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World Music Contest & Summer Tour 2013 |
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On Friday 26th of July 2013 57 members of the Hertfordshire Showband met and travelled into Europe to take part in the World Music Contest. After meeting in Potters Bar on Friday morning the band travelled together to Douai, France for one final rehearsal before moving onwards to Liege, Belgium and to get some well earned rest on their first night before their big day on Saturday. After a long journey and a late arrival in Belgium on Friday, the band were awoken on Saturday morning to take the next steps of their journey, to move further into Europe and over the border into Germany. Here the final preperations were made before again boarding the coach to travel to Kerkrade, Holland for the long awaited performance of their show "Rock Classics" |
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After arriving at the Parkstad Limburg Stadium there was only time to get the instruments ready, get into uniform and line up at the gate ready for one last performance of "Rock Classics" for the huge World Music Contest crowd. When finally at four minutes past three on Saturday 27th of July the gates were opened and in front of a crowd of 20000 the Hertfordshire Showband from Potters Bar, England took their place on the turf in the Stadium before the command was given... "Please Start the Show!" And so... Over the next thirteen minutes they performed their show... Three years of rehearsals all came down to this... Six pieces of music, Four solos, One mexican wave, One crowd surfing baritone player, and 100% effort given by all involved! After the performance, and with moral at and all time high, the band now had a nervous few hours wait before the muster and the all important results so the order of the day was a few refreshments, to relax and to view the competition from the stands. Then came the final order of the day, the muster, the results of their first competition. So the Hertfordshire Showband once again took to the field, however this time the band was accompanied by the other 17 competitors for the day and the judges revealed the scores... One by one the results were given and finally their name was announced... The Hertfordshire Showband from Potters Bar, England, a score of... 78.29!... Bronze Medal! A simple amazing result! |
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After some celebrations on Saturday evening and another early start on Sunday the band travelled back to the Parkstad Limburg Stadium for their next competition, the parade contest was next on their busy agenda. So, once at the stadium and after a thorough warm up, the band once again dressed in their signature white and black uniforms headed to the gate and waited again for the judges command... "Please Start the Show!" |
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This time they had to follow a set route that mimiced a road parade performing turns and counter-marches with pin point accuracy all while staying within the boundaries of the parade route. This performance only lasted for eight minutes with four songs performed and, with the capacity crowd cheering them on, they glided round the course, performing all of the necessary turns and manouveres with skill and precision before they completed the course and, with a sigh of relief, exited the stadium only for another agonising wait for the evening muster. Later that day the band once again attended the daily muster for the all important results and so, accompanied by the 19 other bands, joined the field for the final time. Slowly but surely the results were awarded and the band, eager to hear what today's efforts would bring, were waiting for those important words... The Hertfordshire Showband from Potters Bar, England, a score of... 79.91!... Another fantastic result! So that was it... After Two competitions, Two amazing performances, and Two brilliant results, 57 tired and weiry members of the Hertfordshire Showband packed the uniforms and instuments away for the final time at the World Music Contest and headed towards Kerkrade town center for some well earned refreshments and, accompained by some of their supporters, gathered in Guiseppe's Restaurant. Once all were settled it only felt right that the previous two days of performing were ended with some words of wisdom from the band management and to no only bring a close to this era but to lay the foundations for the next era that this marching band from Potters Bar, England were about to step into. So, with congratulations all round, and with fond memories of the previous few days the band explored Kerkrade town center, absorbing the WMC festival atmosphere and celebrated their achievements. And now, after 3 years of hard work, it became the time to relax, and where better to unwind but Disneyland Paris! So the band departed and said farewell to Aachen, Germany and, taking their fond memories of WMC with them, headed for to Paris, France. |
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But it wasnt all to be fun and games... After a day to relax in the parks at Disneyland Paris the band gathered once again to prepare for another of their signature performances. After a morning breifing with the Disneyland Staff and with entertainment the aim of the day the band formed backstage and, with another amazing introduction, the Hertfordshire Showband from Potters Bar, England, were released from the backstage area to entertain the masses on the Disneyland parade route. After navigating the twists and turns of the park the band were directed past the famous Disney castle and down the equally iconic "Main Street Disney" where, flanked by the huge Disneyland crowds on both sides, were cheered on as they progressed through the park accompanied by the worldwide anthems that the band so elegantly performed. Finally with the cheers of the crowd still audible over the classic sounds of this Marching Band from Potters Bar, England, they were directed back through to the backstage area and another performance was greatfully recognised by another worldwide audience. |
"A great time was had by all at Disney including the band taking over the Kareoke night in Disney village,and the younger boys who decided it was much more fun to try to get the bandmaster and the Band Director soaked on the paddle-o lake!" Terry Barnes, Bandmaster |
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And so that was it, After Six days, Four Countries, Three performances, and several long journeys together the only task left was to once again start one final journey home from Paris, France to their hometown of Potters Bar, England. Eventually, at the end of their 2013 Summmer Tour, this marching band, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England, arrived home on Thursday 1st August, after over 1100 miles on the road together, and had completed their task for this era and set up the basis for a new and exciting future ahead of them... |
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