The Rainey family from Newtownhamilton who feature in the new series of The Band on BBC One Northern Ireland.
The Band returns for a second series on BBC One Northern Ireland, following the highs and lows of rural families who live together and band together.
The three-part series, made with assistance from the Northern Ireland Screen Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund, explores the remarkable people, young and old, who dedicate so much of their lives to their band, culture and community.
Through their love of pipe, flute, accordion and brass band music – this new series reflects a vibrant community with a shared musical heritage that is passed down from generation to generation.
Brianna McMullen from Ballygowan who features in the new series of The Band on BBC One Northern Ireland.
Twenty-one-year-old engineering student Brianna McMullen from Ballygowan, who is half Jamaican and half Ulster-Scots, is not your typical girl in a band. As one of only a couple of women known to beat the bass drum in Northern Ireland, Brianna challenges the stereotypes of banding, attracting attention from onlookers wherever she goes.
Brianna is passionate about her identity and her band family – Ballygowan Pipe Band. She’s also a dab hand at welding and clay pigeon shooting.
Brianna said: “People think you just go to the Twelfth of July, but for me, playing the big drum means a lot more. I take great pride in my heritage and culture.”
Returning from series one is the Lutton family, whose musicianship is demonstrated once again when eldest son Craig, a professional percussionist, returns home to Randalstown to join with his family and his local band, Kellswater Flute, for a busy Twelfth.
The Lutton family from Randalstown who feature in the new series of The Band on BBC One Northern Ireland.
Craig said: “Drumming is amazing, I can hear the pulse in my heart. It’s just in the blood and I hope that passion never dies, because I’m living the dream.”
We also meet Winifred Rainey from Newtownhamilton, who has been a member of Aughnagurgan Accordion Band for more than 40 years. With more than 15 members of her extended family in the band, it is her youngest daughter Alex, an agricultural student, who takes the reigns as Drum Major. Despite early morning starts and plenty of silage to draw, this busy farming family always finds time for the band.
Winifred said: “We didn’t get out very much when we were young, so I joined the local band to get out to parades and out and about to things. It’s where I met my husband Brian. I just couldn’t imagine not being in a band.”
In the following two episodes, we meet the McElhinney family from South Donegal as they prepare for a smaller Rossnowlagh Twelfth than usual and the Graham family from Rathfriland, as preparations for the Ardarragh Accordion Band’s annual Tractor Run get underway.
The Band is a DoubleBand Films production for BBC Northern Ireland, made with assistance from the Northern Ireland Screen Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund. The series was produced by Sharon Whittaker and directed by Ben O’Loan.
‘The Band’ begins Wednesday 5 January
BBC One Northern Ireland at 10.35pm
Also on BBC iPlayer