ONE LAST TIME: Musicians Chris Cranham and Stewart Death are bringing their farewell tour to Hamsterley
ONE LAST TIME: Musicians Chris Cranham and Stewart Death are bringing their farewell tour to Hamsterley

AFTER clocking up to 80,000 miles a year for the best part of three decades, musicians Chris Cranham and Stewart Death are bringing their farewell tour to Hamsterley Village Hall.

The duo, who perform as Travelling by Tuba, are inviting the audience to join them for one final time on a multi-instrumental, global extravaganza featuring their favourite music and instruments from all over the world.

The first half of the show features an astonishing variety of sounds and instruments that include the gladiatorial Roman Cornu, a Swiss Alpine horn, the beautiful Chinese Dragon-headed Trumpet, a pair of six feet high Tibetan Dungs – and the original mobile phone.

Contrast these with the mellow sounding ocarina, the blaring African Kudus and the Cimbasso – Verdi’s tuba with the bell going forward. The instruments are all linked together with well-known classics on the tuba.

The second half is in a highly entertaining cabaret style with jazz, well known tunes, piano solos, Flanders and Swan and, as impossible as it sounds, a rendition of the opera Carmen in four-and-a-half minutes.

The performers produce a show with an innumerable array of wind and brass instruments played alongside humorous anecdotes from their years on the road. They promise a lively and entertaining show for all the family.

The show, on Saturday, April 27, is part of the current Highlights Rural Touring Scheme programme.

For tickets contact Jaquie on 01388 488323, or Simon on 01388 488024 or visit www. highlightsnorth.co.uk.

They cost £8 for adults and £5 for children. Family tickets are £24.