A band to suit your needs

There are two bands that form The Swinging Woodpeckers The Swinging Woodpeckers Big Band and the Woodpeckers Nonet.

We have a wide repertoire and a reputation for playing music that people like to listen to

History:

During the COVID lockdowns one group of people that really suffered because of the forced isolation were the Amateur musicians. No longer able to meet to rehearse and socialise some of them just put their instruments away and did other things. Some however were a little more enterprising and sought to use available technology to enable them to play together ‘virtually’. Experiments playing together using some software solutions were very disappointing due to the delay experienced. However, a free software solution was found that enabled these musicians to achieve their aim and different interesting groups began to ‘meet’ each week to make music together enjoying a good sound quality.

It soon became clear that Swing Band tunes and other well-known standards were the most successful. As soon as outdoor gathering (up to six) was permitted Gazebos and a Carport were utilised at Woodpecker Cottage so that people could play music together for ‘real’.

At one of these gatherings a Saxophone player was heard to remark that the odd mix of instruments was just what would occur if the Vicar of Dibley had asked her village for a Swing Band. The seed was sown!

As a result of this on 18th May 2021 the first ever rehearsal of the Swinging Woodpeckers took place in the Church Minshull Village Hall. The first piece we tried together was Moonlight Serenade, which to everyone’s delight sounded much like it should have done!

Weekly rehearsals and a variety of engagements have seen the Band develop a large and varied repertoire.