Barneys Big Bash
The band that works musically for your community.

Barneys Big Bash

What a night this was! Barney's Big Band Bash was a roaring success and both for the charity and for everyone who came. It really was a spectacular evening and, although the final number are not yet in, it looks like the evening raised over £6000 for St Barnabas Hospice & the Chestnut Tree House appeals.

Auction Prizes included...

Sailing Trip
Balloon flight including Champagne
Day at Henley Royal regatta including food, drink and access to all enclosures
4 tickets for a box for the last game of the season for Southampton FC Food and drink included
Chelsea FC shirt signed by all 11 of the team
Chef to your house to cook a meal for 8 guests

The whole evening got underway with a champagne reception in the foyer of Worthing's Assembly Hall. The band's own quartet "Giocoso" performed to guests as they came in and the atmosphere from the start was brilliant.

Once everyone had made their way into the main hall, Ian Hart, compere for the evening, warmed up the crowd with a heads or tails game that was both entertaining and raised over £200 for the charities in about 5 minutes.

Giocoso Quartet Heads or Tails game Ian Hart compering the evening The final contestants in the Head or Tails game

Next it was time for the Littlehampton Concert Band to perform a light set of music to keep everyone entertained whilst they ate their excellent meal. The food was a 2 course buffet including meats, fish and salads, then some very tasty deserts.

The clarinets of the Littlehampton Concert Band The Littlehampton Concert Band performing at Barneys Big Band Bash Andy McQueen, John Howes and Jan de Landtsheer performing Bob Haselip making a speech to the audience at Barneys Big Band Bash

After the meal, it was time for the auction where a selection of great prizes were up for grabs to the highest bidders. Ian Noble did a grand job as auctioneer and all the auction prizes were donated by local businesses with the biggest success of the evening being the 'Chef for a day' prize, taking over £1,000 for the Charities.

The auctioneer selling the prizes at Barneys Big Band Bash Excellent 2 course buffet meal One of the auction prizes was a signed Chelsea football shirt

Phoenix Big Band were up next but started their set by playing Sing, Sing, Sing which got the Lindyhoppers dancing and demonstrating their skills. The dancers then got everyone else to have a go by getting people into a big circle and showing them the moves, one by one.

Professional Lindyhop Dancers The audience try a few lindyhop steps The Phoenix Big Band performing

Of course, whilst all this was going on, the tombola was running well, as was the roulette and black jack tables at which people were playing for the chance to win a huge plasma TV.

The blackjack table was popular all evening The roulette wheel The winner of the 42 Inch Plasma TV Dancing the night away

Phoenix then took it home with a great set of music which got everybody dancing until the end of the night. Overall, it was a great fun evening to be a part of and raised an excellent pot of money for the charities.

Thanks to everyone who was involved in this event and to Albion Images & the bands very own Nick Barnes for the photographs.

An evening of this size and complexity wouldn't be possible without the hard from from the following organisations and sponsors...

St Barnabas House logo Chestnut Tree House logo Lloyds TSB logo Phoenix Big Band logo Littlehampton Concert Band logo Bennett Griffin Solicitors logo Worthing Chamber of Commerce logo