International ‘Army’ band set to visit town

Drummer used to play in Moorlands

THE International Staff Band of the Salvation Army is to play in Leek.

The band , which has never been to Leek before, is made up of corps band members from all over the country.

One of the drummers, Chris House, used to be at Leek when his parents were officers in the town.

The event will take place at the Leek Salvation Army building in Salisbury Street on Saturday, April 23.

The International Staff Band participates in most of the UK’S major Salvation Army events and in recent years has shared the concert stage with bands such as Black Dyke Band, Cory Band, London Symphonic Brass and the Don Lusher Big Band.

On such occasions the band has been privileged to play in some of the countries finest concert venues including; The Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, The Sage (Gateshead), Birmingham Symphony Hall and The Barbican. Other notable venues have included Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.

In 2008 The Salvation Army signed a record contract with Universal Music, the world’s leading record company and musical home of Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Take That to raise additional funds for its social work in the UK. In November 2008 the ISB released its first CD entitled ‘Together’ under the UCJ music label.

In June 2011, the band celebrated its ‘120’ anniversary in London. In June of that year, seven other ‘staff’ bands from around the world joined the ISB in a musical spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall, the weekend concluding with a united march down the mall, and a presentation of a concert in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.

The International Staff Band, or ISB as it is now known still has around twenty percent of its members working for the Salvation Army, with the remaining members employed in a variety of occupations and professions. All are active members of their own particular local Salvation Army corps (Church), with membership spread as far afield as Leeds, Norwich, Bristol, London and many centres in between.

Limited tickets are now available for the Leek event for what is described as an amazing evening.

■ For tickets, priced at £7, telephone 01538 384211 or email: leek@salvationarmy.org.uk