Toad Lane Concerts, Rochdale
13th August 2026

Midweek Musical Delight at St Mary in the Baum!

Every Wednesday at 12:30pm, enjoy the Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts at the stunning Grade I listed St Mary in the Baum church, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ.

Admission is just £6. As a “not for profit” initiative, your entry fee and donations directly support talented musicians, the historic venue, and music resources.

For details, contact Dr. Joe Dawson: 01706 648872.

Note: There have been 1,198 concerts since taking over the council’s Music at Lunchtime in 2001. Justifying continuity in Rochdale’s year as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture.

Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm – 1.30pm.

Wednesday 19th August 2026 – David Daniels piano

Here are the next events to whet your appetite.

- Aug 26 – Henry McNamara bass clarinettist (Arizona State & Sheffield Universities)
- Sep 02 – Callum Bisson piano (Chetham’s & RNCM)
- Sep 09 – Anne Butterworth soprano, Stephen Taylor baritone Elaine Marsden piano
- Sep 16 – Jonathan Ellis piano (Manchester University & RNCM)
- Sep 23 – Sara Donnelly soprano (Queensland & RNCM) & Tim Kennedy piano (Cambridge Univ & RNCM staff)
- Sept 30 – Students from Chetham’s School of Music
- Oct 07 – Seren String Quartet
- Oct 14 – Oldham Community Choir conductor Jonathan Gibson & piano Edward Rigg
- Oct 21 – Lewis Kingsley Peart piano (Trinity Laban Conservatoire)
- Oct 28 – John Powell baritone (Cambridge Univ & BBC Singers) & Carol Kwater piano

Previous Performance Reviews.

Wednesday 12 August 2026 – More than Melody Ladies Choir Conductor Jonathan Gibson Piano Brian Mulligan

This happy and healthy Toad Lane Concert at St Mary in the Baum was the 1,198^th since taking over from Rochdale council in 2001.

It featured popular contributors, the talented ladies’ choir ‘More than Melody’, which was formed in 2008 by Alyson Brailsford ‘to have fun and fellowship and provide a programme of musical entertainment’. (Contact: 07773710325 or alyson.brailsford@gmail.com). Research has shown that singing in a choir is good for your wellbeing; and performers and audiences alike benefit from artistic events… even in a heatwave.

Avuncular conductor, Jonathan Gibson graduated from the RNCM as a horn player and now freelances; he also directs Rochdale Phoenix Opera Society He has brought the ensemble to a high level of choral part singing. Pianist Brian Milligan is much involved in the local music scene and provided fine accompaniments today.

With the expectation of a rare solar eclipse that evening and the exceptional weather that the UK and Europe have been experiencing this year, it was perhaps appropriate for the programme to be a seasonal microcosm.

Or was it simply attention-grabbing irony to open with ‘Snow’ by Irving Berlin when the temperature outside was 28C and rising? Blue Skies by Irving Berlin sung a capella (unaccompanied) established a sequence of contrasts about the year’s weather. Mostly accompanied by piano the singing in parts, even with a couple of missing voices was confident and successful.

Singing in the Rain and April Showers happened All in the April Evening; whilst an unaccompanied madrigal by Morley, Now is the Month of Maying was paired with Satchmo’s great hit, What a Wonderful World, to great effect.

The Broadway number June is bustin’ out all over by Rodgers & Hammerstein contrasted with Elgar’s moody setting of Longfellow’s As Torrents in Summer, as did the rhythmic Swahili song, Dansi Na Kuimba with Dvorak’s themes in Summer Song.

More stage numbers, Sun and Moon from Miss Saigon and Oh what a Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma brought us to a nostalgic conclusion with Parry Como’s hit, Try to Remember and A Winter’s tale by Mike Batt and Tim Rice. Something for season and a tune for everyone.

The ladies achieved their objectives through fun and fellowship and entertained us musically.

Let us hope their sense of wellbeing increased as we all benefitted from a tuneful entertainment!

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Wednesday 5 August 2026 – Luke Jones piano (RNCM Gold Medallist)

Luke Jones was born in Wrexham, North Wales and began playing the piano at five, making his debut recital at ten. He is currently a Kawai Artist, but today’s 1935 heritage Challen 8’ Grand became his own! He studied at Chetham’s School of Music, the Conservatorio Perosi Campobasso, and the RNCM, graduating with a First-Class BMus and master’s with Distinction.

He has performed as concerto soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, and Orchestra of the Swan. He holds the RNCM Gold Medal, the college’s highest honour for performance, and his awards include 1st Prizes at the Bromsgrove International Musicians Competition and at the Chopin-Roma International Piano Competition (Italy).

With such credentials we knew we were in safe hands which was confirmed with the opening piece of this Chopin-Fest, Ballade No.4, Op.52; a late work regarded by many as most demanding technically and musically. Possibly inspired by a Polish Nationalist poem, it’s form and structures are complex. The twelve or so minutes were dazzling with Luke’s control and poise alternating with enthusiastic drive. After a short but engaging introduction from Luke, this was followed by the complete set of 24 Préludes, Op.28, a tremendous feat of stamina, memory and musicality.

It is unusual to perform the full set, challenging and extending our modern-day attention spans as that does, but it repaid the effort. It could be said that Chopin raised the profile of the term ‘prelude’. Kresky has argued that Op. 28 is ‘more than the sum of its parts …the Chopin preludes seem to be at once twenty-four small pieces and one large one’.

Luke is an extremely powerful player able to skilfully switch to quick changes in tempo, character and dynamics in this sparkling box of delights, contrasted jewels and gems. The translucence of rapid florid lines contrasted by thunderous chordal passages, commanded our interest and attention. The audience were enraptured and demanded an encore … a beautifully expressed Claire de Lune by Debussy helped everyone warm down after a visceral, emotional rollercoaster ride. Sensational.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.