[Music] Proms in the Park 2013

I'm spending this week in London for a conference, so my girlfriend and I thought that we'd take the chance to spend the weekend in the capital too. It was a good chance to catch up with some friends, and to do something that I've wanted to do for a few years - the BBC Proms in the Park.

The Last Night of the Proms, Hyde Park style. (Credit: David Brown)

As someone who plays in an orchestra, and has done for many years, the BBC Proms have always captured my interest. However I never seem to find the time to watch them on television. I find that they make good background music, but I often forget to see what the programme is, and when they're on in the evening! It's terrible really, and something I should really correct. Maybe now I'm closer to London I might actually be able to go to some of them live next year. Anyway, I've fancied the idea of going to Proms in the Park for a while. It just seemed like fun - a picnic in Hyde Park, some flag waving and patriotism, and some (hopefully) decent music as well. It turned out to be fun, for all of the reasons that I was expecting. But at the same time I was a little disappointed. 

The area of Hyde Park set aside for Proms in the Park was a little bit full! (Credit: David Brown)

The 'official' start time was 7:30, but we got there early. We knew that it would fill up, so we arrived about 5. The fenced off area of Hyde Park was already rammed full, and we had a lot of trouble finding somewhere to set up our picnic blankets! But we eventually found a spot, and settled down to some food and wine, and to enjoy the 'pre-show'. Which featured the Red Hot Chili Pipers (yes, I've spelt that correctly), Craig Charles Ultimate Funk Band, and Blue. The Pipers were brilliant, the Funk Band were really rather good (if a bit quiet), and Blue were, well, ok. As far as warm-up acts go though it was a pretty decent selection.

Unfortunately the evening then seemed to go downhill a bit. There was altogether too much talking, and not enough actual music. Much as I love Terry Wogan, I would have preferred to see/hear less of him, and more of the orchestra sharing the stage with him. And I could have done without Dame Edna Everage completely. 

I could have done with less of this, and more actual music. (Credit: David Brown)

Don't get me wrong, what music we had was excellent, as I expected. But the selection was somewhat odd in places, it was a little quiet where we were, and there just wasn't enough of it. However, that didn't matter so much really; I was with my friends, I had loads to eat, decent wine to drink, and some music to listen to every now and then. It even stayed dry!

At the end of the evening we joined the Albert Hall on a video link, and got the full Last Night of the Proms experience, only outside. To be honest that hour made the whole thing worthwhile; I got much the same feeling then as I did at the Queen's Jubilee. It was a lot of fun, and meant that I left the venue on a much happier note that I might have done otherwise.