Moseley Village Band Early History
The Band was set up in 2005 following an initiative by the Cuckoo's Nest Dance Band who ran a workshop at the Moseley Festival in July 2005. People were interested in joining a band playing English village music, Awards for All (AfA) provided funding for an 18-month project, and a successful start was made under bandleader Ingrid Gould.
The band's first outing was playing for Moseley Morris as part of the Moseley Festival in July 06 - here's Susan McClure 's painting, based on a photo from this event. The second was at All Saints Craft Fayre, Kings Heath, in November 06.
The project also featured 3 full-day workshops with Chris Wood, Tim Hill and Dave Townsend.
In June 07 the band made a major contribution to a "Music by Candlelight" concert in St Mary's Church as part of the Moseley Festival. Photos were difficult because of the light, but the band can just be seen at the front of a large audience, lit by the setting sun and rows of candles. The choirmaster thought it was about 150 years since a Village Band had played in the church!
In July 07 the band launched the All Saints Church Fete in Kings Heath, where the sky miraculously cleared after days of rain. Later that year they played at the All Saints Craft Fayre in November and made a return visit to St Mary's in December.
Thanks to a second AfA-funded project there were further music workshops in 2008, led by Tim Laycock and Brian McNeill.
This second project culminated in the Big Dance, a mass Morris dance at Moseley Festival in July 2008, when Moseley Morris, Black Adder Morris and Queensbridge School students danced en masse on the forecourt of the former Ford dealership, corner of Wake Green Road and Oxford Road, with music by Moseley Village Band, who then presented a music concert in St Mary's Church.
These early Moseley Village Band projects were organised by the Traditional Arts Team with support from Awards for All.