THIS year the Christmas Concert of the Ilkley and North Bradford based Two Rivers Bands is going on line, with 12 pieces each representing one of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Members of Two Rivers Swing Band, Concert Band and small ensembles have been busy filming and recording both at socially distanced rehearsals (when permitted) and at home.

They are turning it all into a festive film to lift people’s spirits in the run up to Christmas.

Their virtual concert over the May Bank Holiday weekend raised an amazing £1,400 for the Alzheimer’s Society.

For Christmas they are raising money to support the vital work of Bradford Central Foodbank, the local charity that their members have voted to support.

You can donate to their appeal at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/TwoRiversBands1.

The Concert will premiere on YouTube at 4pm on December 21, 2020, which is also UK Make Music Day - Winter.

You will be able to watch it any time you choose after that from the comfort of your own sitting room while enjoying a nice warm drink and a mince pie!

You can find the Concert via the band’s website www.tworiversbands.org.uk

or via their Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/tworiversswingconcband

To whet your appetite, a Concert trailer is available to watch at https://youtu.be/f_id5ZbPTTE

Two Rivers Bands Chair, Les Goldman said:

“We’ve really tried our best to find safe ways keep music going during the pandemic. It does so much to help keep our spirits up. We owe a big thank you to Nell Bank Outdoor Centre and Fisical Sports Centre in Baildon for providing us with excellent well ventilated COVID secure rehearsal space in recent months.

“Our pipers have been piping, our drummers have been drumming and we’ve had great fun putting this “12 Days of Christmas” Concert together at breakneck speed. We hope everyone will enjoy it and give generously to our Foodbank appeal.”

Josie Barlow, Manager of Bradford Central Foodbank said: “Christmas is a time for giving and sharing so it’s great that The Two Rivers band are using their creativity and skill by producing a Christmas concert to help feed hungry families in Bradford over the winter and Christmas period. Bradford Central Foodbank is currently feeding over 1000 people a month, people who are struggling to feed their families and have nowhere else to turn. Why not support the band and give to families that really need it this Christmas.”