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Newsletter March 2005

Dear Blowout Saxophonists,

First things: according to Guinness we are still the WORLD RECORD HOLDERS for our amazing effort of The Big Blowout on May 21st 2004. We believe the Canadian's attempt was, for some reason, not within the specified rules. So a big Hurrah!

This year we have organised some excellent events.

The first date for your diary is FRIDAY JUNE 17TH at KINGSWOOD THEATRE, Landsdown for The Blowout Summer Concert.

The last Blowout Gig in November at Inventions Arts was totally amazing, with stunning performances from all the players. We felt it was time to move on and improve the event. We will now have a capacity of 350 so there will be room for a larger audience. Plus, we promise a fast and efficient bar!

There will be two sets. The first set will display beautiful, melodic, moody and soulful saxophone tunes while the second set will feature the usual Blowout Sax gig with the full-on honking, screaming riot! We shall try to get as many of you up there as possible and it will be quite the occasion. Please tell your friends as soon as possible and let's have another special musical evening.

But that’s not all!

We are going to have the first Blowout Sunday WORKSHOP at The NEW ORIEL HALL, LARKHALL on MAY 22ND. The aim of this is to get students of all abilities to work together to produce a piece of music which will be featured in the Summer Concert on June 17th. The emphasis will be on having a good time, while improving your saxophone skills and meeting some fantastic folk that populate our wonderful school. The price will be the cost of a session and it will run 10.30 to 5 pm.

The second Blowout gig will take place in November as usual and we are currently trying to organize a Christmas performance as well.
So we hope that will keep you motivated to keep on blowing ‘the dream machine.’

Concerts to see.
The Cheltenham festival www.cheltenhamfestivals.org.uk seems to have all the big jazz hitters this year. Check out the world's greatest saxman on May 2nd Joshua Redman, and genius Herbie Hancock in the evening. If your tastes are more on the ‘free jazz’ side, then catch the leader Ornette Coleman there on May 1st.

Do check out the website www.blowoutsax.com. It is being revamped with live footage, galleries and clips from the last gig. The Big Blowout Band demo is online and do fill in the email address diary by the computer so we can send you updates.

We are so pleased you are a part of The Blowout Sax. Please pass on our name to anyone else who is interested in making beautiful music.

Keep grinning,
Mark, Cate, Craig, Stan, Berry, Chris and Rachel.