Group Drums Up Support With Live TV Performance

By Ian Dunstan, Evening Mail, 18/09/2010

A Dalton drumming band performed to millions of people – live on TV.

BEAT GOES ON: Performers from Lottery-funded drumming group, Boom Dang, based in Dalton, appeared on BBC One at this year’s National Lottery Awards, the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects

National Lottery-funded Boom Dang soaked up their moment in the limelight when they performed at the National Lottery Awards, live on BBC 1.

The eight-piece outfit were part of a special extravaganza performance from Lottery-funded groups.

John Barrowman hosted the star-studded event earlier this month.
And Therese Johnston, musical director for Boom Dang, was full of praise for the Any Dream Will Do presenter.

On the build up to the performance she said: “It was nerve-wracking. We were prepped for the whole day, doing camera rehearsals in the morning then hours of costume, hair and make-up work.

“We had John Barrowman at our side of the stage and he was a lovely personality to have behind the scenes to keep everyone’s confidence up.

“There were moments where everyone drifted off into their own worlds, really concentrating on the performance, and there were others where we all shared a bit of a nervous laugh.

“When the music came on and we got our call we were just really focused on getting the timing right, counting the bars, helping each other.

“You know you’ve got about 30 seconds to shine so there was a psychological edge that brought the adrenaline on and helps you get through it. It was a real team effort.”

The band, made up of drummers from Dalton and Barrow, then got to mingle with the celebrities at an after show party.

Therese said: “When you come off stage you kind of think, was it? And you just want to do it over and over.

“The only time I started thinking about it was when we arrived back in Dalton and a few days later I was able to really absorb what we had done, because you get so caught up in the moment.”

The band are now looking at possibly collaborating to make music with some of the other National Lottery funded groups they met in London.