
Friary Hits Top Twenty
It’s official: Friary Brass Band is now in the top twenty bands worldwide. Following the results of Brass in Concert, Friary has risen six places in the World Rankings to 19 th . This is the first time the Band has reached the top twenty in its 38 year history. Ignoring higher ranked bands from Norway, Switzerland, Belgium and France, Friary rises to 12th in the UK and 9th in England. Band Chairman Nigel Stevens was delighted: ‘It’s not that many years ago that one of our obj


Christmas Cheer at the Hogs Back Brewery
Friary has held many carolling sessions at the Hogs Back Brewery over the years, but last Sunday afternoon saw the first full Christmas concert at this convivial venue. Popular Christmas music was interspersed with carols, and, no doubt fortified by the excellent fare on offer, the audience was in fine voice. Lauren Straker’s haunting flugel solo of Away in a Manger touched plenty of hearts, and the finale of Jingle Bells had everyone clapping and well and truly in the Christ