The Two Rivers Swing Band's December concert was a big success, but due to Covid concerns have postponed its Dance planned for the Winter Garden in Ilkley on Saturday 8 January.
Les Goldman the Two Rivers Chair said “We were really looking forward to starting off the New Year with one of our popular Dances. But increasing Covid numbers, worries about the new Omicron variant and the possibility of new restrictions again after Christmas made going ahead too risky both for dancers and band members. We will set a new date later in the year once things have calmed down. We’re sorry if people are disappointed but hope everyone will understand”
If you have already bought a ticket, please contact the Band on ask2rivers@icloud.com to arrange a refund.
On a more positive note, the Two Rivers Concert Band Concert at All Saints Church, Ilkley on December 11 was a big success. There was an excellent turnout and the charity collection after the concert raised more than £200 for Médecins Sans Frontières. The Band have made a short film of concert highlights, which can be see on their website tworiversbands.org.uk
They will be distributing the film to local Care Homes and Nursing Homes so that residents who are unable to attend live music events can watch it.
Also small groups of Band members have been out and about playing carols in the town. They have raised over £500 for Bradford Central Foodbank in the process. And yesterday a group visited the Foodbank and played to entertain staff and service users.
They also took part in the Ilkley Care Home Carols Serenade for Make Music Winter on 21st December. Along with Ilkley Choral Society and Cantores Olicanae they visited seven local Nursing Homes and accommodation facilities for older people to play and sing carols and Christmas songs for residents. There was plenty of audience participation and enthusiastic singing along.
Julie Lawler, Activities Organiser at Troutbeck Nursing Home said “Thank you for organising the concert <…> it was a huge success. We all loved it, it really feels like Christmas with real music.”