Blackpool Tower
by Ashley Frohlick on Jul.16, 2009, under General News
I’ve had dozens of emails recently asking whether the Empress Dance Band and Orchestra will be performing for dancing during the 2009 summer season from the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool.
Unfortunately the answer is “no“.
This year Leisure Parcs has decided not to cater for dancers during the evening and has opted instead to put on ‘Legends’ for five nights of rock music.
I believe that you can dance to the resident organists in the Ballroom between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, but no dancing at all on Mondays and Fridays.
As ever, we welcome your comments should you wish to share them.
Best wishes,
Ashley Frohlick
July 17th, 2009 on 4:40 pm
Thank you for clarifying the situation about playing at Blackpool Tower. I think Leisure Parcs have made a sad decision not to have your wonderful dance band playing this season. Whilst dancing to the organ music is good it is no substitute to a live dance band, especially one as fantastic as The Empress. I sincerely hope that the decision is reversed for next season.
July 21st, 2009 on 4:17 pm
Thanks Wendy,
I believe that Leisure Parcs and the Tower are thinking of running this for at least a couple of years. So unless it’s completely unsuccessful or there’s a huge public outcry I can’t see a reversal happening soon.
August 18th, 2009 on 5:19 pm
Ashley, We were devastated to find out what has happened this year at the Tower and has put a massive dampner on our several visits to the Tower we had planned on summer Saturday evenings this year. We normally make about 6 visits to see your band and dance along to including New Years Eve, and normally bring several friends including our 2 boys with us, who you have played happy birthday to. We attended the ballroom this year and expressed our opinions to the staff, and will in support of you and all involved in the wonderful Saturday nights that you presented, in protest not attend any of the Legends nights at the Tower. Surely Ballrooms are for Dancing what are they thinking? We will though hopefully see you New Years Eve. In the meantime can you let me know if there are any public events that you are running as we would love to attend.
August 18th, 2009 on 9:34 pm
Thanks for writing Wayne,
I can’t speak for Blackpool Tower and the choices they make. I must say that the staff there made us very welcome and we thoroughly enjoyed our four years playing for dancing.
As we were informed (at the last minute almost) of the decision not to use the Orchestra or Dance Band, we had to keep our diary free for the four months or so of Blackpool Tower’s summer season. This has meant that our fixture list for this year is somewhat light. For all future events please read our ‘Events’ page and if you need any clarity with a particular event then by all means stay in touch.
Best wishes,
Ashley.
September 9th, 2009 on 8:48 am
Hi Ashley
Sad to hear the band will not be appearing at the tower this summer season. Coming along on the “Big Band Bonanza” evenings was one of my highlights of my annual illuminations visit to Blackpool.
Although not a dancer, being brought up by my father’s love of big band music especially The Ted Heath Band I appreciate good music and have enjoyed the nights the Empress band have appeared.
I cannot understand what Leisure Parcs are playing at. There is already a Legends in Blackpool, all they are doing is splitting the audience for this and the Tower Ballroom is a waste for a show like this. Like an earlier commentator I too will not be attending any of the Legends shows. If the Tower want to get people through the doors they need a variety of entertainment like in previous years not the same thing 5 nights a week, if you’ve seen it once then you arent likely to see it again.
Hope next season the band, and indeed the organ team are restored to their rightful place back in the ballroom. Maybe the return of “Strictly” in November will change their minds, here’s hoping.
April 12th, 2010 on 7:06 pm
Well I have it on good authority that Legends will only be on Central Pier this year. So hopefully you will be back? If not then maybe the new management, Merlin will reconsider for 2011?
Good Luck and hope to see you back.
April 18th, 2010 on 10:17 am
I believe that the ‘Mike James Sound’ will be making its third appearance in the Ballroom since 1990 some 20 years on with a similar line-up of music and entertainment as was delivered two decades ago. Hopefully a full range of dancing should be enjoyed by all attendees!
As for 2011 and Merlin, we’ll have to wait to see what plans they have for this stunning ballroom.
Bet wishes,
Ashley
June 4th, 2011 on 6:39 pm
really disappointed with the tower last year with no big bands or organists on a night we were there every night with our grand kids they loved it too thought it might be back on this year but sadly not they’ve destroyed the tower ballroom!