07/03/2025
Looking forward to making our debut performance at the Spring Concert on Saturday 22nd March in Rathfriland Young Farmers Hall, Rathfriland, hosted by Grallagh Flute Band.
We are looking forward to sharing the stage with a number of top bands and artists from across Northern Ireland such as Dunloy Accordion Band, Pride Of Ballinran and Kenny Qua!
Contact the Grallagh Flute Band page for ticket enquiries.
🪈🎵 Rathfriland Concert Band 🎵🪈
Next up we have Rathfriland Concert Band who we are delighted to say will be making their debut public performance at our Spring Concert in Rathfriland Young Farmers Hall on Saturday 22nd March.
Most concert flute bands play a wide range of flutes from piccolo to contrabass, that vary significantly in size and playing range. This range allows these bands to play a vast range of music including marches, hymns, selections from film or musicals, traditional music or classical pieces.
The first flute bands in Ireland would almost certainly have started as melody bands, and the move towards playing parts probably came from the Army bands. The instrumentation would have been restricted in the early days to piccolo, Bb flutes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd parts, an F flutes an Eb flutes and Bb Bass flutes, similar to the current set up of Grallagh Flute Band.
The change to silver flutes in flute banding started in 1965 with the Motherwell Flute Band when they shocked the Belfast audience in the Ulster Hall by appearing with a full set of silver flutes, and not only that, the real shock came when they were declared winners (one of only three times the Flute Band Championship left these shores - the first went to the Welsh outfit Llwynypia & District Flute Band in the 1930s and the third, in 1997, also went to Scotland to Carluke Primrose Orchestral Flutes). Nowadays, all Championship, Grade 2 and Grade 3 bands play silver flutes.
There is signifcant cost in establishing a concert flute band and this venture has only been made possible through the acquisition of a full set of second hand flutes in 2024 from Articlave Flute Band, bass flutes from Hunter Moore Memorial Flute Band and the donation of concert and alto flutes from Orangefield Flute Band. Thanks go to them all for allowing the opportunity for the first band of this type to be established in the Rathfriland area.
On the night you can expect to hear rousing marches, traditional pieces as well as number of popular hymns. The band currently meet monthly on a Wednesday night at 8pm in Rathfriland in what is a relaxed atmosphere and are open to new members regardless of ability. You would be guaranteed good craic, music an excellent array of traybakes and cup of tea following practice should you come along. The membership comprises players from all walks of life, male and female, and ages range from 8 to 84. The members are from many towns in the local area, such as Rathfriland, Katesbridge, Banbridge, Loughbrickland, Ballynahinch and Kilkeel, etc., and Grallagh’s own Will Trimble is the resident conductor.
A number of local flute bands are also represented in the group including Grallagh Flute Band, Pride Of Ballinran, Moneyslane Flute Band, Orangefield Flute Band, Cahard Flute Band and Hunter Moore Memorial Flute Band.
Come along on the 22nd March to hear the band's debut. If you are interested in having the band play at any events in the future, please reach out to them via their page.
We anticipate another sold out show this year. To purchase tickets, please don’t hesitate to contact Grallagh’s page, any band member, or Alexander Groves on 07849 164686.
Also, scroll down our page for your chance to enter our competition to win 2 free tickets to our Spring Concert!
See you all very soon for what will be a fantastic night and thanks for your continued support!
