My next contest with Backworth on Saturday will be the Easingwold Contest, and the itinery makes you wonder why us Brass Band types do it.

Lisa and I are getting picked up from Felton at 2.45, to get to Backworth for 3.30. The bus will then depart and get to Easingwold around 5.45.

Going off previous years, we should be warmed up, marched and played by 7.00. The one piece I am conducting is the 5-minute march, Ravenswood.

We will leave 4 hours later (after listening to lots of band, and more likely a pint or two) which should have us back at Felton around the 1.00 AM mark.

So that's a 10-hour day to play a 5-minute march. Mad isn't it?