Special event to remember and celebrate carnival bands

The man behind the Moz’s Band documentary film project is putting on a nostalgic community celebration in Derby this summer to celebrate the magic of carnival bands.

Actor and musician David Chabeaux, who himself is an ex-carnival bander, has organised the ‘Banding Together’ celebration, which will take place at Borrowash Victoria Football Club’s grounds, on Sunday 24 July.

Former members of carnival bands from across Derby, Derbyshire and the East Midlands, including the Derby Serenaders, the Spondon Legionnaires, The Ambassadors of Borrowash and the Melton Mowbray Toy Soldiers, are set to attend.

But David, who appeared in the final scenes of the hit BBC series Peaky Blinders, wants to hear from more people, including those involved in banding or members of the public, who would love the chance to enjoy the day.

There will be the chance for ex banders to show off some of their carnival-honed skills by playing some music or doing some marching on the day, as well as appear on camera in a documentary David is making about carnival bands and what they meant to the thousands of people in the East Midlands who once took part in around 100 bands across the region.

Money raised from the event will go towards David’s film project, which is titled after David’s grandfather, Moz Ward, whose inspirational leadership led his own band, the Derby Serenaders, to three European and 23 UK marching band titles and an appearance on the BBC’s The Generation Game.

David himself grew up in the Derby Serenaders where he learned to play no fewer than 11 instruments.

He hopes his film will springboard social change work in local communities to bring back the sense of belonging and kinship that the movement brought to all those involved.

David said: “It’s a testament to the power of the community and belonging that was felt by all those involved in the carnival banding movement around the East Midlands that we have had such an enthusiastic response to our Banding Together event.

“The strength of feeling and sense of belonging that banding brought to so many people is clearly just as strong now as it was when these fabulous bands were at their height.

“But our day is not just for people who were involved, we are putting on a really fun day out for all the family which we think will be just the ticket in these days when hopefully the worst of the pandemic is behind us and people can come along and enjoy a great celebration in the sunshine once again.”

The Banding Together event will feature stalls, stands, inflatables, beer tent and candy floss, plus walking football, ‘A Parade of the Band Uniforms’, live music all day, and a prize raffle.

There will be a giant cinema screen showing archive film footage of the bands in action back in the day, and the chance for people to contribute to a unique ‘history of banding’ mural recording their precious memories.

It will all be topped off with a classic ‘old school’ disco complete with outdoor dance floor.

For more information about the Banding Together event and to buy tickets visit www.mozs.band/tickets.