ALTHOUGH it has now unfortunately come to an end, a group made up of north Northumberland youngsters has released an album 'Up The Berwick Road' to go out in style.
BorderBox came about in 2000 when the arts organisation, Folkworks, began to assemble instruments, teachers and funding for projects to promote the teaching of traditional music in the north of England.
The eventual outcome was a band for young mus
icians throughout Northumberland who came together twice a year to rehearse and perform. In 2004, the band increased its activities with a move to monthly rehearsals, external funding, a parents' committee and a formal consultation and in recent years the group has won all the band competitions in the local traditional music festivals at Alnwick, Morpeth and Rothbury.
Among those involved in the recording of 'Up The Berwick Road' were Fiona Mitchell, from Tweedmouth, Mag and Alice Burn, from Beal and William Brown, from Warenford.
The BorderBox sound is based on the classic traditional music combination of fiddle and accordion, together with the standard country dance band rhythm section of second accordion, piano, bass and drums.
The Berwick connection continues with the names of some of the songs on the CD which include The Spittal March, Glendale and Belford Lightning.
A performance at the Alnwick Music Festival marked the end of BorderBox. With more and more of the older members leaving for college or school elsewhere, it was felt that it was the right time to close down the band and to look back with satisfaction on seven great years of learning, of playing and of fun.
Members hope that people enjoy the music on Up The Berwick Road and that it might help to encourage other youngsters to take up traditional music .
The album will be on sale in the Music Shop, Bridge Street, Berwick, and from the Chantry Museum, in Bridge Street, Morpeth.
The full article contains 319 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
