BBC NI To Host Series 3 of The Band
Co-funded by Northern Ireland Screen‘s Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund, The Band returns to BBC Northern Ireland for a third series, exploring the vibrant musical heritage passed down from generation to generation.
For the first time, the series follows two Northern Ireland bands competing at the World Pipe Band Championships, a piper who overcame huge personal adversity to play again, and a young man with a disability who has gained a sense of identity playing with his band.
Episode one features friends Linda Cowan, Nadine Cowan and Sharon Richardson from the Mavemacullen Accordion Band, and Aaron Spence who plays the drums with Gertrude Star Flute Band in East Belfast.
It’s a family affair in Kinallen, County Down where Alicia Dickson Hamilton and her parents May and Geoffrey Dickson keep the Corbet Accordion Band Band going in their close-knit rural community.
Episode two features Andrew Lynch, a flute player with William King Memorial Flute Band Londonderry, and Sheila Dong from County Tyrone who has been a coronet player with Roughan Silver Band for 40 years.
Tim Webb from Portadown was born with Spina Bifida and has spent his life in a wheelchair. He doesn’t let his disability limit the quality of his life and is a cymbal player with Markethill Protestant Boys F.B – Our Wee Town, where he has found friendship and belonging.
The final episode of the series follows Closkelt Pipe Band and Tullylagan Pipe Band to the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.
The Band starts on Wednesday 17 January at 10.40pm on BBC One Northern Ireland, with all three episodes available after the first episode airs on BBC iPlayer.
