BLAST FURNESS IN STOCKPORT

Blast Furness, Ulverston's community street band, which has been motoring for over 12 years, had fun at yet another Dicken's Market. This one in Stockport yesterday. Three surprises: 

1. An old drunk was so impressed with our playing he insisted we collect money and threw his hat into our circle to receive the loot. Eventually three cold hours late we found him to return the hat. By then he was sober and shivering (and bald). As we were being paid a fee we gave the extra cash to charity.

2. Playing loudly under a railway arch we suddenly to discovered that a packed together gang of 50 urchins in grey smocks and hats (average age 10) had crept up behind us with fabulous disco dancing to our tunes. Three of them, we named  the Stockport Stompers, stayed with us all afternoon.

3. Finally, at the end of the afternoon, as we were playing "The Saints Go Marching In." the leader of a Salvation Army Band joined in, on cornet, Swopping his uniform hat for Sues' red top hat, laced with long feathers, we all played together in an unforgettable and  joyous moment. 

All unpredictable. And you could never invent it. Which is one reason why we do it, I guess.