Ballykeel

Saturday 24th May 2008 saw the band make the long journey to Ballymena for Ballykeel’s annual band parade. The host band travel near and far throughout the season to gain support for their own night and were duely rewarded with near 60 bands, which was a great result for all their hard work and travelling every year.

Ballykeel come with their own unique style, something different from the other Blood and Thunder bands, entertaining, clean, jiggy and good tempo and an excellent drum corps.

This year the band have acquired a set of new uniforms, and for the 1st time tonight they had their new white trousers on show and looked smart and tidy coming in at the end.

Ballymena is well suited for flute bands, as the roads are good and long and in some parts narrow to build up a bit of kick back and echo. Weather was good and dry on the night, with good crowds around the route and no trouble in sight, so big well done to all those involved.

Our own band tonight played extremely well, yet again with so many young fluters and drummers on show (apart from Craig and Joel), it’s a great sign for the future especially with 4 senior drummers missing. Big well done must be said for the oldest looking 21 year old you will ever see, Kenny. Never put a foot wrong all night on his first parade with the band.

The band tonight consisted of 27 fluters, 7 drummers, 5 girls in the colour party, Duff and Cutter on the bass drum, Nigel on the cymbals and willy john making a rare but well welcomed appearance as Drum Major.

No prizes on the night as has been the case as past few years, and I think this is what makes this parade as good as it is, good and relaxed night for bands with the crowds enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, so A big well done to the boys from Ballykeel on another successful and enjoyable night parading the streets of Ballymena.