The Princes Hall at Clevedon Community Centre was filled with enough hot air on December 19th  to blow up the entire nation’s party balloons. 

The Community Association Ladies Choir warmed the audience with classical pieces and seasonal songs, the North Somerset Accordion Band pumped out vigorous renderings of familiar tunes and Cadbury Wind Band really let off steam with a dramatic and varied repertoire. 

The Wind Band had two slots during its last concert of the century, one at the end of each half. Of the eight pieces, only one was Christmassy ‘Sleigh Ride’. Now to be renamed ‘Charge of the Wind Brigade’. Somehow the horses bolted at the start, and it was all Denise White (standing in for a flu-smitten Andrew Tyrrell) could do to rein them back in . It sounded great, but some members looked a little breathless by the end.

James Morgan gave a stunning performance on trumpet in Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’, and the carnival feel of Summer in Rio took the audience’s minds off the ice outside. 

The band had a surprise in store with their final piece Everybody Needs Somebody, from the Blues Brothers but they're keeping it a secret, in case they decide to perform it again!