Vagabonding May 2011 (inside St Mary’s Church, Dalton)
Bands: Boom Dang, Ting Tang & Ting Tang 2
Performers:
Boom Dang: James de Wolf, Jake Newton, Joe Nicholson, Dan Nich, Genny Lewis, Kim Tweddell, Rachael Askew, Darren Head.
Ting Tang: Sam Baldwin, Max Hubbard, Kieron Head, Erin Tubman, Aaron Cottis, Matt Tucker, Aaron Andrews, Will Hird, Rowan Lavender
Ting Tang 2: Johnny Crabbe, Cole Spencer, Shannon Abernethy, Caitlyn MacLean, Robin Lawn-Tee, Deri Ford, Joe Gawne
Led by: Dan Nicholson
Apprentices: Rachael Askew, Genny Lewis & Jake Newton.
Our good friends Phill Gregg and Gary Bridgens were performing in our hometown and Boom Dang, Ting Tang and Ting Tang 2 were invited to perform as the warm act!
Phill Gregg and Gary run an organisation called Headzup, who were commissioned by Lakes Alive, to write and perform a puppet show that they toured around parts of the Lakes. We were very fortunate to perform as support act.
An event that was scheduled to be outside was quickly rescheduled to be inside when the rain just wouldn’t stop – and what a great venue we were given. Not the church hall, but the inside of the historic church.
“St Mary's Church, built between 1883-1885 on a site where it is believed there have been churches since the eighth century. It was designed by Paley and Austin, and is one of their most spectacular buildings. It is built of red sandstone in a 14th Century Gothic style. The red and white chequered stonework on the square tower and the upper walls is distinctive.
The decision to rebuild the Church was taken with the promise of financial help from James Ramsden, Henry Schneider and others of wealth in the area who felt that Dalton as the leading church in the area, should not be less imposing than ones recently built in the new borough of Barrow-in-Furness.
There is a 14th Century font, much weathered, and bearing the shields of Furness Abbey. There is a peal of six bells in the large tower. The ancient glass in the North porch is of figures of saints, and is believed to be from the ancient Church 1320-1360. All the rest of the stained glass is Victorian, in the chapel by John Hardman, and elsewhere by Burlison & Grylls, Shrigley & Hunt and Heaton Butler & Bayne.
In the churchyard can be found the grave of George Romney, the famous portrait painter, who was born in Dalton in 1734. Also in the churchyard is a plaque which outlines the devastating effects of Bubonic Plague which hit the town in 1631.“
Ting Tang 2 got the evening off to a great start in their performance, which welcomed the audience on arrival. Inside the majestic church, as the audience were seated, Boom Dang paraded down the great aisle, usually reserved for brides, and performed in the pulpit. At the end of the Vagabonding show, Ting Tang was the headlining act and closed the night.
Acoustically, St Mary’s Church has some of the best acoustics ever experienced by the bands. Thank you Phill and Gary for having us as your guests!
