Matt’s coming back to town with RAF jazz band
A MILITARY musician formerly from Ashbourne who has played in front of Queen Elizabeth II, alongside Sir Tom Jones and even performed in Washington DC, says a forthcoming concert in Ashbourne is set to join his list of top career moments.
Sergeant Matt Walker, the leader of the Royal Air Force Squadronaires, is returning to his home turf to play at a charity concert with the UK’S premier military jazz ensemble at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, on Saturday, October 15.
Matt, who plays drums in the world-famous band, says he has already visited the Green Road school to check out the facilities ahead of the concert.
He said: “I went to QEGS to look at the venue and was delighted with the acoustics there and the enthusiasm of the staff hosting us.
“I’m really looking forward to leading the UK’S premier military big band for this visit to Derbyshire.
“It’s a part of the country we’ve never been to as a band before.”
The concert will support The Link Project at Ashbourne Methodist Church and Matt’s father, Tony Walker CBE, Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire, has been a leading light in getting the project off the ground.
Proceeds from the concert will be shared between
Ashbourne Methodist Church and the town’s Royal British Legion branch.
The Squadronaires concert starts at 7.30pm and the evening will see the band, with guest vocal trio The Honeybirds, pay tribute to the great Big Bands and singers of the 1940s and 1950s.
Tickets, priced at £25, are available at www.ticketebo.co. uk/squads or by calling 07530 318092.