Teesside community unites for Boro 150 performance
Tom PowellA community performance involving 300 dancers and a new song will take place on the pitch at the Riverside Stadium to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Middlesbrough Football club.
The dance and the new song - The Sound of Teesside - will be performed ahead of Boro's match against Cardiff City on 17 October.
Tees Valley Music Service, which has arranged the performance, have involved community choirs, youth choirs, as well as dancers from youth dance companies, schools, colleges and community groups.
Tom Powell, from the service, said the song "celebrates where we've come from, what we've achieved, and what the next generation is capable of achieving".
The song, which is a programmatic orchestral work, begins with authentic crowd recordings captured, reacting a sense of anticipation and pre-match excitement before a musical "kick-off".
At the centre of the piece is an emotional "half-time" section featuring commentary from the late Alastair Brownlee during Middlesbrough's legendary UEFA Cup run, culminating in his iconic line, "Everybody round my house for a Parmo".
Powell, who produced the song, said he wanted it to be focused around the community of Middlesbrough.
He said: "I wanted the music to sound like Teesside. Not just the football club, but the town, its people, its humour, its history, its resilience and its optimism.
"This is a place with an incredible story to tell, and I wanted the music to reflect that."
Tom Powell"It's a celebration of where we've come from, what we've achieved, and what the next generation is capable of achieving.
"Ultimately, I wanted this piece to feel hopeful. Proud of our past, proud of our people, and excited for our future," he said.
A spokesperson for Middlesbrough Football Club said: "Celebrating our 150th anniversary is a huge milestone for the club. We are so proud to bring our community together on the Riverside pitch with our fans, our players and everyone involved with our town.
"The 300 young dancers and musicians from across Teesside are incredible. This performance perfectly captures our town's unique spirit, resilience, and history, and we cannot wait to share this moment with our fans before kick-off against Cardiff."
