Live brass 225-year-old heritage Glass Cone marvel

Black Country Brass, conducted by Iain Masson, have brought the mesmerising sound of live brass to Redhouse Glass Cone in Wordsley, as part of the successful inaugural Beth’s Sunflowers Festival on 24 and 25th May.

The Band delivered a performance of hymn tunes from across the British Isles as part of a special performance inside the historic Glass Cone itself. It also performed family concert music in the cafe bar area.

Beth’s Sunflowers - a local charity set up by Kingswinford mum, Andrea Childs, in the name of her daughter, Beth, who passed away after battling acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer known as ALL, just months before her 21st birthday in 2018 - helped draw in thousands of local people to the heritage setting.

The inaugural event included live music, entertainers, stalls, craft workshops, and children's activities, culminating in a fantastic weekend of entertainment for the entire family.

The Cone was built around 1790 and used for the manufacture of glass until 1936. Reaching 100ft into the sky for over 200 years, the Grade II* listed Glass Cone is the most complete example remaining and was the birthplace of Stuart Crystal.

The Band's hymn tune performance was shared by the Brass Band Movement Facebook page, linking performances with a global audience and creating new connections.

Iain said, 'I just couldn't believe the acoustics inside the Cone itself, something you can't even begin to imagine until you are inside it as a listener yourself. We feel lucky to have been part of such a special event, raising money and making new friends.'

Black Country Brass performing inside the historic 18th century Red House Glass Cone

Black Country Brass performing inside the historic 18th century Red House Glass Cone

Black Country Brass performing inside the Red House Glass Cone cafe area

Black Country Brass performing inside the historic 18th century Red House Glass Cone conducted by Iain Masson