especially Katerina for all her hard work.  Mark Bell, our stand in musical director, was a great addition to the Band, and was accompanied by Cheryl providing support on flugel.  Chris Griffin started the ball rolling and made the trip possible.  Finally, to all Band Members and their families and friends for providing moral support on tour.