Public conducts Bristol Citadel Salvation Army Band at sell-out music event

Members of the public got to lead the Bristol Citadel band for six minutes each on Saturday (11 March) at the sell-out, conduct-it-yourself music event ‘Up Down Left Right, staged by the Situations production company.

The one-off, live experience, created by artist and composer, Andy Ingamells was so popular, tickets were snapped up as soon as they were released and Corps Sergeant Major, Keith Paine and Situations’producer, Georgina Bolton were invited on to BBC Radio Bristol’s Saturday morning 'Show and Tell' slot to explain all about it.  

Marking the official opening of the new Salvation Army Citadel and Community Church & Family Centre —which replaced the original Victorian Citadel built at the site in 1896 —Up Down Left Right involved individual members of the public conducting the band for three to six minute time slots throughout the day.  

Bristol Citadel’s Corps Sergeant Major, Keith Paine said: 

“This has been a really great day. A lot of the people have come from the wider community who may never have been inside the hall; then we’ve got others who regularly volunteer here. It’s all about building relationships, someone who’s come in for the first time will surely feel the real warmth of welcome today and that’s what it’s all about.”

Georgina Bolton, producer at Situations said:

“This isn’t the first time The Salvation Army and Situations have been brought together. Beautifully The Salvation Army played in Sanctum and the actual bricks from the old building of the Citadel laid the foundations of that work back in 2015 so there’s a lovely story of engagement and collaboration that’s carried on in this project.”

People who missed out on tickets will get another chance the share the musical experience when the final Up Down Left Right ‘score’—created from the individual sessions —is performed by The Bristol Citadel Band at a special concert later in the year. 

The Salvation Army’s Bristol Citadel Community Church & Family Centre, at 6 Ashley Road, BS6 5NL is at the frontline of the church and charity’s work to improve the lives of families and individuals within the heart of the St. Paul’s community.