'Champions of the world'
Saturday 9 April 2022 |
Camera Obscura,
This ticket for a complimentary smoke concert was held at the Hamilton Town Hall on 3 April, 1907. A smoke concert was an informal gathering, typically of men, for smoking, drinking and listening to music. The Besses o’ th’ Barn Band were a world famous group of Lancashire weavers, first formed in 1821. The band had performed at Queen Victoria’s coronation, and had won so many competitions they were given the title of “champions of the world”. They also performed earlier the same day at Claudelands Racecourse, a concert which was so popular special trains to Te Awamutu, Cambridge and Huntly were provided after the concert for people to return home.
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