While seventeen of the countries top bands (plus one American) were having a celestial battle in Birmingham Symphony Hall for the British Open 2003 title, Grimethorpe Colliery Band with MD Garry Cutt were performing to a live audience of 40,000 people at the pre-show to "Proms in the Park" at London's Hyde Park. Having travelled down on Friday evening the band made a full weekend of it with many of the lads taking wives and girlfriends along.

There was a sound check early on the Saturday to make sure the band was balanced on the massive sound system. Then it was an hours wait until the gates opened and thousands ran in like rampaging Wilderbeast, leaving a massive plume of dust from the sun scorched ground.

Seeing the thousands on thousands descend towards the stage and spread out as far as the eye could see was a magical sight, and the excitement could be felt right through the band.

The pre-show started at 5:30 with the proceedings getting into party mood with "Soulfish" performing hits from the Atlantic soul and Motown days. Next up was a Jazz Combo headed by Jamie Cullum before Grimethorpe took the stage. Some of the members were worried about our more "classical" program and were wondering how it was to be received, especially after the previous two groups, but there was nothing to worry about as it turned out. Being the finale of the pre-show, the place was heaving now, with the audience buzzing and ready for anything. After the rapturous applause from the introduction of the band, they launched into their first piece, a new arrangement by the bands Musical Advisor, Elgar Howarth of Waltons Spitfire Prelude and Fugue. Then it was straight into Florentiner March, which needed no introduction to regular banders, there was no stopping for air before cracking on into the Berlioz Overture, Corsair.

There were a few minutes respite for the band as Garry Cutt was given a short interview by the compere for these short proceedings, BBC Radio's Ken Bruce. Garry was asked about the history of the band and the projects that had recently been completed, such as the Carnegie Hall performance and other tours.

Then it was into the final two pieces for the bands short concert. Firstly Sandy Smiths arrangement of the Freikugeln Polka, then for the finale, and something to leave the audience in no doubt what a brass band can do, Ray Farr's superb arrangement of Bach's Tocatta.

The audience were in raptures as the band finished and were left ready for the main evenings entertainment.

The sound from the speakers around the park was phenomenal with the bass reverberating through the ground with some even saying that the sound was bigger than the BBC Concert Orchestra in full flight. Also there were enormous screens either side of the stage showing close ups of the band performing which could be seen from a distance even out side Hyde Park.

Along with the performance at the Carnegie Hall earlier in the year this is a huge concert in Grimethorpe's calendar, and who knows maybe it may lead onto bigger things at the Proms in the future.

Photos Emma Scott. Written by Mark Arnold