Surtaal Celebrates

“Surtaal Celebrates” is the exciting new musical fusion project by Grimethorpe Colliery Band, composer Liz Lane and RSVP Bhangra

The project, which is supported by the PRS For Music and which launched this August Bank Holiday weekend, celebrates the return of live music making, and combines that with the “virtual” style of music making which proved so popular with performers and audiences worldwide through lockdown

The launch video for the project, released this past weekend, features the world’s most famous colliery band, Grimethorpe, together with Surtaal co-writers RSVP Bhangra; soprano Belinda Evans; a vocal quartet of The Guards Chapel, London; the Carducci String Quartet; and Darius Battiwalla and the organ of Leeds Town Hall

This incredible ensemble however, is just the start! The ‘Surtaal Celebrates’ project is open to ALL music makers from across the U.K. – and wider! – to get involved in

A range of FREE resources, including sheet music, backing tracks and more, are now available online via the Grimethorpe Colliery Band website, for individuals and groups to download, perform, record and contribute to the project

Whatever your instrument or voice – from harps to handbells, bodhran to barbershop choir – we want YOU to join together with all the above performers, and contribute your own video to this global celebration of the return of live music

Videos are being collected over the coming weeks, via easyvirtualchoir.com, with a final massed showcase presentation then being released online, to coincide with the Diwali celebrations on Thursday November 4^th

Grimethorpe Colliery Band Musical Director David Thornton stated, “Surtaal Celebrates seeks to represent the delight which all music makers across the UK and wider feel being able to once again make music live together again, and also celebrates the new found global connectivity which online music-making has given us, and was such a lifeline to many throughout the lockdown period.

It’s been a pleasure for Grimethorpe to work on this project together with Liz, RSVP and all who contributed to the project launch video. We hope the project will inspire others to join us in celebrating this moment and to contribute their own videos to the project. We look forward to the final massed presentation in November and to returning to live making music across the UK and wider from this autumn”

Composer Liz Lane stated “I love new collaborations and ideas – it has been fantastic to work with Grimethorpe Colliery Band on this exciting and innovative project which combines so many musical forces live and remote, incorporating the vibrant music of my friends RSVP Bhangra. My thanks go out to all involved from far and wide – and I can’t wait to hear how additional musicians choose join in over the next few weeks (we already have harps, handbells and a Spanish barbershop choir!)

Speaking on behalf of RSVP Bhangra, Dildar Singh said “We have come together to synergise creative innovations. These spirits in this current time of change, bring together a variety of live music environments. In addition, the project utilises technology to communicate and share with musicians across the world. These musicians share music and a message to the world, we are one world, so let’s share love peace and respect love for everyone. Let’s make this world a better place and celebrate with music song and dance, so play along and let’s innovate – this is a message to all our existing and potential partners and future audiences – play along and let’s innovate”

The project launch video is now available to view on all Grimethorpe Colliery Band social media channels. For full project information and resources, visit www.grimethorpeband.co.uk